What’s New in the CTN?

Updates from the NIDA National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network. Want to share some news about your protocol, node, publications or presentations, or other CTN-related work here and/or in the CTN Bulletin? Email us at ctnlib@uw.edu!

2025 NIDA Summer Research Internship Program: Apply by Jan 6, 2025

NIDA’s Office of Research Training, Diversity, and Disparities offers paid summer research internships to expose undergraduate students to the field of substance use and addiction research. Selected students work with distinguished scientists at research institutions across the United States for eight weeks during the summer. Internships involve hands-on experiences that may include laboratory experiments, data collection, data analysis, formal courses, participation in lab meetings, patient interviews, manuscript preparation, library research, literature reviews, and more. This effort is intended to provide opportunities for talented students, particularly those who have fewer opportunities…

News from the Appalachian Node

Node News

David Scott, Appalachian Node CTN-0100 Project Coordinator and CIRCL member, moderated a plenary session, Spectrums in Recovery and Treatment, at the AMERSA annual meeting in Chicago, November 2024.  The session, attended by the 800 conference participants, featured a panel of three individuals with lived experience who are national leaders in advocating and supporting individuals who use drugs.  Laura Lander, MSW, LICSW gave an interview to Lori Kersey of West Virginia Watch about SB 2028 on October 22, 2024, a bill written and signed into Law by the governor on October…

Northeast Node Webinar: Medications for OUD for Youth (Dec. 5, 12pm ET)

MOUD for youth, Marc Fishman, Dec 5, 2024, 12pm ET

In 2021, one in every 100 kids aged 12-17 had an opioid use disorder (OUD). Medication treatment for OUD (MOUD) is effective, but only 3-4% of youth who need it receive treatment. This session will outline features of youth treatment for OUD, evidence for treating youth with medications, youth MOUD uptake and retention, the role of families in care, and opportunities for interdisciplinary care teams in outpatient settings. In this extended session, Dr. Marc Fishman (Mountain Manor & Johns Hopkins) will also facilitate interactive case reviews with attendees. If you…

NIH Minority Health and Health Disparities Strategic Plan Seeking Input

NIH Minority health and health disparities strategic plan

Charged with leading scientific research to improve minority health and reduce health disparities, NIMHD is launching the development of the 2026 – 2030 NIH Minority Health and Health Disparities Strategic Plan. The NIH wants to hear your experiences, insights and ideas to help shape the future of minority health and health disparities research efforts. Share your input on the new strategic plan at upcoming community virtual townhalls and respond to the newly released Request for Information (NOT-MD-25-002; deadline December 31, 2024). These important opportunities are open to all. Join NIH…

News from the Ohio Valley Node

Node News

CTN-0150 (TOME) study is completed! The CTN-OVN has successfully completed the CTN-0150 (TOME; LI – Winhusen) study activities and is now heading into data analysis.  This study was part of the supplemental IMPROVE funds from NIDA and the NICHD awarded to the OVN to utilize the CTN-0080 study as a platform to collect additional data regarding Opioid Use Disorder in pregnant/postpartum populations.  TOME included two objectives:  1) to evaluate the ability of the Personally-Tailored Opioid-overdose and Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) Education (TOME) intervention to increase MOUD and opioid-overdose…

New in the Library (October-November 2024)

New in the Library

Here are the latest items added to the CTN Dissemination Library for October-November 2024 (this post will be updated as new items come in): Machine Learning-Driven Analysis of Individualized Treatment Effects Comparing Buprenorphine and Naltrexone in Opioid Use Disorder Relapse Prevention. Afshar M, et al. Journal of Addiction Medicine 2024;18(5):511-519. (CTN-0051) Variation in Opioid Agonist Dosing in Clinical Trials by Race and Ethnicity. Ross RK, et al. JAMA Network Open 2024;7(10):e2436612. Sublingual Buprenorphine-Naloxone Compared With Injection Naltrexone for Opioid Use Disorder: Potential Utility of Patient Characteristics in Guiding Choice of…

CTN T&I SIG Webinar: Implementation Outcomes in NIDA Clinical Trials Network Studies (Nov. 19, 9am PT)

Young woman looking at laptop and smiling

Join the Translation and Implementation SIG on November 19th (9am-10am PT) for their next session, titled, “Implementation Outcomes in NIDA Clinical Trials Network Studies: A Systematic Review of Studies Conducted Over 25 Years in the CTN.“ This webinar will be presented by Sophia Gonzalez, MPH and Joe Glass, PhD, MSW of the CTN T&I Implementation Outcomes Workgroup and will focus on a study to explore and document the evolution of the inclusion of implementation outcomes across trials conducted within the CTN, characterize outcomes included, identify gaps and potential opportunities to…

New in the Library (September-October 2024)

New in the Library

Here are the latest items added to the CTN Dissemination Library for September– October 2024 (this post will be updated as new items come in): Falling Through the Cracks: The Struggle of Adolescents with Opioid Use Disorder in the Face of Limited Treatment Options. Kaliamurty S. Youth Special Interest Group (SIG) webinar, September 2024. Changes in Prenatal Cannabis Use Among Pregnant Individuals From 2012 to 2022. Young-Wolff KC, et al. Obstetrics & Gynecology 2024;144(4):e101-e104. Effectiveness of a Vaping Cessation Text Message Program Among a Diverse and High-Risk Sample of Adolescent…

News from the Health Systems Node

Node News

After 10 years of leadership as Project Director for the Health System Node, Andrea Altschuler, PhD is passing the torch to Monique Buffler, MPH. Fortunately, Andrea will continue to be involved in HSN with community engagement efforts. In her new role, Monique will assist MPIs with coordination and management of node activities. Kelly Young-Wolff, PhD, MPH, site PI with the Health System Node, and Research Scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, was part of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) consensus panel who…

Submit CPDD Paper/Poster Abstracts to CTN Publications Committee by November 29, 2024

Talk bubble with "Don't forget" in it

CTN members: The receipt deadline for paper and poster abstracts for the June 2025 CPDD annual meeting is December 27, 2024.   The Publication Committee would like to remind authors that presentations and poster abstracts should be submitted to the Publications Committee for prior review and approval at least a month in advance (November 29, 2024) of submission receipt deadline for CPDD. Due to holiday schedules, the PC cannot guarantee that we will be able to review and provide comments if these abstracts are not received by December 11th.  Please…

News from the Big South/West Node

Node News

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.

NIDA HIV Seminar Series: Let’s talk PrEP! Oct. 23, 1pm ET (virtual)

NIDA HIV Seminar Series

Questions about HIV PrEP and how it relates to people with substance use disorders? The NIDA HIV Research Program has invited some HIV clinical research experts and people living with HIV and substance use disorders  to join us in our next virtual Seminar, “Let’s Talk PrEP”, October 23rd, 1-2:30 pm. The seminar includes Drs. Rupa Patel from Whitman-Walker Health and the CDC; Dr. Jaimie Meyer from Yale, and Dr. Hansel Tookes from the University of Miami. Register for the webinar here!

Recommended Resource: Facts About Fentanyl (Addiction Policy Forum)

Recommended resource: new fentanyl resources from ADF

As fentanyl continues to impact communities at an unprecedented rate, understanding its potency and dangers is critical to reducing harm. By raising awareness and promoting life-saving measures like naloxone, we can work toward preventing overdoses and saving lives. This new video explainer from the Addiction Policy Forum highlights the increase of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, overdose risks, the increase in counterfeit pills containing fentanyl nationwide, and the importance of naloxone access and overdose prevention education. The video is available in English as well as in multiple additional languages.

News: U.S. Overdose Deaths Plummet, Saving Thousands of Lives (NPR)

are overdoses down and why?

NPR Exclusive: U.S. Overdose Deaths Plummet, Saving Thousands Of Lives. According to NPR (9/18, Mann, 3.69M), state level public health data, “for the first time in decades,” may point to “a sudden and hopeful drop in drug overdose deaths across the US.” University of North Carolina researcher Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta posted data he said show that “in the states that have the most rapid data collection systems, we’re seeing declines of twenty percent, thirty percent.” NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow called the decline “exciting,” adding, “This looks real. This looks very, very…

Recording available! CTN TH&TM SIG: California Contingency Management Project

CTN SIG Updates

Did you miss September’s Telehealth & Telemedicine SIG meeting? No worries, the recording from this presentation is now available in the CTN Dissemination Library! Lessons Learned from Implementation of the California Contingency Management Pilot Presenters: Thomas E. Freese, PhD, and Darren Urada, PhD More than half of individuals admitted for specialty substance use disorder treatment in California identify stimulants as their primary or secondary drug, yet many people who use stimulants do not seek treatment. Numerous studies have shown that contingency management (CM) is the most effective treatment for stimulant…

CTN Primary Care SIG Meeting: OUD Treatment in Primary Care (Sept. 23, 12pm ET)

CTN Primary Care SIG

Join the CTN Primary Care SIG for their next meeting, featuring Linda Zittleman, MSPH, and Don Nease, Jr., MD (both of University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Department of Family Medicine), talking about: The Odyssey of HOMER: lessons from a pragmatic trial on opioid use disorder treatment in primary care.” September 23, 202412-1pm EST Linda Zittleman, MSPHSenior InstructorHigh Plains Research Network DirectorUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Department of Family Medicine Don Nease, Jr. MDDirector of Community Engagement & Health EquityColorado Clinical & Translational Sciences InstituteProfessor and Green-Edelman Chair for Practice-Based ResearchUniversity of…

New from CTN-0080: PATHS Toolkit about OUD and Pregnancy Now Available!

New from CTN-0080: Prenatal Action for Taking Health Steps (PATHS) Toolkit

The CTN-0080 (MOMs) team has developed a set of dissemination materials around messaging for medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in pregnant and postpartum individual, now available on the CTN Dissemination Library website! The Prenatal Action for Taking Health Steps (PATHS) Toolkit includes flyers, info sheets, posters, an education video, and social media images and short videos (“Reels”), all available for download and sharing. There’s also a discussion guide that can be used to direct conversations about MOUD in pregnant/postpartum people either in a group or individual settings, as well…

Protocol Update: CTN-0100 (RDD)

Protocol Update

On August 30, 2024, the CTN-0100 study reached our goal of 950 BUP randomizations in the Retention Phase of the study! This momentous milestone marked the end of recruitment for this phase. The first randomization occurred on June 10, 2021, and as of September 16, 2024 there have 1,139 randomizations overall (951 BUP, 188 Vivitrol). Additionally, five sites achieved their original recruitment goal and three sites reached or surpassed 100 overall randomizations. The Lead Investigators and Project Team express sincere appreciation to the 18 study sites for their unwavering dedication…

News from the Appalachian Node

Node News

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…

New in the Library (August-September 2024)

New in the Library

Here are the latest items added to the CTN Dissemination Library for August – September 2024 (this post will be updated as new items come in): Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Community Hospitals. Shearer R, et al. Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment 2024 (in press). (CTN-0098) A Scoping Review of Social Determinants of Health’s Impact on Substance Use Disorders Over the Life Course. Lin C, et al. Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment 2024 (in press). Impact of COVID-19 on MOUD…