Behavioral Pharmacological Examination of a Novel Buprenorphine Induction Method Among Individuals Who Use Fentanyl

The opioid overdose epidemic has persisted for several decades and is now further complicated by the permeation of fentanyl into the illicit opioid supply. While the effectiveness of medications to treat opioid use disorder (MOUD) have been well documented in the literature, the addition of fentanyl to the drug supply has complicated the initiation of MOUD, especially buprenorphine. Naloxone, an opioid antagonist, is currently utilized to reverse opioid overdose by displacing less-competitive ligands which bind at the mu-opioid receptor. Because induction to buprenorphine in the age of fentanyl is uncomfortable and can take several days to stabilize a patient on a therapeutic dose, the use of naloxone prior to buprenorphine can aid in a safe and rapid transition to buprenorphine treatment, without the effect of unintended prolonged precipitated withdrawal which can occur following the displacement of fentanyl by buprenorphine on the mu-opioid receptor. Therefore, this project will assess feasibility and acceptability of naloxone-facilitated buprenorphine initiation using a single-ascending dose design. The investigators will examine whether a single dose of buprenorphine is tolerated following administration of naloxone among a small group of individuals. If the dose is tolerated, the investigators will administer a larger dose among another small group of individuals. The investigators will examine the tolerability of up to 4 doses of buprenorphine following naloxone. This buprenorphine induction method has been characterized in case studies but it has not been evaluated in an empirical, systematic way in a controlled setting. This study will take place within an residential facility at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Campus, and will have immediate, real-world applicability in establishing a rapid, safe, and effective option to transition people with chronic fentanyl use to buprenorphine treatment.

Emergent data suggest that individuals with fentanyl use experience prolonged, uncomfortable buprenorphine inductions that can commonly result in instances of unintended precipitated withdrawal. Buprenorphine induction in the fentanyl era can take multiple days, which is time intensive and increases the risk for treatment attrition. Novel methods that transition patients quickly and safely from fentanyl to buprenorphine are needed.

The proposed project will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of naloxone-facilitated buprenorphine inductions among individuals with recent fentanyl exposure. The project consists of a single ascending dose study to assess feasibility and acceptability of naloxone-facilitated buprenorphine inductions.

Participants with opioid use disorder with fentanyl exposure who are not receiving medications for opioid use disorder will complete a brief phone or online prescreen to assess initial eligibility. Potentially eligible participants will be contacted by research staff to complete an in-person screen and informed consent form with a staff member and discuss the study before providing voluntary informed consent to participate. The screen contains structured demographics, substance use, and overall health questions from standard assessments and from internally developed survey items in order to determine study specific eligibility.

Eligible participants will enroll in a 2-3 day residential stay at a clinical research unit at Johns Hopkins University Bayview Campus. Throughout the residential stay, participants will complete frequent measures of withdrawal, craving, and anxiety. Participants may be maintained on hydromorphone for the first 24 hours depending on the timing of the participants admission. In a single-ascending dose design, the investigators will incrementally assess the tolerability of 4, 8, 16, and 24 mg of buprenorphine following naloxone administration (Narcan, 4 mg) among 3 participants per dose condition (e.g., 3 participants will receive 4 mg buprenorphine following naloxone administration then 3 new participants will receive 8 mg buprenorphine following naloxone administration, etc.). Immediately before naloxone administration and in 15-minute increments for 2 hours following naloxone administration, participants will be assessed for opioid withdrawal. These assessments will characterize the naloxone-induced opioid withdrawal and any evidence for buprenorphine-precipitated withdrawal. Following administration of buprenorphine, if there is no evidence of buprenorphine precipitated withdrawal within 45 minutes, the investigators will administer another dose of buprenorphine and will continue to dose the participant until the participant reaches stabilization (between 16mg and 24mg). The participant will stay an additional night for observation and will be discharged on the third day. All participants will be discharged with a short supply of buprenorphine and will be connected to a medical provider for continued buprenorphine prescribing. The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal scale (COWS) and the Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS) will be assessed at regular intervals, multiple times throughout the stay to monitor withdrawal.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 years or older
* Speak fluent English
* Medically cleared to take study medication
* Willing to comply with the study protocol
* Provides urine sample that tests positive for fentanyl
* Current moderate to severe opioid use disorder

Exclusion Criteria:

* Significant cognitive impairment resulting in inability to provide informed consent (e.g., severe dementia or intellectual disability)
* Unable to read or understand study questions with assistance from the research staff
* Medical symptoms interfering with their ability to answer study questions
* Psychiatric symptoms interfering with their ability to answer survey questions
* Currently enrolled and taking medications for OUD
* Pregnant or Breastfeeding
* Taking medication contraindicated with study medication
* Deemed by the principal investigator or medical team to not be a good fit for the study protocol.
* Current or history of hypo/hypertension (i.e., no less than 90/60, no greater than 140/90) or adverse cardiovascular event in the past three years (e.g. significant cardiac arrhythmia, myocardiac infarction, endocarditis).