Benzodiazepine Discontinuation in Opioid Agonist Therapy

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2021-07-08
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The proposed study is a clinical trial, designed to pilot test a Distress Tolerance-Benzodiazepine Discontinuation (DT-BD) intervention for patients on opioid agonist therapy who currently use benzodiazepines. The DT-BD intervention is an adjunctive psychosocial intervention in people seeking to discontinue (BZD) use. The goal of the study is to assess the applicability and feasibility of this intervention through treatment retention and qualitative interviews with four participants who are receiving opioid agonist treatment and who regularly use BZDs.

• Phase: Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Boston Medical Center
• Collaborator: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
• Treatments: Analgesics, Opioid

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18 or older

2. Receiving OAT (methadone or buprenorphine) confirmed by toxicology testing for at least 90 days and on a steady dose for 2 consecutive weeks

3. Regular BZD use defined by BZD use 3 or more times per week in past month by self-report and positive urine screen at time of recruitment

4. Provides permission to contact current BZD prescriber if being prescribed BZDs

5. Speaks English

6. Wants to discontinue BZD use

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnant, confirmed by urine pregnancy test

2. Cognitive impairment, as indicated by a score of < 23 on the Mini Mental Status Exam

3. Any past month illicit opioid, barbiturate, z-drug, cocaine, unprescribed amphetamine, or synthetic cannabinoid use determined by self-report or urine drug test

4. Receiving ongoing psychosocial treatment for BZD use disorder

5. Uncontrolled seizure disorder (i.e. seizure in prior 90 days), or past BZD withdrawal seizure

6. Current suicidality or homicidality

7. Current psychotic symptoms