Buprenorphine/Naloxone-Facilitated Rehabilitation for Opioid Dependent Adolescents/Young Adults
George Woody, M.D. Lead Investigator Department of Psychiatry University of Pennsylvania 600 Public Ledger Building 150 South Independence Mall West Philadelphia, PA 19106-3475 woody@tresearch.org

The use of heroin by American adolescents is at its highest level since the 1960s. However, the treatment of young heroin users has not been particularly effective, and some treatment providers are reluctant to use the medications they reserve for their older patients, especially for long-term opioid maintenance. This study compares two 3-month treatments for adolescents/young adults who are addicted to heroin. Both groups get 3 months of psychosocial treatment (individual and/or group drug counseling). In addition, one group, the experimental group, gets 3 months of buprenorphine stabilization. The control group is detoxified from opiates using buprenorphine over a 7 - 14 day period. The researchers believe the use of a 3-month stabilization with buprenorphine/naloxone in combination with psychosocial therapy will more effectively reduce heroin use, help these young people comply with their treatment, and improve their overall adjustment than brief detoxification with buprenorphine.

Primary Findings: Results of the study showed that continuing buprenorphine/naloxone (bup/nx) for 12 weeks vs. 2 weeks improved outcomes. During weeks 1 through 12, patients in the 12-week bup/nx group reported less opioid use (P<.001), better retention (70% vs. 21%; p<.0001), less injecting (P=.01), and less use of cocaine (p<.001) and marijuana (p<.001). Continuing treatment with bup/nx for 12 weeks appeared to be safe in this population of opioid addicted adolescents and young adults.

Primary Outcomes Paper: Woody G, et al. Extended vs. short-term buprenorphine/naloxone for treatment of opioid-addicted youth: A randomized trial. Journal of the American Medical Association 2008;300(17):2003-2011. [more. . .]

  RELATED STUDIES

• CTN-0010a: Cost-Effective Analysis (CEA) in the CTN: Bup/Nal Treatment for Opioid Addicted Youth
• CTN-0010b: Comorbid Conditions in Adolescents with Opioid versus Alcohol/Marijuana Use Disorders

	Find publications in the Library about Protocol CTN-0010
	Researchers: Data from this protocol is freely available from the CTN Data Share website.