Emergency Department-Initiated Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder

NCT ID: NCT05827159

Last Updated: 2025-05-18

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

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE3

Total Enrollment

240 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-08-17

Study Completion Date

2028-03-01

Brief Summary

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The proposed study will be the first randomized clinical trial to evaluate a comprehensive Emergency Department (ED)-based intervention for moderate to severe Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) combining Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) with ED-initiated medications for treatment of alcohol use disorder (MAUD).

The primary objective of this phase 3 study is to evaluate for differences in treatment engagement 30 days after ED visit between emergency department patients with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder (AUD) who are randomized to initiate medications for the treatment for AUD in the ED in addition to receiving a brief intervention and referral to ongoing treatment, which all participants will receive.

The secondary objective of this study is to evaluate the difference in reduction of heavy drinking days between the two ED treatment models during the 30 days post ED visit.

Detailed Description

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The proposed study will evaluate a comprehensive ED-based intervention for moderate to severe AUD combining SBIRT with ED-initiated MAUD. It is an extension and a novel application of a highly effective ED intervention model that has been successfully developed and broadly disseminated for other conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension and more recently opioid use disorder. No prospective randomized controlled trials of ED-initiated medications for the treatment of AUD, with or without psychosocial interventions, have been published to date. If found efficacious this novel intervention model has a potential to increase AUD treatment participation rates among individuals with AUD who frequently receive care in the ED. The proposed study will evaluate two ED-based interventions that have a potential to be broadly disseminated to narrow the gap between treatment need and treatment access.

Study participants will be identified through targeted screening for DSM-5 criteria for moderate to severe AUD and the study inclusion/exclusion criteria. Therefore, the Screening component of the SBIRT intervention in the proposed RCT will be conducted before eligible ED patients who are interested in study participation are consented and randomized. This study will compare outcomes among individuals who are initiated on MAUD treatment in the ED, including AUD treatment with naltrexone, with ancillary support of gabapentin to assist with withdrawal symptoms.

Hypothesis 1: The rates of AUD treatment engagement will be higher among patients receiving SBIRT+ED-MAUD.

Hypothesis 2: Those randomized to SBIRT+ED-MAUD will have greater reductions of heavy drinking days.

This study is not designed to change the FDA labeling of gabapentin.

Conditions

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Alcohol Use Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Study participants will be identified through targeted screening for DSM-5 criteria for moderate to severe AUD and the study inclusion/exclusion criteria. Therefore, the Screening component of the SBIRT intervention in the proposed RCT will be conducted before eligible ED patients who are interested in study participation are consented and randomized.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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SBIRT

Participants will receive the Brief Negotiation Interview (BNI) and Referral to Treatment. The BNI has four key components: (1) permission to discuss substance use, (2) feedback on the health consequences of ongoing substance use, including making a connection between the ED visit and substance use, (3) motivational enhancement, and (4) negotiation and advice.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Brief Negotiation Interview

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Brief Negotiation Interview (BNI) has four key components: (1) permission to discuss substance use, (2) feedback on the health consequences of ongoing substance use, including making a connection between the ED visit and substance use, (3) motivational enhancement, and (4) negotiation and advice.

SBIRT+ED-MAUD

Participants with receive BNI, Referral to Treatment, and MAUD. In the MAUD component, either XR-NTX or oral naltrexone will be provided, supplemented by ancillary treatment with gabapentin. Participants will receive their first doses of XR-NTX (injection) and gabapentin in the ED and will receive 7 days of gabapentin take-home doses. Those who prefer to initiate treatment in ED with oral naltrexone receive their first doses of naltrexone and gabapentin in the ED and receive 29-day take-home doses of naltrexone and 7 days of gabapentin.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Naltrexone Pill

Intervention Type DRUG

In the MAUD component, some participants will receive oral Naltrexone in the ED.

Naltrexone Injection

Intervention Type DRUG

In the MAUD component, some participants will receive a dose of XR-NTX (injection) in the ED.

Brief Negotiation Interview

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Brief Negotiation Interview (BNI) has four key components: (1) permission to discuss substance use, (2) feedback on the health consequences of ongoing substance use, including making a connection between the ED visit and substance use, (3) motivational enhancement, and (4) negotiation and advice.

Gabapentin Pill

Intervention Type DRUG

In the MAUD component, ancillary treatment with gabapentin will be provided.

Interventions

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Naltrexone Pill

In the MAUD component, some participants will receive oral Naltrexone in the ED.

Intervention Type DRUG

Naltrexone Injection

In the MAUD component, some participants will receive a dose of XR-NTX (injection) in the ED.

Intervention Type DRUG

Brief Negotiation Interview

Brief Negotiation Interview (BNI) has four key components: (1) permission to discuss substance use, (2) feedback on the health consequences of ongoing substance use, including making a connection between the ED visit and substance use, (3) motivational enhancement, and (4) negotiation and advice.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Gabapentin Pill

In the MAUD component, ancillary treatment with gabapentin will be provided.

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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Oral naltrexone XR-NTX BNI Oral gabapentin

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Between 18 and 80 years in age
2. Diagnosed with moderate to severe Alcohol Use Disorder
3. Stated willingness and ability to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
4. Reproductive aged females will have a negative pregnancy test within the past 24 hours and agree to use of highly effective family planning during study participation period
5. Able to speak English sufficiently to understand study procedures and provide written informed consent to participate in the study.
6. Clinical Alcohol Withdrawal Scale (CIWA-Ar) ≥ 4.

Exclusion Criteria

1. A current diagnosis of OUD, self-reported past 7 day opioid or opioid pain medication use, or a positive urine opioid screen (opiates, methadone, buprenorphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, tramadol and fentanyl)
2. Current prescription of opioid pain medications, or anticipated need for opioid pain medications during the study period (i.e. planned surgery)
3. History of complicated alcohol withdrawal
4. Condition that precludes interview (i.e., life threatening injury/illness)
5. Inability to consent due to cognitive impairment
6. Awaiting an acute psychiatric evaluation for psychosis or suicidal ideation
7. In police custody
8. Unable to provide contact information
9. Previously enrolled in this study or currently enrolled in another study for which they are currently receiving study medications or active ongoing intervention
10. Any contraindication to naltrexone or gabapentin, including known allergy, renal failure, acute hepatitis, hepatic failure,1 or severe lung disease or other chronic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
11. Creatine Clearance \<60 mL/min within past 72 hours.
12. Currently pregnant or breast feeding
13. Requiring hospitalization at the time of the index visit
14. Past week treatment with medications for the treatment of alcohol use disorder
15. Taking gabapentin or naltrexone for any reason
16. Appearing unable or unwilling to comply with discharge instructions or complete follow-up
17. Current residence outside of the state of Connecticut
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Yale University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Kathryn Hawk

Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Epidemiology (Chronic Disease)

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Kathryn Hawk, MD, MHS

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Yale University

Locations

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Yale New Haven Hospital

New Haven, Connecticut, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Kathryn Hawk, MD, MHS

Role: CONTACT

267-334-4415

Facility Contacts

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Kathryn Hawk, MD, MHS

Role: primary

203-688-2222

Other Identifiers

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1R01AA030568-01

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

2000034359

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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