Age restrictions are listed for trials in the trial description. Even if you get medical care at a clinic without permission, you usually cannot join a trial without your parents' or guardian's consent. There are people working to change the laws in this area, and they may be able to help you join a trial without your parent's permission in certain situations. Injection Drug Users and Clinical Trials Injection drug users and people who use illegal street drugs, such as heroin, crack and speed, have often been left out of clinical trials. There are several reasons for this.
Street drugs can cause damage to the liver or kidneys.
If your liver or kidneys are already damaged, taking a study drug might cause even more harm. Some trials have complicated rules that participants must follow. Researchers may think that if you use drugs you won't show up for your clinic visits, or won't take the study drugs as directed. Most of the clinical trials in this directory do not exclude people just because they have used illegal drugs. If you are told you cannot join a clinical trial, ask the reason why.