Opioid/Benzodiazepine Polydrug Abuse: Aim 3

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phasePhase 2
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-65
SponsorWayne State University

About this trial

In this study, the investigators will measure affective, neurocognitive and behavioral outcomes related to chronic use of opioids and benzodiazepines (screening phase), and in response to the administration of the opioid morphine, the benzodiazepine alprazolam, morphine then alprazolam, alprazolam then morphine, morphine+alprazolam simultaneously, and placebo (laboratory pharmacology experiment). The latter will enable the investigators to assess the effects of an opioid alone, benzodiazepine alone, concurrent and simultaneous administration of opioid+benzodiazepine, relative to a placebo control.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

must self-report past 10-year experience taking opioid and sedative drugs (for therapeutic or non-therapeutic reasons), but not necessarily at the same time. As an alternative to the sedative drug exposure requirement, participants must have used alcohol on at least 3 separate days during the past month. Participants may have current mild- or moderate-severity Opioid Use Disorder or current mild- or moderate-severity Sedative Use Disorder;

must not be seeking treatment for their substance use problems;

must be in current good overall health

Disqualifiers

meet DSM-5 criteria for current psychosis, bipolar disorder, or severe depression (i.e. severe psychiatric disorder);

meet DSM-5 criteria for severe substance use disorder for any substance (e.g. Sedative, Opioid, Alcohol);

past-month benzodiazepine or opioid prescription (which would suggest daily use, tolerance, or withdrawal upon cessation);

report of past-year any-drug overdose or suicide attempt/ideation;

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Morphine
  • Alprazolam
  • Placebo

Treatment groups

24 Participants
are divided into 6 treatment groups

6

Treatment groups

See each treatment group below.

Sponsors and collaborators

Wayne State University

Lead sponsor

Henry Ford Health System

Collaborator