Skip to content

Emergency Department-Initiated Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder

Emergency Department-Initiated Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05827159
Enrollment
240
Registered
2023-04-24
Start date
2024-08-17
Completion date
2028-03-01
Last updated
2025-05-18

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Alcohol Use Disorder

Keywords

Emergency Department, Brief Intervention, Naltrexone, Gabapentin

Brief summary

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

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.

Interventions

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

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

BEHAVIORALBrief 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.

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

Sponsors

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
CollaboratorNIH
Yale University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

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.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

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

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Participation in AUD Treatment on Day 30 post-randomization30 days post enrollmentThe proportions of participants participating in AUD treatment on day 30 post enrollment in SBIRT and SBIRT+EDMAUD groups.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
AUD Treatment Linkageup to 7 days post ED visitThe proportion of participants that initiate AUD treatment within 7 days post ED visit with providers to which they were referred during the ED visit
Alcohol cravingup to 7 days post enrollmentDaily intensity of alcohol craving measured on a visual analog scale of 0 to 100.
Alcohol withdrawal symptomsup to 7 days post enrollmentDaily intensity of alcohol withdrawal measured on a visual analog scale of 0 to 100.
Days of heavy alcohol drinking30 days post ED visitThe number of heavy alcohol drinking days during the 30 days prior and during 30 days post the ED index visit. This outcome will be based on self-report using the timeline follow-back (TLFB) method. A day of heavy alcohol drinking is defined by the NIAAA criteria as: for men, consuming more than 4 drinks on any day; for women, consuming more than 3 drinks on any day.
Daily gabapentin medication adherenceup to 7 days post enrollmentNumber of gabapentin doses taken in the past 24 hours of those in the SBIRT+ED- MAUD arm.
Treatment linkage7 days• Proportion of patients in each of the two study arms initiating outpatient AUD treatment within 7 days post the ED visit with providers to which they were referred during the ED visit.
Daily naltrexone medication adherenceup to 7 days post enrollmentNumber of oral naltrexone doses taken in the past 24 hours for 7 days post enrollment of those initiated on oral naltrexone in the SBIRT+ED- MAUD arm.

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactKathryn Hawk, MD, MHS
Kathryn.hawk@yale.edu267-334-4415

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026