The Big South/West Node is pleased to announce that recruitment for CTN-0132 KMD has officially commenced. This randomized, double-blind, active placebo trial aims to investigate the use of IV ketamine versus midazolam in the treatment of methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). During the 12-week study, participants will receive cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Currently, two sites are active, and we expect to endorse two additional sites by early November.

Laura Lander, MSW, AADC, co-PI of the CTN Appalachian Node and an associate professor in the West Virginia University School of Medicine’s Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry and Department of Neuroscience, was recently appointed to the statewide expert panel of the West Virginia First Foundation. In the appointment, Lander will be part of a comprehensive group of six experts that assist the Foundation’s board in making financial decisions regarding strategies for abating the opioid epidemic in local communities around the state. “I am honored to have been chosen for the expert panel and entrusted with making decisions on how best to help the people of West Virginia most impacted by the addiction epidemic. The impacts of addiction are far reaching, affecting individuals, families and entire communities. The WV First Foundation monies can make a huge impact on healing and rebuilding communities and increasing access to recovery resources including evidence-based treatment. Making sure people’s basic needs are met for healthy food, safe housing and access to quality healthcare must be our starting points,” said Lander. Lander’s effective date begins August 2, 2024 and runs through at least December 31, 2024 with the possibility of reappointment. The West Virginia First Foundation was established to oversee and distribute the majority of the state’s opioid settlements won in lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors.

Buprenorphine is one of three medications (methadone and naltrexone being the other two) approved for use to treat opioid use disorder. It is available as a film or tablet, and more recently as two long-acting extended-release injectables.  Sublocade™ was first to be approved by the FDA in November 2017. More recently, in May 2023, Brixadi™ received approval. In January 2024 it was added to the WA state Medicaid formulary. Fewer clinicians have experience using Brixadi™ than Sublocade™. The CTN Pacific Northwest Node has developed a set of videos and information sheets to help prescribers in their conversations with patients interested in these buprenorphine options.   The videos (which are also available in an audio-only podcast format) cover the basics of extended-release buprenorphine, settings & access to medication, who could benefit, the different formulations that are available, how to get patients started, and provider and patient experiences. Find the complete set of educational materials here!

Shelly F. Greenfield, M.D., M.P.H.  was selected for the class of 2024-2025 in the Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellowship. Through this Fellowship, Dr. Greenfield will devote time exploring gender-specific longitudinal trends in substance use disorders. Congratulations Dr. Greenfield on this exciting and prestigious Fellowship opportunity!    Read more about this year’s Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellowships here!

Upcoming Telehealth (TH) & Telemedicine (TM) Special Interest Group (SIG) on 09/13/2024 @ 8:30am PT/11:30am ET (see flyer attached for additional information) Publication announcements:  

Penn State Health and University of Maryland are two sites selected to work on the HEAL funded study looking at the effectiveness of GLP-1 agonists as adjunctive treatment for OUD, slated to begin recruitment in the Fall.  Site PIs:  Sarah Kawasaki and Aaron Greenblatt/Eric Weintraub. posted on July 5, 2024

CPDD honored Jim Sorensen (who served as an MPI for the Western States Node of the CTN) and made the first James L. Sorensen Distinguished Treatment and Service Mentor award to Jeffery Samet, MD for his scientific leadership and his mentorship of addiction medicine physicians. Dr. Sorensen’s widow (Laurel Koepernik) and Jim’s brothers (Roger and Bryan) hosted a reception to present the award to Dr. Samet. The annual award remembers Jim Sorensen’s contributions to CPDD, his many years of mentoring clinicians and investigators, and his leadership in the development of Addiction Health Services and Implementation Research. Kim Hoffman, Todd Korthuis, Carmen Masson, and Dennis McCarty represented the Western States Node at the reception. Carmen Rosa (from the Center for the Clinical Trials Network) was also present.

The Appalachian Node has two new publications to report: Bulls HW, Hamm M, Wasilewski J, Olejniczak D, Bell SG, Liebschutz JM. “To prescribe or not to prescribe, that is the question”: Perspectives on opioid prescribing for chronic, cancer-related pain from clinicians who treat pain in survivorship. Cancer. 2024 Apr 3. doi: 10.1002/cncr.35299. PMID: 38567685. Jennings LK, Lander L, Lawdahl T, McClure EA, Moreland A, McCauley JL, Haynes L, Matheson T, Jones R, Robey TE, Kawasaki S, Moschella P, Raheemullah A, Miller S, Gregovich G, Waltman D, Brady KT, Barth KS. Characterization of peer support services for substance use disorders in 11 US emergency departments in 2020: findings from a NIDA clinical trials network site selection process. Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2024 Apr 8;19(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s13722-024-00453-x. PMID: 38589934; PMCID: PMC11003047.

CTN-0129 Team presents at National Indian Health Board Conference Investigators and collaborating community partners for CTN-0129 “The Great Plains Initiative” presented a discussion panel about the study at the National Indian Health Board conference on May 22, 2024 in Rapid City, SD. The panel was moderated by Brynn Luger, PhD and included Lead Investigator Donald Warne, MD, MPH, T. John Winhusen, PhD, Gene Tyon, MA of Oaye Luta Okolakiciye, Barbara Dull Knife, BS of Wakanyeia Gluwitayan Otipi, and Ellen Durkin MSW of South Dakota Urban Indian Health. Allison Kelliher, MD joined the panel via Zoom. CTN-0129 Team Dr. Warne CTN-0129 Great Plains Initiative Panel