Young Houston Emergency Opioid Engagement System

NCT ID: NCT04811014

Last Updated: 2025-10-01

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE4

Total Enrollment

250 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-04-19

Study Completion Date

2030-08-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The Houston Emergency Response Opioid Engagement System for Youths and Adolescents (Young HEROES) is a community-based research program integrating assertive outreach, medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), behavioral counseling, and peer recovery support. The objective is to compare differences in engagement and retention in treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder. The investigators also intend to understand the prevalence of opioid overdoses and OUD among youth in Houston.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

The Houston Emergency Response Opioid Engagement System for Youths and Adolescents (Young HEROES) is a non-randomized cohort study based at the University of Texas Health Science Center of Houston. This study recruits participants through three avenues: assertive community outreach with a peer coach and paramedic following and opioid overdose, community referrals, and emergency department referrals. The study explores the effect of the combination of assertive outreach, same-day induction into medication for opioid use disorder, ongoing maintenance treatment, behavioral counseling, peer recovery support, and paramedic follow-up on patient outcomes. The primary outcome is engagement and retention in outpatient treatment. Secondary outcomes include quality of life assessment as well as subsequent relapses and overdoses. The hypothesis is that patients with earlier induction into MOUD treatment who receive routine follow-up, are more likely to engage and remain in treatment long-term.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Opioid-use Disorder Opioid Dependence Opioid Overdose Opioid Use Substance Use Disorders

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

MOUD induction and behavioral interventions among opioid-dependent youths

Induction into medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment and behavioral interventions

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination

Intervention Type DRUG

8mg of buprenorphine/2mg of naloxone to initiate MOUD treatment and bridge, if necessary, until referral to MOUD clinic can be made for ongoing treatment

Individual Counseling

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

One-on-one counseling with a licensed chemical dependency counselor

Peer Recovery Support Services

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

24/7 support from our team of certified peer recovery support specialists to assist with emotional support and case management

Support Group

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Referrals to youth-focused support groups and eventual creation of in-house youth-focused support groups

Referral to Medication Management

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Study staff will refer patients to long-term MOUD providers in the community

Assertive Outreach

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The investigators will conduct weekly outreach to youths who experienced an opioid overdose and attempt to initiate treatment. Outreach is completed by a paramedic and peer coach.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination

8mg of buprenorphine/2mg of naloxone to initiate MOUD treatment and bridge, if necessary, until referral to MOUD clinic can be made for ongoing treatment

Intervention Type DRUG

Individual Counseling

One-on-one counseling with a licensed chemical dependency counselor

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Peer Recovery Support Services

24/7 support from our team of certified peer recovery support specialists to assist with emotional support and case management

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Support Group

Referrals to youth-focused support groups and eventual creation of in-house youth-focused support groups

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Referral to Medication Management

Study staff will refer patients to long-term MOUD providers in the community

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Assertive Outreach

The investigators will conduct weekly outreach to youths who experienced an opioid overdose and attempt to initiate treatment. Outreach is completed by a paramedic and peer coach.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.

Suboxone Therapy Peer Coaching Recovery Coaching Group Therapy Community Outreach

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* In otherwise good health based on physician assessment and medical history
* Drug screen positive for opioids
* Patients express a willingness to stop opioid use
* Meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria for opioid dependence
* Patients must be able to speak English
* Be agreeable to and capable of signing the informed consent and assent (parent or guardian must consent, minor must assent)

Exclusion Criteria

* Non-English-speaking patients
* Have a known sensitivity to buprenorphine or naloxone
* Be physiologically dependent on alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other drugs of abuse that require immediate medical attention. Other substance use diagnoses are not exclusionary.
* Have a medical condition that would, in the opinion of the study physician, make participation medically hazardous, including unstable cardiovascular disease, neurological deficits, trauma, acute hepatitis, stroke, and liver or renal disease)
* Be acutely psychotic, severely depressed, and in need of inpatient treatment, or is an immediate suicide risk
* Be a nursing or pregnant female
Minimum Eligible Age

13 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

17 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

James Langabeer

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

James R Langabeer, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Houston, Texas, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

James R Langabeer, PhD

Role: CONTACT

713-500-3925

Meredith M O'Neal, MA

Role: CONTACT

713-500-3624

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

James R Langabeer, PhD

Role: primary

713-500-3925

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

HSC-MS-20-1376

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Coaching for HCV and HIV
NCT04314414 COMPLETED NA
Clinical Rescue Protocol - 2
NCT00000206 COMPLETED PHASE2