Clinical trial NCT03547622
Conditions: Methadone or Buprenorphine Detoxoxification
Sponsor: Yale University
Start date: 2018-05-01; Completion date: 2019-02-28
Enrollment: 6 participants; Allocation: RANDOMIZED; Intervention model: PARALLEL

Brief summary:
The investigators are proposing a randomized pilot feasibility study to evaluate the effects of galantamine versus placebo on preventing relapse to opioid use following tapering from methadone or buprenorphine maintenance (Medication Assisted Treatment, or MAT) among adults with opioid use disorder, with additional behavioral therapy (web-based cognitive behavioral therapy) provided across all conditions to help individuals successfully transition from MAT to a drug-free state.

Detailed description:
This is a randomized pilot study to examine the potential use of galantamine as an adjunct to the standard buprenorphine or methadone taper in the context of behavioral support. Early abstinence from opioids is associated with high relapse rates and there is a great need to develop interventions that will prevent relapse to opioid use.

In this randomized pilot, 30 adults enrolled in the methadone or buprenorphine maintenance programs at the APT Foundation and who have sought a medically supervised, voluntary taper from these medications will be offered participation in a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized trial of galantamine as an adjunct to standard tapering procedures at this clinic along with the combined approach utilizing concurrent behavior therapy. Primary outcomes will be: (1) successful completion of taper (achieving a methadone/buprenorphine dose of 0), (2) opioid withdrawal symptoms, and (3) opioid use, assessed by self-report and urine samples during and up to 3 months after the end of opioid taper. The investigators will also closely monitor patient comfort and safety (assessed by opioid withdrawal symptoms, adverse events, with measures of stress, sleep and pain) as well as cognitive function (assessed by the CANTAB).

Arms: arm 1: Following initial MAT taper, participants will be given up to 16mg daily of galantamine for up to 10 weeks of the active study arm 2: Following initial MAT taper, participants will be given up to 16mg daily of placebo for up to 10 weeks of the active study
Interventions: intervention 1: MAT taper with galantamine intervention 2: MAT taper with placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Following taper from MAT (methadone or buprenorphine) participants will be given galantamine daily with access to a CBT4CBT computer program intervention 2: Following taper from MAT (methadone or buprenorphine) participants will be given placebo daily with access to a CBT4CBT computer program

Protocol documents:
Prot_SAP_000.pdf: 
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HRP-503B – BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH PROTOCOL 
(2016-1)
Protocol Title: Title of Research Project: Pilot study of galantamine and CBT4CBT to reduce post-taper relapse for 
MAT
Principal Investigator: Kathleen M. Carroll, PhD
Version Date: 02/09/2018 Version 4
(If applicable) Clinicaltrials.gov Registration #: Click or tap here to enter text.
INSTRUCTIONS
This template is intended to help investigators prepare a protocol that includes all of the necessary information 
needed by the IRB to determine whether a study meets approval criteria. Read the following instructions 
before proceeding:
1.
Use this protocol template for a PI initiated study that includes direct interactions with research 
subjects. Additional templates for other types of research protocols are available in the system Library.
2.
If a section or question does not apply to your research study, type “Not Applicable” underneath.
3.
Once completed, upload your protocol in the “Basic Information” screen in IRES IRB system. 
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SECTION I: RESEARCH PLAN
1.
Statement of Purpose: State the scientific aim(s) of the study, or the hypotheses to be tested. 
We are proposing a randomized pilot feasibility study to evaluate the effects of galantamine, a 
reversible and competitive inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, versus placebo, on preventing relapse to 
opioid use following tapering from methadone or buprenorphine maintenance (Medication Assisted 
Treatment, or MAT) among adults with opioid use disorder, with additional behavioral therapy 
(web-based cognitive behavioral therapy) provided across all conditions to help individuals 
successfully transition from MAT to a drug-free state.   
We aim to evaluate the feasibility and potential efficacy of up to 16 mg/day galantamine treatment 
among 30 adults aged 18 or over who have recently chosen to be tapered off methadone or 
buprenorphine. Participants will be randomized to receive galantamine (extended release) or 
matched placebo to be initiated within a week of initiating of a standard medically monitored 
buprenorphine or methadone taper and continue until 4 weeks after the end of the taper (length of 
taper is determined by the CMU physician; for most patients it occurs over 4-6 weeks; thus we 
expect the duration of treatment to be 8-10weeks for most participants).  Participants will then be 
followed for three months to evaluate the durability of treatment response.
This dose and treatment duration are similar to those used in our previous studies with substance 
using patients, including those maintained on methadone (1-4).  Primary outcomes will include: (1) 
successful completion of taper (2) opioid withdrawal symptoms, and (3) opioid use, assessed by self-
report and urine samples during and up to 3 months after the end of opioid taper.  
Exploratory Aims: To explore the potential mechanisms underlying galantamine’s effect on the main 
study outcomes. These include measures of cognitive function and inflammation, which will be 
measured at the beginning of treatment, immediately after the taper ends, and at the end of treatment.  
2.
Probable Duration of Project: State the expected duration of the project, including all follow-up and data 
analysis activities.  
Approximately 12 months
3.
Background: Describe the background information that led to the plan for this project. Provide references to 
support the expectation of obtaining useful scientific data.
Improving outcomes after methadone or buprenorphine maintenance for individuals with opioid use 
disorder.
The efficacy and public health significance of treating opioid-dependent via maintenance therapies 
(methadone or buprenorphine) is compelling.  Compared to no medication or detoxification, 
maintenance therapies are associated with significantly less morbidity and mortality (5, 6).  The 
appropriate focus of current public heath efforts is on making maintenance therapies more widely 
available as a strategy to address current high rates of opioid use and mortality in the US (7).   At the 
same time, there is no consensus on the length of time most opioid-dependent individuals should be 
maintained on either methadone or buprenorphine (6).   Moreover, although not all individuals wish 
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to remain on buprenorphine or methadone indefinitely, rates of relapse among individuals seeking to 
taper off methadone or buprenorphine are extremely high (estimated at 80% or higher) (8-10) and 
relapse carries significant risk over overdose and death (11-13).  Strategies for increasing the 
likelihood of successfully tapering individuals from methadone/buprenorphine maintenance to 
abstinence are clearly needed.  
Multiple factors likely contribute to these unacceptably high rates of relapse, including physical and 
psychological stress associated with reducing methadone/buprenorphine dose over time, adjusting to 
the lack of support/structure and monitoring of the programs in which MAT is delivered, and so on.  
Moreover, individuals maintained on methadone typically have multiple problems with cognitive 
function, including deficits in memory, attention, and problem solving (14); these are likely 
exacerbated with the stress of detoxification and transitioning from methadone maintenance 
programs.  We therefore propose a randomized pilot feasibility study evaluating a combined 
behavioral therapy/pharmacotherapy approach to help individuals successfully transition from MAT 
to a drug-free state.   
Rationale for computerized CBT
To provide cognitive and behavioral tools for the transition to abstinence, we will provide 
computerized cognitive-behavioral therapy, starting about one month before the taper ends and 
extending up to a month after.  Cognitive-behavioral therapy consists of multiple strategies aimed at 
helping individuals achieve greater control over cravings and urges, and improve decision making 
and problem-solving skills.   CBT is one of the most widely studied and well-validated treatments 
for the addictions and other mental health disorders (15, 16).  A particular advantage for this study is 
CBT’s focus on strategies to help individuals remain abstinent; in fact, in its first application to 
substance use disorders it was called ‘relapse prevention’ therapy (17).  For the proposed study, we 
will use a computerized version of CBT, called computer-based training in CBT (CBT4CBT) 
developed at Yale and demonstrated to be safe, effective and durable in a range of substance-using 
populations (18-20), including methadone-maintained individuals (21) (17).   As CBT4CBT is 
computer-based and can be used at home on smartphones, laptops, and other devices, it appears well 
suited to individuals who are transitioning from regular clinic visits for methadone dosing and 
counseling.   
Acetylcholine (Ach) and opioid use disorder
Ach is one of the key neurotransmitters in the central nervous system (CNS) and participates in 
multiple functions including sensory and motor processing, sleep, nociception, mood, stress 
response, attention, arousal, memory, motivation and reinforcement (22-24). The neural substrate of 
drug reinforcement is the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) transmission which projects from the ventral 
tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The mesolimbic DA is anatomically and 
functionally linked to ACh. While VTA receives ACh projections from the laterodorsal and 
pedunculopontine tegmental nuclei, NAc has cholinergic interneurons that are closely linked to DA 
function. In the reward circuit, especially in the NAc, DA and ACh have opposing effects. For 
example, ablation of the cholinergic neurons in the NAc enhanced the rewarding effects of 
morphine, assessed by the conditioned place preference (CPP) and the negative reinforcement of 
morphine withdrawal in mice (25). In contrast, increased ACh levels induced by treatment with 
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inhibitor donepezil blocked the CPP for morphine (25). In another study, galantamine, another 
cholinesterase inhibitor, attenuated the reinstatement of opioid-seeking behavior in rats that were 
trained to self-administer heroin (26). Following its release from nerve endings, ACh activates two 
types of receptors: nicotinic and muscarinic acetyl cholinergic receptors, based on their differential 
sensitivity to the exogenous ligands, nicotine and muscarine, respectively. The observed effects of 
cholinesterase inhibitors on morphine reinforcement seems to be mediated by the activation of 
nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). In a recent study, treatment with acetylcholinesterase 
inhibitor, rivastigmine or donepezil, blocked the acquisition and expression of CPP for morphine 
(27). In addition, cholinesterase inhibitors also blocked the reinstatement of CPP for morphine by a 
priming dose of morphine. Treatment by a nAChR antagonist mecamylamine, reversed the effects of 
cholinesterase inhibitors, suggesting that these effects of cholinesterase inhibitors are mediated by 
the nAChRs (27). In other studies, cholinesterase inhibitors enhanced the nociceptive effects of 
opioids in mice (28). Similar findings were observed in uncontrolled human studies. In patients who 
are receiving chronic opioids, addition of a cholinergic inhibitor medication enhanced opioid 
analgesia and reduced the sedative effects of opioids (29-31). Together, these findings support the 
potential efficacy of cholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of opioid use disorder.  
Galantamine
In this study, we will use galantamine, a cholinesterase inhibitor to help individuals to taper off from 
opioid medications including methadone or buprenorphine. Cholinesterase inhibitors are a group of 
medications that are marketed for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Following its release to the 
synaptic cleft, ACh is hydrolyzed by acetylcholinesterase. This enzyme is inhibited by a group of 
medications called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. These medications increase synaptic levels of 
ACh available at both the nicotinic and muscarinic type cholinergic receptors (32).  Many 
acetylcholinesterase inhibitors including tacrine, rivastigmine, donepezil and galantamine, are 
clinically used as cognitive enhancers in the treatment of dementia. Galantamine, similar to other 
cholinesterase inhibitors, increases the synaptic concentrations of ACh. As a unique feature, 
galantamine also directly stimulates the nicotinic receptors: it is an allosteric modulator of the 7 and 
42 subtypes (33). Because of its additional nAChR potentiating effects, we hypothesized that GAL 
could be more effective than other cholinesterase inhibitors. 
For this study, study medication, galantamine extended release (ER) will be administered at an initial 
dose of 8 mg/day for 4 weeks, with the option of going to 16 mg during the final 4 weeks of 
treatment.  Capsules will be prepared by the APT Foundation pharmacist. Matching placebo 
capsules will also be prepared for participants randomized to the placebo arm. 
4.
Research Plan: Summarize the study design and research procedures using non-technical language that can 
be readily understood by someone outside the discipline. Be sure to distinguish between standard of care vs. 
research procedures when applicable, and include any flowcharts of visits specifying their individual times and 
lengths. Describe the setting in which the research will take place.
This is a randomized pilot study to examine the potential use of galantamine as an adjunct to the 
standard buprenorphine or methadone taper in the context of behavioral support. Early abstinence 
from opioids is associated with high relapse rates and there is a great need to develop interventions 
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that will prevent relapse to opioid use. Cumulating evidence suggest the cholinergic system is a 
promising target for relapse prevention. 
  
In this randomized pilot, 30 adults enrolled in the methadone or buprenorphine maintenance 
programs at the APT Foundation and who have sought a medically supervised, voluntary taper from 
these medications will be offered participation in a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized 
trial of galantamine as an adjunct to standard tapering procedures at this clinic along with the 
combined approach utilizing concurrent behavior therapy.   Primary outcomes will be: (1) successful 
completion of taper (achieving a methadone/buprenorphine dose of 0), (2) opioid withdrawal 
symptoms, and (3) opioid use, assessed by self-report and urine samples during and up to 3 months 
after the end of opioid taper.   We will also closely monitor patient comfort and safety (assessed by 
opioid withdrawal symptoms, adverse events, with measures of stress, sleep and pain) as well as 
cognitive function (assessed by the CANTAB).      
PROCEDURES          
Initial Screening   
Participants will be recruited from individuals stabilized in the methadone maintenance program or 
buprenorphine maintenance programs of the APT Foundation who have recently chosen to taper off 
MAT. They will be identified by their clinicians, fliers, and clinic postings.  Individuals who indicate 
they are interested in hearing more about the study will be offered a meeting with the Research 
Assistant.  At the first interview, the Research Assistant will provide a brief overview of the protocol 
and obtain informed consent.  To enhance the quality of informed consent procedures, we will use a 
multiple choice test to assess prospective participants’ understanding of key aspects of the protocol 
(34), and provide ample time to review questions and concerns to assure individuals’ understanding 
of the protocols and treatments offered.  After determination of eligibility, the pretreatment 
assessments will be completed by the Research Assistant (see Assessment Table below).  
Pretreatment evaluations and physical examination
Eligible individuals will meet with the Research Assistant to complete baseline interview and self-
report scales (see Table below) including the CANTAB which is an optional assessment for which 
participants will be paid.  They will also be examined by Dr. Shi to assure they are healthy, meet 
medical inclusion/exclusions, and are sufficiently stable for tapering.  Routine laboratory studies will 
include CBC, BUN/creatinine, electrolytes, serum glucose, cortisol, liver function tests, and urine 
toxicology.   Following final confirmation of eligibility by Dr. Shi, participants will be randomized 
to condition using a computerized urn randomization program (35) to balance treatment conditions 
on key prognostic variables (buprenorphine versus methadone; severity of substance use disorder, 
gender) and begin their tapering.  
Treatment phase
Tapering typically takes 4 to 6 weeks and will follow standard clinical procedures as established by 
Dr. Shi at the Central Medical Unit (CMU) of the APT Foundation over almost 30 years.  At the 
start of each participants’ taper, the participant will be offered weekly CBT4CBT sessions, which 
they are free to complete on site at CMU or at home (see CBT4CBT description, below).  These 
sessions will last about 35 minutes. CBT4CBT is intended to provide support during the taper and 
transition to abstinence.  
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As the taper begins, patients will initiate the study medication (4-6 weeks during taper and 4 weeks 
after completion of the taper).  The medication will be continued after the taper ends, as we 
anticipate it may be helpful in coping with protracted withdrawal.  Participants will receive study 
medication at weekly research meetings.   These will take place at the Central Medical Unit at the 
same time as weekly visits with Dr. Shi.  We anticipate these will last no longer than 10 minutes. 
Participants will be dispensed up to 16 mg/day of galantamine or matched placebo at the CMU with 
weekly monitoring of symptoms, adverse events, and urine collection.  Medication increases will 
take place at the discretion of Dr. Shi, based on lack of adverse reactions to study medication.  
Medication compliance will be assessed at every visit. Participants will be free to use CBT4CBT as 
they wish through the end of follow-up (3 months after completion of taper).  At the end of the 
active treatment, an endpoint interview will be conducted.  Follow-up assessments will occur two 
weeks, one month and three months following the end of the taper.
Treatment Conditions
     1.  Medications 
Galantamine 8mg or placebo will be dispensed weekly with directions for daily dosing at the start of 
taper and continue 8-10 weeks, with the option to increase to 16mg at the end of Week 4.  Participants 
will receive a weekly supply during weekly research assessment visits. Adverse events will be 
monitored closely; urine and breath samples will be collected weekly during taper and at each follow-up.  
In this study, we will use galantamine extended release (ER). Galantamine ER is used once daily (36). 
The recommended initial dose is 8 mg/day and the maintenance dose is 16-24 mg/day. With once daily 
dosing, steady-state plasma levels are reached within one week (36). Common adverse events (>5%) 
include weight loss (5% to 7%), diarrhea (6% to 12%), loss of appetite (7% to 9%), nausea (13% to 
24%), vomiting (6% to 13%, dizziness (9%), headache (8%). Other less common adverse events include 
bradyarrhythmia (2%), cardiac dysrhythmia (infrequent), heart failure (infrequent), esophageal 
perforation (rare), gastrointestinal hemorrhage, rectal hemorrhage (infrequent), thrombocytopenia 
(infrequent) and death (very rare).  When the taper begins, participants will receive the first dose of the 
medication in the CMU clinic at the time they come in for their methadone/buprenorphine.  Participants 
Study design & Timeline
Week -0
Informed consent, baseline assessment, inclusion/exclusion criteria
Week 1 to week 4-6
Reduced methadone/buprenorphine dose per standard CMU procedure
Week 1 to week -4-6
Initiate CBT4CBT and galantamine or placebo, continue tapering, weekly 
check-in
Week 4-6
Last dose methadone or buprenorphine
Week 4-6 to Week 
8-10
Continue CBT4CBT and study medication, weekly check-in 
Week 8-10
Endpoint interview
Week 10-12
Two week follow-up assessment
Week 12-14
One month follow-up assessment 
Week 20-24
Three month follow-up assessment 
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will meet briefly with Dr. Shi and study staff weekly during the first week and weekly thereafter to 
ensure that they tolerate the study medication well.
Galantamine’s safety and efficacy have been evaluated in different patient populations including 
Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson’s disease, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity 
Disorder (ADHD), chronic fatigue syndrome, schizophrenia and alcohol dependence (37-43).
In our most recently completed randomized clinical trial evaluating galantamine versus placebo among 
120 methadone maintained individuals with cocaine use disorder, galantamine was safe and well 
tolerated by patients (3).   The most frequently reported adverse events were nausea/vomiting (reported 
at least once by 21% of participants), headache (17.7%), loss of appetite (15.9%), fatigue (15%), and 
diarrhea/constipation (13.3%), but there were no significant differences in frequency of these symptoms 
by medication condition (galantamine versus placebo).  Four participants reported significant weight 
loss; all were in the placebo condition (galantamine versus placebo, X2=3.54, p=.06).  Rates of serious 
adverse events occurred infrequently (8.3% of all those randomized, n=10; 3 for medical reasons, 6 for 
substance use hospitalization, and 1 for psychiatric reasons) and did not differ by treatment condition 
(galantamine versus placebo).  
To minimize the adverse effects of galantamine in our study, following precautions will be taken:
1) Following the manufacturer’s recommendations, the galantamine dose will be started at 
8mg/day. Participants will be maintained on this dose for 4 weeks and if they tolerate the 8 mg 
dose, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 16 mg/day. Galantamine doses over 16 
mg/day are associated with more frequent adverse events and will not be used in this study.
2) We chose methadone- and buprenorphine-maintained patients voluntarily seeking to taper off 
MAT as our participant population. Participants will come to the clinic to attend weekly research 
visits and obtain weekly supply of study medication. This will allow close monitoring of 
compliance as well as any adverse effects from galantamine treatment (44). Participants will be 
briefly evaluated before methadone/buprenorphine administration by the clinic nurse. In 
addition, participants will see the clinic nurse weekly for a systematic evaluation of any adverse 
events.
3) Potential participants will be carefully screened to rule out medical conditions that may increase 
the possibility of adverse events. These include asthma or chronic obstructive lung disease, 
history or current gastrointestinal ulcer, hepatic or renal impairment and cardiac rhythm 
disturbances (44).  
4) Participants will be warned and closely monitored for concomitant use of drugs that may cause 
drug interactions with galantamine. These include:  a) drugs that slow heart rate (eg, beta-
blockers), which may increase the risk of bradycardia and AV block, and b) NSAIDs; increased 
potential for developing ulcers/active or occult gastrointestinal bleeding (44).
  
      2.  CBT for CBT 
All participants will also be offered CBT4CBT, which they can access onsite at CMU, or if they wish, at 
home on their own smartphone, laptop, or tablet.   Research staff will provide detailed instruction and 
support in the use of the computer and the program, and be available to answer questions about the 
program.  Research staff will check in weekly with study participants.  Time spent using the program 
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will be tracked by the computer and can be entered into the data analyses as a possible predictor of 
outcome.  
The CBT4CBT program has been evaluated in multiple clinical trials with a range of substance using 
samples (cocaine, opioid, alcohol, marijuana users) and has been shown to be effective, durable, and 
safe (18-21).  Furthermore, this proposal follows  ethical guidelines for use of computerized behavioral 
therapies developed by Sampson and Pyle (45), including (1) assurance of confidentiality, (2) 
determination of appropriateness of the specific form of therapy (in this case, CBT, which has been 
shown to be effective across a wide range of substance use disorders), (3) adequate introduction to the 
computer program to reduce possible anxiety about use of the systems, (4) provision of follow-up 
consultation with a clinician if needed, (5) computer system uses current information on the disorder, 
and (6) supervision of the treatment process by a clinician.
The CBT4CBT program has the following features:
•
Password protection.  Each patient will access the program through an ID/password system that 
protects confidentiality and is linked to an imbedded database that tracks, for each patient, time logged 
onto the program, modules accessed, progress through the program from session to session, completion 
of homework assignments, progress in treatment, and learning of CBT principles through multiple 
choice tests after each module.  
•
User-friendliness. Given that many patients have minimal background in the use of personal 
computers, the program is user-friendly, with extensive use of point-and-click features (as opposed to 
typed-in responses) so that no prior experience with computers or software is necessary.  Presentation of 
didactic material is done through graphics and cartoons, videotaped examples, and audio voice-overs, 
thus requiring very little reading of text.   When text is used in presentation of material, audio voice-
overs accompanies the text, as many patients may become impatient or uncomfortable with reading 
large amounts of material.  CBT concepts are presented in a simple, straightforward style without jargon 
and in a visual style that is engaging and enjoyable (e.g., modeled on computer learning games).  
•
Topics covered:  The ‘CBT for CBT’ program will is modeled closely on a validated NIDA-
published CBT manual (46).  Seven core skill modules cover the following topics, which correspond to 
the major session topics in the manual:  
        o Understanding and changing patterns of drug use, 
        o Coping with craving, 
        o Substance refusal skills, 
        o Seemingly irrelevant decisions, 
        o Planning for emergencies, and
        o Problem-solving skills.
        o HIV/STD risk reduction
•   Choice of topics:  Although all patients will be able to access all 7 key CBT topics (‘skill modules’), 
patients have the option of choosing the order in which they access skill modules as well as items within 
modules as often as they wish.  Prior to log-off, patients are reminded to immediately report any 
concerns or uncomfortable feelings associated with use of the program to the research assistant, their 
APT clinician, or Dr. Carroll.
Assessments:   Assessments will include measures of substance use, withdrawal symptoms and severity, 
stress, cognitive function, sleep and pain.  
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i.  Assessment of Outcome. 
The primary outcome will be successful transition to abstinence, defined as providing an opioid-
free urine at the one- and three-month follow-up. On-site urine testing system we use is the ToxCup 
Drug Screen Cup    We will use a 5 panel Screen Cup on-site ToxCup system for detection of cocaine, 
methamphetamine, THC, benzodiazepine, and opioids at each assessment visit.  Breathalyzer samples 
will be collected at each assessment to monitor alcohol use.   Individuals who miss follow-ups or re-
initiate methadone or buprenorphine will be considered to be relapsed.  

The 11-item Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale (COWS) (47, 48), a widely used and validated 
rating scale, will be used at each assessment visit during taper to evaluate withdrawal symptoms

 The Perceived Stress Scale (49) is a brief, widely used measure of perceived stress.

 The Sleep Problems Questionnaire, a 4-item measure of insomnia during the past 1 month(50), 
will be used to monitor sleep patterns  (51-53).

Pain will be assessed at baseline, during taper, and at each follow-up using the Brief Pain 
Inventory-Short form (54)

Adverse events will be monitored at each visit through use of the SAFTEE (55), which has been 
used in a large number of pharmacotherapy trials (56, 57).

Inflammatory markers. Opioid medications are known to enhance inflammatory markers and the 
serum level of these markers may potentially predict treatment outcomes. For this reason we will 
collect serum levels of pro-inflamatory cytokines including Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), Interleukin-2 
(IL-2), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Interleukin 12 p70 (IL12p70), Interferon gamma 
(IFNg), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFα), Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor 
(GM-CSF). Serum samples will be obtained at baseline, and at the end of taper and at 4-week post 
taper.   The samples will be assayed using electrochemiluminescence multi-array technology (Meso 
Scale Discovery, Gaithersburg, MD).

CANTAB. (Optional) We will include tests from the well-validated computerized CANTAB battery 
(58, 59)  selected specifically for their likely sensitivity to effects of mifepristone and used in similar 
ongoing trials with alcohol dependent populations (60).  Paired Associate Learning (PAL) which 
assesses episodic memory and learning of geometric patterns and spatial locations, Delayed Pattern 
Recognition Memory (PRM), which assesses short-term recognition memory for geometric patterns, 
and Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVIP), a test of visual sustained attention with a small 
working memory component.
Instrument name
Rater
Screen
4-6 week 
taper
End of 
taper
4 weeks 
post taper
Follow-up 
2 week 
1, 3 mo
Informed Consent Quiz
P
x
Baseline Demographics, including 
DSM-V screener
RA
x
Inclusion/Exclusion  
RA
x
Follow-up contact & tracking sheet
RA
x
x
BASIS
RA
x
Urine toxicology screen, breathalyzer
RA
x
weekly
x
x
x
Inflammatory markers
MD
x
x
x
COWS (withdrawal symptoms)
MD
x
weekly
x
x
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Substance Use Calendar (SUC)
RA
x
weekly
x
x
x
Perceived Stress Scale
P
x
x
x
x
Sleep Problems Questionnaire
P
x
x
x
x
CANTAB subtests (Optional)
RA
x
x
x
Brief Pain Inventory
P
x
weekly
x
x
x
Patient satisfaction 
P, PC
x
x
SAFTEE (adverse events)
MD
weekly
x
x
x
SAE Reporting Form (as needed)
PC
5.
Genetic Testing   
N/A ☒
6.
Subject Population: Provide a detailed description of the types of human subjects who will be recruited into 
this study.
Participants will be 30 opioid-dependent adults enrolled the methadone maintenance or 
buprenorphine programs of the APT Foundation and who provide written informed consent.  
Participants will be recruited from those enrolled in methadone or buprenorphine treatment and 
stable for at least one year and are voluntarily requesting taper.  In this and other community 
programs in which we have worked, we have recruited samples that are roughly 40% members of 
racial and ethnic minority groups.  We will not include individuals younger than 18, as MAT 
program require patients to be 18 or older.   Health in our samples is generally good, but participants 
often experience a variety of comorbidities related to chronic substance use.
7. Subject classification: Check off all classifications of subjects that will be specifically recruited for enrollment in 
the research project. Will subjects who may require additional safeguards or other considerations be enrolled 
in the study? If so, identify the population of subjects requiring special safeguards and provide a justification 
for their involvement.
☐Children
☐ Healthy 
☐Fetal material, placenta, or dead fetus
☐Non-English Speaking
☐ Prisoners
☐Economically disadvantaged persons
☐Decisionally Impaired
☐ Employees
☐Pregnant women and/or fetuses
☐Yale Students 
☐ Females of childbearing potential
NOTE: Is this research proposal designed to enroll children who are wards of the state as potential subjects?
Yes ☐  No ☒ 
8. Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria: What are the criteria used to determine subject inclusion or exclusion?
Eligibility will be determined by the project physician, Dr. Shi, following screening/baseline 
assessment and physical exam.
 
Individuals will be included who:  

Are male and females, between the ages of 18 and 65

Are enrolled in the APT methadone or buprenorphine program, have been stabilized for at least one 
year, and who voluntarily wish to taper off MAT.   
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
For women of child-bearing age, have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening, agree to 
adequate contraception to prevent pregnancy, and agree to have monthly urine pregnancy tests at the 
clinic.   

Are fluent in English and have a 6th grade or higher reading level.

Can commit to at least 12 weeks of treatment and are willing to be randomized to treatment
Individuals will be excluded who:

Are undergoing administrative (non-voluntary) tapering (e.g., example due to non-
payment of program fees, program rule infractions).

Meet DSM-V psychiatric classifications for lifetime schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, 
or have a depressive or anxiety disorder with current use of a prescribed psychotropic 
medication that cannot be discontinued;

Current DSM-V diagnosis of drug or alcohol use disorder (other than opioids or 
tobacco); 

Demonstrate significant medical conditions, including asthma or chronic obstructive 
lung disease, history or current gastrointestinal ulcer, hepatic or renal impairment and 
cardiac rhythm disturbances or any other medical conditions that the study physician 
deems contraindicated for galantamine treatment; 

Use of other medications including  a) drugs that slow heart rate (e.g., beta-blockers),which may 
increase the risk of bradycardia and AV block and b) NSAIDs; increased potential for 
developing ulcers/active or occult gastrointestinal bleeding (44); 

Have a screening liver function test (AST or ALT) greater than 3 times normal; 

Known allergy or adverse reaction to galantamine  
9. How will eligibility be determined, and by whom? Write here
Eligibility will be determined by the project physician, Dr. Shi, following screening/baseline 
assessment and physical exam
10. Risks: Describe the reasonably foreseeable risks, including risks to subject privacy, discomforts, or 
inconveniences associated with subjects participating in the research. 
a.
 Tapering
Standard methadone or buprenorphine tapering procedures well-established and in place at the Central 
Medical Unit.   Risks therefore are no different from standard procedures at this setting.
b. Computer-assisted training program
The ‘CBT4 CBT’ program will be delivered in addition to standard tapering procedures at the clinic.  
The program is modeled closely on the CBT treatment manual that has been evaluated in several 
randomized clinical trials (46) and which is widely accepted as an empirically validated treatment for 
substance dependence (51).   We have completed several large trials of the program and have found it 
safe and effective for this population (18-21).  We have not observed any adverse effects related to use 
of the program in over 300 outpatients with substance use disorders.   
Thus, while we believe adverse events, such as increases in craving or suicidal ideation associated with 
the use of the computer program, are likely to be rare, we will nevertheless continue to be vigilant in 
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case of their occurrence.  Thus, the research assistant will supervise the participants’ use and 
understanding of the program closely, and Dr. Carroll will be available to monitor patients’ reactions to 
the program and to answer any clinical issues.  A member of the research staff will check-in with 
participants on a weekly basis. In addition, participants will be notified at both login and logoff that any 
feelings or thoughts that concern them (such as craving, anxiety, and particularly thoughts about 
harming themselves or others), should be discussed immediately with their counselor, the Dr. Carroll 
and Dr. Shi.  
Thus, psychological risks appear to be minimal and not different from those of equivalent non-study 
psychotherapeutic interventions.  For each treatment condition, frequent monitoring (at least weekly) of 
the patient’s clinical status by research staff will insure identification and withdrawal from the study of 
participants who show significant psychological or symptomatic deterioration.  
c.
Galantamine 
Galantamine is a generally well-tolerated medication and has a good safety profile in related populations 
at the same doses as proposed here (e.g., chronic alcohol dependent males undergoing alcohol 
detoxification).  The doses proposed here (initial dose of 8 mg up to a maximum of 16 mg/day) is lower 
than the typical maintenance dose of 16-24 mg/day.  Common adverse events (>5%) include weight loss 
(5% to 7%), diarrhea (6% to 12%), loss of appetite (7% to 9%), nausea (13% to 24%), vomiting (6% to 
13%, dizziness (9%), headache (8%). Other less common adverse events include bradyarrhythmia (2%), 
cardiac dysrhythmia (infrequent), heart failure (infrequent), esophageal perforation (rare), 
gastrointestinal hemorrhage, rectal hemorrhage (infrequent), thrombocytopenia (infrequent) and death 
(very rare). To minimize the risk of adverse events, participants will be closely monitored during study 
participation with daily visits to the CMU during taper and weekly post-taper and close monitoring of 
adverse events by the program nurse and physician as well as the research staff.
In previous clinical trials, galantamine’s safety and efficacy have been evaluated in different patient 
populations including Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson’s disease, Attention 
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), chronic fatigue syndrome, schizophrenia and alcohol 
dependence (37-43, 61-63).   A recent meta-analysis of 10 clinical trials which included 6805 patients 
with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment (41). The adverse events reported include 
tremor; anorexia; vomiting; nausea; weight loss; headache; abdominal pain; diarrhea; dizziness; and 
agitation. For the 8mg/day dose, none of the adverse events was statistically significantly more frequent 
than placebo treatment. At 16mg/day dose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea were statistically significantly 
more frequent than placebo. Similarly, at 24 mg /day dose nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weight loss, 
anorexia, tremor and headache were statistically significant. This analysis concluded that, galantamine 
was generally well-tolerated and the frequency of adverse events seem to be dose-related (41).
Altogether, these studies support the safety of galantamine in different patient populations including 
those with alcoholism. Adverse effects of galantamine seem to be dose-related, with more frequent 
adverse effects over the 16 mg/day dose.
                 d.  Urine and breath specimen collection
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Urine and breath specimens are collected primarily as safeguards to participants and should add no risks 
other than those normally associated with these procedures.
e.
 Blood draws
Less than 50cc’s of blood will be drawn for routine laboratory evaluations and for inflammatory markers 
and should add no risks other than those normally associated with these procedures. 
f.  Rating scales and questionnaires.
These are all brief, non-invasive, should add no risk, and have been used without difficulty or any 
adverse events in our previous studies with this population.  Our past experience with these measures 
indicates that they are acceptable to patients.  Careful efforts aimed at maintaining confidentiality have 
been effective in previous research, and only patients’ code numbers will be recorded on the forms 
themselves to protect confidentiality.
11. Minimizing Risks: Describe the manner in which the above-mentioned risks will be minimized.
The screening of patients using the inclusion and exclusion criteria, medical exam and the urine 
toxicology screens are intended to identify participants who are appropriate for the study.  Conducting 
the study at a primary care center with on-site medical staff and frequent visits and monitoring by 
medical and research staff will minimize the risks of adverse events and assure that they are managed 
quickly if they do occur.  Confidentiality in regards to collected materials will be maintained via a 
numbered reference system maintained by the research assistant.  Participants’ names will appear only 
on a consent form and “key” form kept by the research assistant.  Participants will be withdrawn from 
the treatment arm of the study if they show severe psychological or symptomatic deterioration if 
clinically necessary for ethical or safety purposes.  Participants withdrawn from a study for these reasons 
or because they wish to withdraw from a study will be offered treatment as usual at the clinic or be 
referred to a higher level of care when appropriate.  Private referral and/or hospitalization may also be 
offered according to the participants’ needs and wishes. 
To minimize the risk adverse effects of galantamine in our study, following precautions will be taken:
1) Following the manufacturer’s recommendations, the galantamine dose will be started at 
8mg/day. Participants will be maintained on this dose for 4 weeks and if they tolerate the 8 mg 
dose, the dose may be increased to a maximum of to16 mg/day. Galantamine doses over 16 
mg/day are associated with more frequent adverse events and will not be used in this study.
2) We chose methadone and buprenorphine maintained patients voluntarily seeking taper off MAT 
as our participant population.  Participants will come to the clinic to attend weekly research visits 
and obtain weekly supply of study medication. This will allow close monitoring of compliance 
as well as any adverse effects from galantamine treatment (44). In addition, participants will see 
the clinic nurse weekly for a systematic evaluation of any adverse events.
3) Potential participants will be carefully screened to rule out medical conditions that may increase 
the possibility of adverse events. These include asthma or chronic obstructive lung disease, 
history or current gastrointestinal ulcer, hepatic or renal impairment and cardiac rhythm 
disturbances (44).  
4) Participants will be warned and closely monitored for concomitant use of drugs that may cause 
drug interactions with galantamine. These include a) drugs that slow heart rate (eg, beta-
blockers), which may increase the risk of bradycardia and AV block and b) NSAIDs; increased 
potential for developing ulcers/active or occult gastrointestinal bleeding (44).
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12. Data and Safety Monitoring Plan: Include an appropriate Data and Safety Monitoring Plan (DSMP) based on 
the investigator’s risk assessment stated below. (Note: the HIC will make the final determination of the risk to 
subjects.)
a. 
What is the investigator’s assessment of the overall risk level for subjects participating in this 
study?   Greater than minimal
b.
If children are involved, what is the investigator’s assessment of the overall risk level for the 
children participating in this study? N/A
c.
Include an appropriate Data and Safety Monitoring Plan. Examples of DSMPs are  
available here http://your.yale.edu/policies-procedures/forms/420-fr-01-data-and-safety-
monitoring-plans-templates for
i.
Minimal risk
ii.
Greater than minimal
A Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) will monitor this and all Center projects because this 
population might be considered vulnerable due to their substance use.  The overall risks are moderate 
and adverse effects of Galantamine include weight loss (5% to 7%), diarrhea (6% to 12%), loss of 
appetite (7% to 9%), nausea (13% to 24%), vomiting (6% to 13%, dizziness (9%), headache (8%). Other 
less common adverse events include bradyarrhythmia (2%), cardiac dysrhythmia (infrequent), heart 
failure (infrequent), esophageal perforation (rare), gastrointestinal hemorrhage, rectal hemorrhage 
(infrequent), thrombocytopenia (infrequent) and death (very rare). These will be monitored and recorded 
by study staff and reported to the DSMB per protocol. This board, already in place for Dr. Carroll and 
Sofuoglu’s other NIH-supported projects, is composed of Yale investigators who are independent of the 
trial and experienced in various aspects of the conduct of clinical trials for the treatment of addictive 
disorders   We use a standard DSMB report form that is used in all Center and Center-related trials that 
summarizes on a quarterly basis:
1.  Recruitment, retention, and follow-up rates for the study and compares them to target rates.
2.  Rates of data completeness and availability of primary outcome data
3.  Occurrence of AEs and SAEs
4.  Report of study progress since the last report.  
5.  Rates of recruitment of women, minorities, and children with respect to targeted rates.
Because the projected effect sizes may not be large enough for detection during interim analyses, we are 
not proposing a preliminary analysis of accumulating efficacy and safety data by treatment assignment. 
Instead, we propose to submit a quarterly report of aggregate data to the DSMB members that contains 
screening data, baseline demographics, retention data, serious adverse events data, as well as accrual 
status including projections, times to milestones, and any other data that will help in the assessment of 
the clinical trial. Based on this report, each DSMB member will complete a form making one of two 
recommendations: 1) continue recruitment as planned; or 2) schedule formal DSMB meeting 
immediately. If any DSMB member recommends a meeting, this will be scheduled within one week, 
minutes will be kept, the report will be reviewed with the PI, and the committee will vote on whether the 
study should: 1) continue recruitment unchanged; 2) continue with a protocol amendment; 3) stop 
recruiting pending further investigation. If, after this meeting, any DSMB member votes to stop 
recruitment or requests a protocol modification, the Yale IRB will be informed.
Participants who experience a significant psychiatric or medical problem requiring an overnight 
hospitalization at an acute care facility will be considered to have experienced an SAE.  In general, most 
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SAEs will result in inpatient care and thus in transfer from the methadone/buprenorphine clinic. All 
SAEs will result in the completion of an SAE Form and a verbal report within one hour to the Principal 
Investigator (Dr. Carroll), the Co-Investigator (Dr. Shi) and the CMU Clinic Director (Ms. Henry).  
Within 24 hours, the following additional individuals will be informed: 1) all co-investigators; 2) the 
DSMB.  All of these individuals will receive a copy of the SAE Form within one week at which point a 
decision will be made whether to convene a meeting of the DSMB.  Adverse events that are serious and 
unanticipated and probably, possibly, or definitely related or adverse events occurring with greater 
frequency than anticipated will be reported to Yale Human Investigation Committee within 48 hours of 
discovery.
The procedures for SAE reporting include written documentation using the clinical notes related to the 
adverse event and specific forms detailing the event with a sign-off by all appropriate supervisory 
personnel. Communication of recommendations and decisions from all parties (DSMB, IRB, and APT 
Administration) are made back to the investigator in a timely manner. We will report all protocol 
amendments or changes in the informed consent form to NIDA as well as any temporary or permanent 
suspension of patient accrual.
d. For multi-site studies for which the Yale PI serves as the lead investigator:  N/A
i.
How will adverse events and unanticipated problems involving risks to subjects or others be 
reported, reviewed and managed? Write here
ii.
What provisions are in place for management of interim results? Write here
iii.
What will the multi-site process be for protocol modifications? Write here
13. Statistical Considerations: Describe the statistical analyses that support the study design. 
Write here
This is a small randomized pilot trial to evaluate the safety and feasibility of galantamine versus placebo 
plus CBT4CBT to improve successful transition from methadone or buprenorphine maintenance to 
abstinence.  The primary outcome will be relapse to opioid use within the follow-up period.   While not 
powered to detect a significant difference between treatment conditions in the primary outcome, given 
estimates of relapse as high as 80% in this population, a success rate of 40-50% would warrant further 
evaluation in a larger study.  
Because Dr. Carroll has a potential conflict of interest in this protocol, the following procedures will be 
followed per the plan approved and on file with the Yale COI committee for Dr. Carroll’s other projects 
that involved CBT4CBT:  Dr. Carroll is not directly involved with the consenting of participants, 
determination of eligibility of participants, direct collection of study data; furthermore, and analysis of 
study data are conducted by multiple staff, with study condition not revealed until analysis is complete.  
SECTION II: RESEARCH INVOLVING DRUGS, BIOLOGICS, RADIOTRACERS, PLACEBOS AND DEVICES
If this section (or one of its parts, A or B) is not applicable, check off N/A and delete the rest of the section.
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A.  RADIOTRACERS
☒N/A
1.
Name of the radiotracer: Write here
2.
Is the radiotracer FDA approved?    ☐YES 
☐NO
If NO, an FDA issued IND is required for the investigational use unless RDRC assumes oversight. 
3.
Check one:   ☐IND#  applied for ☐RDRC oversight (RDRC approval will be required prior to use)
B.  DRUGS/BIOLOGICS    ☐N/A
1.
If an exemption from IND filing requirements is sought for a clinical investigation of a drug product that is 
lawfully marketed in the United States, review the following categories and complete the category that 
applies (and delete the inapplicable categories):
1.
The intention of the investigation is NOT to report to the FDA as a well-controlled study in support 
of a new indication for use or to be used to support any other significant change in the labeling for 
the drug.
☒
2.
The drug that is undergoing investigation is lawfully marketed as a prescription drug product, and 
the intention of the investigation is NOT to support a significant change in the advertising for the 
product.
☒
3.
The investigation does NOT involve a route of administration or dosage level or use in populations 
or other factor that significantly increases the risks (or decreases the acceptability of the risks) 
associated with the use of the drug product
☒
4.
The investigation will be conducted in compliance with the requirements for institutional (HIC) 
review and with the requirements for informed consent of the FDA regulations (21 CFR Part 50 and 
21 CFR Part 56).
☒
5.
The investigation will be conducted in compliance with the requirements regarding promotion and 
charging for investigational drugs.
2. 
Background Information: Provide a description of previous human use, known risks, and data addressing 
dosage(s), interval(s), route(s) of administration, and any other factors that might influence risks. If this is the first 
time this drug is being administered to humans, include relevant data on animal models. 
Galantamine, a reversible and competitive inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, elevates synaptic 
concentrations of acetylcholine which leads to increased stimulation of both nicotinic and muscarinic 
receptors. Galantamine also directly stimulates the nicotinic alpha7 and alpha4-beta2 receptors, as an 
allosteric positive modulator. This results in dopamine release in the mesolimbic/mesocortical 
dopaminergic pathway22, providing an additional mechanism by which galantamine may enhance 
cognitive function and reduce stimulant use19, 21, 23.   
Few studies have evaluated galantamine, either in terms of direct effects on substance use or as a 
strategy to improve cognitive impairment: Among 114 alcohol-dependent individuals, galantamine was 
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associated with significant reductions in cigarette smoking compared with placebo24.  A trial evaluating 
effects of galantamine in 149 recently detoxified alcohol-dependent patients reported no significant 
effects on relapse, but some evidence of reduced drinking among those who relapsed25.  In a randomized 
placebo controlled pilot study with 14 cocaine-dependent methadone-maintained individuals, 16 mg/day 
galantamine was associated with fewer cocaine positive urine specimens, (45% versus 95%, P=.15) as 
well as a higher proportion of days of abstinence from cocaine 80% versus 60%, P=.06) relative to 
placebo, with participants reporting moderate nausea and fatigue26.  Differential effects on cognitive 
functioning were not seen.  In a 10-day proof-of-concept trial with 34 abstinent cocaine users, 8/mg/day 
of galantamine was associated with significant improvement in the Rapid Visual Information Processing 
task (RVP) of the CANTAB (Cambridge Neurologic Test Battery) compared with placebo27.  These two 
pilot studies by our group suggested evaluation of galantamine on cocaine use and cognitive functioning 
was warranted in an a full randomized clinical trial.
2.
Source:  Identify the source of the drug or biologic to be used. 
Purchase from Razadyne ER, Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, 1125 Trenton Harbourton Road, 
Titusville, NJ 08560
a)
Is the drug provided free of charge to subjects? ☒YES 
☐NO 
If yes, by whom?  Study
f.
Storage, Preparation and Use: Describe the method of storage, preparation, stability information, and for 
parenteral products, method of sterilization and method of testing sterility and pyrogenicity.
 This is a double-blind study.  Medication will be packaged by the clinic pharmacy and administered 
by the clinic nurses.  Only the clinic pharmacist will hold the key and will be able to break the blind 
if necessary.  All participants will be given a wallet card with emergency numbers in case of 
emergency or if the blind needs to be broken.  
Check applicable Investigational Drug Service utilized:
    ☐  YNHH IDS                                                        ☐  CMHC Pharmacy                                           ☐ West Haven VA
    ☐  PET Center                                                      ☐    None      
    ☒  Other: APT Foundation Pharmacy
Note: If the YNHH IDS (or comparable service at CMHC or WHVA) will not be utilized, explain in detail how the PI 
will oversee these aspects of drug accountability, storage, and preparation.  
g.
Use of Placebo: 
☐Not applicable to this research project
If use of a placebo is planned, provide a justification which addresses the following:
a)
Describe the safety and efficacy of other available therapies. If there are no other available therapies, state 
this. 
There are no approved therapies to improve relapse after methadone/buprenorphine taper.   The computerized 
CBT program will be provided to all participants as behavioral support this exceeds current standard of care.
b)
State the maximum total length of time a participant may receive placebo while on the study. 
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10 weeks
c)
Address the greatest potential harm that may come to a participant as a result of receiving placebo. 
Relapse to drug use is extremely high in this population and no effective medications have been identified. In 
the case of relapse, all participants can be re-admitted to APT methadone or naltrexone programs or seek 
treatment elsewhere.
d)
Describe the procedures that are in place to safeguard participants receiving placebo. 
Regular monitoring by Dr. Shi and study staff will alert staff to patients whose relapse risk is particularly 
high; they will be referred as indicated to a higher level of care.  The computerized CBT program is also 
being offered to provided additional support to patients and exceeds current standard of care.
h.
Continuation of Drug Therapy After Study Closure   ☐Not applicable to this project
Are subjects provided the opportunity to continue to receive the study drug(s) after the study has ended?
☐ Yes   If yes, describe the conditions under which continued access to study drug(s) may apply as well as 
conditions for termination of such access.  Write here
☒ NO   If no, explain why this is acceptable. 
This is an initial pilot  study of galantamine for this population.    If galantamine appears to have benefit for this 
population, we will apply for funding for a larger randomized controlled trial.
 B.  DEVICES
 ☒N/A
1.
Are there any investigational devices used or investigational procedures performed at Yale-New Haven 
Hospital (YNHH) (e.g., in the YNHH Operating Room or YNHH Heart and Vascular Center)?  ☐Yes   ☒No   
SECTION III: RECRUITMENT/CONSENT AND ASSENT PROCEDURES 
1. Targeted Enrollment: Give the number of subjects: 
a.
Targeted for enrollment at Yale for this protocol: 30
b.
If this is a multi-site study, give the total number of subjects targeted across all sites: N/A
2.
Indicate recruitment methods below.  Attach copies of any recruitment materials that will be used.
☒Flyers
☐ Internet/web postings
☐ Radio
☐ Posters
☐ Mass email solicitation
☐ Telephone
☐ Letter
☐ Departmental/Center website
☐ Television
☐ Medical record review* 
☐ Departmental/Center research boards
☐ Newspaper
☐ Departmental/Center newsletters
☐ Web-based clinical trial registries
☒ Clinicaltrails.gov 
☐ YCCI Recruitment database
☐ Social Media (Twitter/Facebook): 
☐ Other:  
* Requests for medical records should be made through JDAT as described at 
http://medicine.yale.edu/ycci/oncore/availableservices/datarequests/datarequests.aspx
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3.  Recruitment Procedures: 
a. Describe how potential subjects will be identified. Fliers in APT clinics, referrals from APT clinicans
b. Describe how potential subjects are contacted. Potential participants will be asked to contact Dr. Shi or 
research staff.
c. Who is recruiting potential subjects? Research staff, CMU staff.
4. Assessment of Current Health Provider Relationship for HIPAA Consideration:
Does the Investigator or any member of the research team have a direct existing clinical relationship with any 
potential subject? 
☐Yes, all subjects
☒Yes, some of the subjects; 
☐No
If yes, describe the nature of this relationship. 
Dr. Shi and Central Medical Staff provide physical examinations for all patients entering buprenorphine or 
methadone at APT.   CMU staff also typically supervise medical care of APT patients undergoing taper.
5. Request for waiver of HIPAA authorization: (When requesting a waiver of HIPAA Authorization for either the 
entire study, or for recruitment purposes only.  Note: if you are collecting PHI as part of a phone or email 
screen, you must request a HIPAA waiver for recruitment purposes.)  N/A
Choose one: 
☐ For entire study 
☐ For recruitment/screening purposes only
☐ For inclusion of non-English speaking subject if short form is being used and there is no translated HIPAA 
research authorization form available on the University’s HIPAA website at hipaa.yale.edu.
i.
Describe why it would be impracticable to obtain the subject’s authorization for use/disclosure of this 
data: Write here
ii.
If requesting a waiver of signed authorization, describe why it would be impracticable to obtain the 
subject’s signed authorization for use/disclosure of this data: Write here
The investigator assures that the protected health information for which a Waiver of Authorization has been 
requested will not be reused or disclosed to any person or entity other than those listed in this application, except 
as required by law, for authorized oversight of this research study, or as specifically approved for use in another 
study by an IRB.
Researchers are reminded that unauthorized disclosures of PHI to individuals outside of the Yale HIPAA-Covered 
entity must be accounted for in the “accounting for disclosures log”, by subject name, purpose, date, recipients, 
and a description of information provided.  Logs are to be forwarded to the Deputy HIPAA Privacy Officer.
6.
Process of Consent/Assent: Describe the setting and conditions under which consent/assent will be obtained, 
including parental permission or surrogate permission and the steps taken to ensure subjects’ independent 
decision-making. 
A trained research staff member at the performance site will obtain written informed consent prior to 
any study related procedures.  The informed consent process will be conducted in a private, quiet 
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setting.  The staff member and the participant will discuss the basic components described in the 
consent form.  These include: participation is voluntary and participants may withdraw without 
consequences to clinic services received, purpose, procedures, randomization, visit schedule, risks 
and benefits, potential compensation, alternatives to study participation, and confidentiality.  Study 
medical personnel will meet with potential participants during the consenting process, before 
signatures, to review the medical content. Potential participants will be provided an opportunity to 
ask questions and time to consider his/her decision to participate.  A comprehension quiz will be 
given to ensure the participant has an adequate understanding of study.   A copy of the consent form 
will be given to the participant.
7.
Evaluation of Subject(s) Capacity to Provide Informed Consent/Assent: Indicate how the personnel obtaining 
consent will assess the potential subject’s ability and capacity to consent to the research being proposed. 
We require participants to read and write, and we will use a multiple-choice test after review of the 
consent form to determine that participants understand the key points of the research.  The Project 
Coordinator reviews the test with the participant and clarifies any question which was incorrectly 
answered
8.
Non-English Speaking Subjects: Explain provisions in place to ensure comprehension for research involving 
non-English speaking subjects. If enrollment of these subjects is anticipated, translated copies of all consent 
materials must be submitted for approval prior to use. 
N/A
As a limited alternative to the above requirement, will you use the short form* for consenting process if you 
unexpectedly encounter a non-English speaking individual interested in study participation and the translation of 
the long form is not possible prior to intended enrollment?  YES ☐  NO ☐
Note* If more than 2 study participants are enrolled using a short form translated into the same language, then 
the full consent form should be translated into that language for use the next time a subject speaking that 
language is to be enrolled.
Several translated short form templates are available on the HRPP website (yale.edu/hrpp) and translated HIPAA 
Research Authorization Forms are available on the HIPAA website (hipaa.yale.edu). If the translation of the short 
form is not available on our website, then the translated short form needs to be submitted to the IRB office for 
approval via modification prior to enrolling the subject.   Please review the guidance and presentation on use of 
the short form available on the HRPP website.
If using a short form without a translated HIPAA Research Authorization Form, please request a HIPAA waiver in 
the section above. 
9.
Consent Waiver: In certain circumstances, the HIC may grant a waiver of signed consent, or a full waiver 
of consent, depending on the study. If you will request either a waiver of consent, or a waiver of signed consent 
for this study, complete the appropriate section below.  
☒Not Requesting any consent waivers 
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SECTION IV: PROTECTION OF RESEARCH SUBJECTS
    Confidentiality & Security of Data:
1.
What protected health information (medical information along with the HIPAA identifiers) about subjects will 
be collected and used for the research?   

Our study forms have been designed to avoid collecting identifiable information (e.g., no PHI is 
collected on CRFs).  We generally collect only names and protocol session dates.  The latter are 
changed to 'number of sessions completed' if data sets are released to other Yale investigators.   
As below, names appear only on the consent and HIPPA forms and the ‘key form’.

The health information collected for this study are substance use history, adverse reaction 
symptoms, current medications, previous hospitalizations and health related services used.

Research data are collected on CRFs, and sent to data managers in our research offices on a 
closed secure network.  All computers used by research staff are password protected.  No 
identifying information is on CRFs.

The screening of patients using the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the comprehensive 
evaluations will minimize the risk of including subjects with insignificant substance use (or who 
are otherwise inappropriate for the study).  

Confidentiality in regards to collected materials will be maintained via a numbered reference 
system maintained by the Project Director.  Participants' names will appear only on the consent 
form, HIPPA authorization form, and "key" form kept by the Project Director.  

Limits to confidentiality include only disclosure of acute suicidality, homicidality, or abuse of a 
minor, as is standard in clinical practice.

Data are stored at our secure data management center; data sets do not include identifying 
information.  At the conclusion of the study, all locator data are destroyed.  Source data is 
generally destroyed 3 years after completion of the study at a secure location (Iron Mountain) 
and destroyed by Iron Mountain or Shred-It.  

The funding agency, NIDA, may access the data for routine audits.

All research staff and clinicians receive annual Good Clinical Practice training through the Core.  

Our data collection and management procedures are fully compliant with HIPAA.
2.
How will the research data be collected, recorded and stored? See above
3.
How will the digital data be stored? ☐CD  ☐DVD  ☐Flash Drive  ☐Portable Hard  Drive   ☒Secured Server  
☐Laptop Computer  ☒Desktop Computer  ☐Other
4.
What methods and procedures will be used to safeguard the confidentiality and security of  the identifiable 
study data and the storage media indicated above during and after the subject’s participation in the study?
 See above
All portable devices must contain encryption software, per University Policy 5100.  If there is a technical reason a 
device cannot be encrypted please submit an exception request to the Information Security, Policy and Compliance 
Office by clicking on url http://its.yale.edu/egrc or email it.compliance@yale.edu
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5.
What will be done with the data when the research is completed? Are there plans to destroy the identifiable 
data? If yes, describe how, by whom and when identifiers will be destroyed. If no, describe how the data and/or 
identifiers will be secured. 
Data are stored at our secure data management center; data sets do not include identifying information.  
At the conclusion of the study, all locator data are destroyed.  Source data is generally destroyed 3 
years after completion of the study at a secure location and destroyed by Shred-It.
6.
If appropriate, has a Certificate of Confidentiality been obtained?
Per the Notice of Changes to NIH Policy for Issuing Certificates of Confidentiality (NOT-OD-17-109), 
effective October 1, 2017, this research is covered by a Certificate of Confidentiality.
SECTION V: POTENTIAL BENEFITS
Potential Benefits: Identify any benefits that may be reasonably expected to result from the research, either to 
the subject(s) or to society at large. (Payment of subjects is not considered a benefit in this context of the risk 
benefit assessment.) 
Benefits to subjects include significant psychotherapeutic exploration through the provision of the 
computerized cognitive behavioral training program.  The major potential benefit in this study is in 
reduced risk of relapse which may, in turn, foster improvement in subjects legal, medical, interpersonal, 
psychological and occupational functioning.
         SECTION VI: RESEARCH ALTERNATIVES AND ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS
1.
Alternatives: What other alternatives are available to the study subjects outside of the research? 
Individuals who do not wish to participate or who are ineligible for the trial will be referred to 
standard treatment at the APT Foundation methadone or buprenorphine program or other appropriate 
programs in the New Haven area.
2.
Payments for Participation (Economic Considerations): Describe any payments that will be made to subjects, 
the amount and schedule of payments, and the conditions for receiving this compensation.
All subjects will be offered a material inducement for participation in study evaluations including 
$25 for screening, $25 for the pretreatment assessment, these payments will be in the form of a gift 
card. Participants will be offered the optional CANTAB assessment at 3 separate timepoints 
(screening, end of taper and 4 weeks post taper) for which they will be paid $20 at each timepoint.  
However, they must complete the first timepoint (screening) to be considered to participate in the 
remaining 2.  Participants will be paid $10 for each weekly research assessment visit completed and 
$10 each week for urine toxicology screen during the 8–10 week treatment phase of the study 
($20/week for 8 -10 weeks), $30 for end of taper interview, $35 for an endpoint interview, $40 for 2-
week follow-up, $45 for one-month follow-up, and $50 for three-month follow-up, these will be 
cash payments. For a possible total of $470 - $510.  Payments to the participants will be prorated for 
those who withdraw prematurely; that is, they will receive payment only for those assessments they 
complete.  
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3.
Costs for Participation (Economic Considerations): Clearly describe the subject’s costs associated with 
participation in the research, and the interventions or procedures of the study that will be provided at no cost 
to subjects. 
Subjects will not be charged for ancillary treatments (the CBT4CBT program) or evaluations they 
receive at the clinic.  Subjects will be charged for treatment as usual at the clinic; where most 
patients receive treatment with no-out of pocket expenses or on a sliding scale.  Study medication 
will be provided at no cost to subjects.  
4.
In Case of Injury: This section is required for any research involving more than minimal risk, and for minimal 
risk research that presents the potential for physical harm (e.g., research involving blood draws).
Should injuries occur, the participant would be assessed and referred appropriately by the staff of the 
Central Medical Unity of the APT Foundation.  The participant’s insurance carrier will be expected 
to pay the costs of medical care.  No additional financial compensation for injury is available
a.
Will medical treatment be available if research-related injury occurs? Yes
b.
Where and from whom may treatment be obtained? At the Central Medical Unit of the APT 
Foundation
c.
Are there any limits to the treatment being provided? Limited outpatient care only.
d.
Who will pay for this treatment? Patient insurance
e.
How will the medical treatment be accessed by subjects? CMU referral
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Will this study have a billable service?  Yes ☐ 
 No☒
A billable service is defined as any service rendered to a study subject that, if he/she was not on a study, would 
normally generate a bill from either Yale-New Haven Hospital or Yale Medical Group to the patient or the patient’s 
insurer. The service may or may not be performed by the research staff on your study, but may be provided by 
professionals within either Yale-New Haven Hospital or Yale Medical Group (examples include x-rays, MRIs, CT 
scans, specimens sent to central labs, or specimens sent to pathology). Notes: 1. There is no distinction made 
whether the service is paid for by the subject or their insurance (Standard of Care) or by the study’s funding 
mechanism (Research Sponsored). 2. This generally includes new services or orders placed in EPIC for research 
subjects. 
If answered, “yes”, this study will need to be set up in OnCore, Yale’s clinical research management system, for 
Epic to appropriately route research related charges. Please contact oncore.support@yale.edu
Are there any procedures involved in this protocol that will be performed at YNHH or one of its affiliated entities?  
Yes ☐  No ☒ 
If Yes, please answer questions a through c and note instructions below.  
a. Does your YNHH privilege delineation currently include the specific procedure that you will perform? Yes ☐  No 
☐
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b. Will you be using any new equipment or equipment that you have not used in the past for this procedure? Yes 
☐  No ☐
c. Will a novel approach using existing equipment be applied? Yes ☐  No ☐
 
If you answered “no” to question 4a, or "yes" to question 4b or c, please contact the YNHH Department of 
Physician Services (688-2615) for prior approval before commencing with your research protocol.
IMPORTANT REMINDER ABOUT RESEARCH AT YNHH 
Please note that if this protocol includes Yale-New Haven Hospital patients, including patients at the HRU, the 
Principal Investigator and any co-investigators who are physicians or mid-level practitioners (includes PAs, APRNs, 
psychologists and speech pathologists) who may have direct patient contact with patients on YNHH premises 
must have medical staff appointment and appropriate clinical privileges at YNHH. If you are uncertain whether 
the study personnel meet the criteria, please telephone the Physician Services Department at 203-688-2615. By 
submitting this protocol as a PI, you attest that you and any co-investigator who may have patient contact has a 
medical staff appointment and appropriate clinical privileges at YNHH.
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ROBBINS T. W., JAMES M., OWEN A. M., SAHAKIAN B. J., MCINNES L., RABBITT P. Cambridge 
Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB): a factor analytic study of a large 
sample of normal elderly volunteers, Dementia 1994: 5: 266-281.
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DONOGHUE K., ROSE A., COULTON S., MILWARD J., REED K., DRUMMOND C. et al. Double-blind, 
12 month follow-up, placebo-controlled trial of mifepristone on cognition in alcoholics: the 
MIFCOG trial protocol, BMC Psychiatry 2016: 16: 40.
61.
SCHUBERT M. H., YOUNG K. A., HICKS P. B. Galantamine improves cognition in schizophrenic 
patients stabilized on risperidone, Biological psychiatry 2006: 60: 530-533.
62.
DIEHL A., NAKOVICS H., B. C., SMOLKA M. N., BATRA A., MANN K. Galantamine reduces 
smoking in alcohol-dependent patients:  A randomized, placebo controlled trial, International 
Journal of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics 2006: 44: 614-622.
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JONES R. W., SOININEN H., HAGER K., AARSLAND D., PASSMORE P., MURTHY A. et al. A 
multinational, randomized, 12-week study comparing the effects of donepezil and galantamine in 
patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, International journal of geriatric psychiatry 
2004: 19: 58-67.
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COMPOUND AUTHORIZATION AND CONSENT FOR PARTICIPATION 
IN A RESEARCH PROJECT
YALE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
THE APT FOUNDATION 
Central Medical Unit
Study Title: Pilot study of galantamine and CBT4CBT to reduce post-taper relapse for MAT
Principal Investigator: Kathleen M. Carroll, Ph.D.
                   
Funding Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse 
Invitation to Participate and Description of Project
You are invited to take part in a research study designed to evaluate the effects of the medication 
galantamine and computer based training for cognitive behavioral therapy CBT4CBT to help 
prevent relapse to opioid use following taper off of methadone or buprenorphine among people 
with opioid use disorder. Galantamine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA) for use in adults for other uses, but has not been approved by the FDA for treatment of 
opioid dependence or withdrawal.  The use of galantamine is investigational for the purpose of 
this study, meaning that we are studying whether or not this medication is effective for helping to 
prevent relapse following a taper from methadone or buprenorphine. You have been asked to 
take part because you are an adult who has voluntarily requested to taper off from methadone or 
buprenorphine.  
In order to decide whether or not you wish to be a part of this research study you should know 
enough about its risks and benefits to make an informed decision.  This consent form gives you 
detailed information about the study, which a member of the research team will discuss with you.  
This discussion should go over all aspects of this research: its purpose, the procedures that will 
be performed, any risks of the procedures, possible benefits and possible alternative treatments.  
Once you understand the study, you will be asked if you wish to participate; if so, you will be 
asked to sign this form.
Description of Procedures
Galantamine is a medication that has been approved for the treatment of mild cognitive problems 
(such as learning and memory in older adults with memory problems) and may improve response 
to CBT4CBT, a computerized cognitive behavioral therapy, that has been proved to be effective 
in several studies.
Treatment in this study will last for 8-10 weeks, with follow up visits 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 
months after the end of the treatment part of the study and will take place at the Central Medical 
Unit (CMU) of the APT Foundation. Your participation will include: 1) the screening visit and 
physical exam, 2) a pretreatment evaluation, 3) taper off of methadone or buprenorphine over a 4 
to 6 week period, 4) study medication daily during taper off methadone or buprenorphine (4-6 
weeks) and for 4 weeks after you successfully complete the taper for a total of 8 – 10 weeks, 5) 
weekly meetings with the research team, 6) weekly CBT4CBT session for 8-10 weeks which you 
are free to complete on site at CMU or at home, 6) follow-up visits at 2 weeks, 1-month and 3-
months following completion of the study. 
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If you agree to take part in this study, the following will happen:
Screening Visit and Physical Examination:  You will come in for a screening visit to see if you 
qualify for the study.  This visit will include a review of the consent form and opportunity for 
you to ask questions.  If you are willing to participate in this study and sign this consent form, 
you will be asked to complete questionnaires about your drug use and craving and to provide a 
urine and breath specimen for drug and alcohol testing.  You will also be examined by Dr. Julia 
Shi, Medical Director of the CMU who will take a brief medical history and perform a physical 
exam. An electrocardiogram (to examine the health of your heart) and urine screening tests will 
be performed to aid the study physician in the decision as to whether it is safe for you to 
participate. The urine sample will be used for drug testing and pregnancy screening.  We will 
also check your pulse, blood pressure, height and weight.  If you are eligible we will schedule 
you for a Pretreatment Evaluation.  This may occur immediately following your screening 
appointment.
Pretreatment Evaluations 
Eligible individuals will meet with the Research Assistant to complete a baseline interview and 
self-report scales.  You will be asked questions about your substance use (and cigarette smoking) 
as well as about your mood, your nerves, and current medications.  You will also be asked to 
complete questionnaires about your drug use and craving.  
Randomization
Following final confirmation of eligibility by Dr. Shi, you will be randomly assigned (using a 
computerized urn randomization program to balance treatment conditions) to receive either 
placebo (sugar pill) or galantamine for 4- 6 weeks during your taper off methadone/ 
buprenorphine and 4 weeks after completing taper for a total of 8-10 weeks. This is a double 
blind study, this means that neither you nor any member of the research team, including Dr. Shi, 
will know which medication you are receiving. 
Initiation of Taper:  Your doctor will begin to reduce your methadone/buprenorphine dose per 
standard CMU procedure. The taper will last from 4 to 6 weeks depending upon your methadone 
or buprenorphine dose at the beginning of the study.
CBT4CBT Program:  At the start of taper, you will be offered weekly CBT4CBT sessions.  
CBT4CBT is a computer-based program that teaches skills for stopping drug use and increasing 
coping skills, such as how to understand patterns of drug use, how to cope with cravings for 
drugs, how to refuse offers of drugs, and so on.  The program consists of movies, quizzes, and 
other strategies for teaching these skills.  You will receive a unique username and password to 
access the program and will be taught how to use the computer program by a staff member and 
will be asked to spend about 7 hours using the program (approximately one hour per week).   
Staff will be available at all times while you are using the program at the clinic if you have any 
concerns or questions about the computer program. A member of the research staff will check-in 
with you each week should you have questions or concerns. You will also be given the option to 
use this program at home or other locations on a secure website instead of using it at the clinic. 
You should be aware that access to the CBT program via wifi is free of charge, but if you choose 
to use a device (i.e., tablet, etc.) on a data plan outside of wifi you may accrue billable charges 
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which you will be responsible for. We will remind you via text to complete your computer 
modules on a weekly basis.
Study Medication Phase:  As you begin your taper off methadone or buprenorphine, you will 
begin the study medication. You will be randomly assigned to receive either placebo (a sugar 
pill) or galantamine (starting at 8 mg per day with an option to increase to 16 mg per day) for 8 – 
10 weeks.  It is important to take your study medication daily as prescribed. You will come to the 
clinic weekly to receive a week supply of your study medication, to complete brief 
questionnaires as well as urine and breath screening for drugs and alcohol. On the last day of 
your taper off methadone or buprenorphine there will be a blood draw to measure inflammatory 
markers and we will ask you to complete research questionnaires. You will continue to come to 
the clinic weekly for the next 4 weeks to meet with the research team, and receive weekly supply 
of study medication. At the end of the study medication phase there will be another blood draw 
and we will ask you to complete an endpoint interview. The medication you are taking will not 
change during the 8 – 10 weeks of treatment. Participation in this study includes taking the study 
medication (placebo or galantamine 8 or16 mg) by mouth, once a day, for a total of 8–10 weeks.  
Follow-Up Visits:  Two weeks, one month and again three months following the end of the 8-10 
week study you will be asked to complete questionnaires, discuss your progress with study 
personnel and give a urine and breath sample. These visits will take about 1 hour. 
The research team will use several methods of contact to keep in touch with you. We will ask 
you to provide us with phone numbers, e-mail addresses, current home and work addresses, and 
contact information of family and friends who may know how best to reach you, or to pass you a 
message to contact us.  If we need to contact those individuals, the research team will not reveal 
any information about the study or your treatment (we will not ask about drug use or other 
problems).  
A description of this clinical trial will be available on http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov, as required 
by U.S. Law. This Web site will not include information that can identify you. At most, the Web 
site will include a summary of the results. You can search this Web site at any time.
Duration of Study
Participation in this study will last approximately 8-10 weeks.  After completion of the screening 
and physical exam visit, the pretreatment visit will be scheduled.  If you are eligible, you will 
begin to taper off of methadone or buprenorphine following standard clinic procedures, this 
typically takes 4-6 weeks. When you start the taper, you will begin taking study medication and 
meet with a member of the research team weekly. Following completion of the taper, for the next 
4 weeks, you will continue taking study medication and come to the clinic weekly to meet with a 
member of the research team. During this time you will complete weekly CBT4CBT 
computerized sessions. At completion of the taper and again after completion of the study 
medication phase you will have an endpoint interview.  You will then be contacted at 2 weeks, 1 
month and 3 months after completing study medication to have a follow-up visit. 
The screening and physical exam visit will last about 2 hours.  The pretreatment visit will last 
about 2 hours.  Completion of CBT4CBT computerized sessions will take approximately 1 
hour/week. Weekly visits during the 8 -10 weeks of study medication will last about 30 min.  
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Interviews at the end of taper and on the last day of study medication will take about two hours 
each. The follow-up visits, at 2 weeks, 1-month, and 3-months will last about an hour each.
Risks and Inconveniences
There are several risks involved with participating in this study, including risks associated with 
galantamine, study procedures, and loss of confidentiality.
All medications may cause side effects and there are several known risks and discomforts 
associated with galantamine. Your condition will be monitored closely by Dr. Shi, the Medical 
Director of the CMU, and other CMU medical staff.  If Dr. Shi, CMU medical staff or you 
decide to stop your participation in the study due to unwanted experiences or side effects, you 
will receive appropriate follow-up care as determined by CMU staff.
1) Adverse Effects of galantamine
In this study, you may be taking galantamine, 8 or16 mg orally (by mouth).  Galantamine is a 
generally well-tolerated medication and has a good safety profile in related populations at the 8 -
16 mg doses as proposed here.  The most common side effects of galantamine are: include loss 
of appetite, weight loss, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, light-headedness, fainting, or headache 
(generally in 5-15% of people). Other less common adverse events include slow or uneven 
heartbeat, heart failure, bloody or black, tarry stools, or vomiting of blood or material that looks 
like coffee grounds, severe stomach pain, and seizures (less than 2% of people). 
For women of childbearing age: Since this research may have bad effects on a fetus and should 
not be done during pregnancy, it is necessary that a pregnancy test be done first. If the test is 
positive, you will not be included in this study. During your study participation, we will also do 
monthly urine pregnancy tests. Prior to entering the study, we will discuss with you, in detail, the 
need to avoid becoming pregnant and what precautions you should take. You also agree to avoid 
becoming pregnant (use contraceptives, take precautions against becoming pregnant, etc.) during 
this study. If you change your mind about becoming pregnant or regarding how you will avoid 
becoming pregnant, we ask you to notify us immediately.  
2) Blood draws
Over the course of the study you will have a total of 3 blood draws, one at the time of your 
physical exam, one after you complete your taper and one when you complete the study 
medication. Each blood draw will be less that 50cc’s and there will be no restrictions with regard 
to future blood donation. The blood drawing may cause some pain, bruising or rarely infection
3) Risk of Loss of Confidentiality
There is a chance that your personal information may inadvertently not be kept confidential.  
Some answers you give during the research visits (like whether you use illegal drugs) or results 
of your urine drug tests may put you at risk if other people find out. We will make every effort to 
insure your confidentiality. To keep what you say private, your study records will use a code 
number instead of your name.  We will further protect your records by keeping all your materials 
in locked file cabinets only accessible by research staff and all computer files will be secure 
password-protected files only accessed by research staff. Your research records are kept separate 
from clinic records and will not be shared with any clinical program you are involved with.  Only 
research staff will have access to your private information.
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Benefits
You may benefit from participation in this study.  However, given the investigational nature of 
this study, benefit cannot be guaranteed or promised.  Information gained from this study may 
help other investigators have a better understanding of the treatment of substance dependence.
Economic Considerations
There are no costs to you for your participation in this study.
You will receive a $25 gift card for completing the screening visit and physical exam, a $25 gift 
card for completing the pretreatment visit. You may also choose to complete a CANTAB 
computer assessment for an additional $20 per timepoint (see below), however you must 
complete the first CANTAB in order to be considered for the other two timepoints.  You will 
also receive $10 per week, during the 8 – 10 weeks while you are taking the study medication, 
for completing research questionnaires and $10 per week for urine toxicology screen,  for a total 
of $160 - $200, $30 for completing the interview at the end of your taper, $35 for completing the 
interview at the end of the study medication, $40 for completing the 2-week follow-up visit, $45 
for completing the one-month follow-up visit and $50 for completing the three-month follow up 
visit.  If you are not able to complete a visit you will not be paid for that visit.  You may receive 
up $510 in cash or gift cards if you complete all visits.
Subject Compensation Schedule
Activity
Compensation Available
Form of Payment
Screening 
$25
Gift Card
Pretreatment
$25 
Gift Card
Optional CANTAB 1
$20
Cash
Weekly visits 
$80 - $100 Total (@$10 a visit)
$80 - $100 Total @$10/urine drug screen
Cash
End of Taper Interview
$30
Cash
Optional CANTAB 2
(Only if 1 is completed)
$20
Cash
End of Study Medication
$35
Cash
Optional CANTAB 3
(Only if 1 is completed)
$20
Cash
Two-week Follow-up
$40
Cash
One Month Follow Up
$45
Cash
Three Month Follow Up
$50
Cash
Total Available
$470 - $510
Treatment Alternatives/Alternatives
You have the option of declining to participate in this study.  Alternative treatments for opioid 
dependence are available.  You are free to choose not to participate, and if you do become a 
subject, you are free to withdraw from the study at any time.  If you withdraw it will not 
adversely affect your relationship with this clinic or the clinicians or doctors here.  If you decide 
to withdraw, you will be referred to the regular evaluation and intake procedures and will receive 
treatment as usual at this clinic
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Investigator Conflict of Interest
The Principal Investigator of this study, Kathleen Carroll, PhD, has been involved in the 
development, creation and testing of the CBT4CBT program.  Therefore, she has a financial 
interest in the CBT4CBT program.  This will not affect your treatment here or use of this 
program.  If you have any questions or concerns regarding Dr. Carroll’s financial interest you are 
encouraged to contact Dr. Carroll at (203) 737-1544 or the Human Research Protection Program 
(HRPP) office of Yale University at (203) 785-4688.
In case of injury
If you develop any mental or physical problems as a direct result of being in this study, we will 
refer you for treatment or provide it for you at the Central Medical Unit (CMU) of the APT 
Foundation.  You or your insurance carrier will be expected to pay the costs of this treatment.  
No additional financial compensation for injury or lost wages is available. Your legal rights are 
not waived by signing this consent form.
Confidentiality and Privacy
If you decide to take part in this research study, you will be required to give us information about 
your substance use. Any of your identifiable information that is obtained in connection with this 
study will remain confidential and will be disclosed only with your permission, with the 
following exceptions: We will disclose to appropriate authorities known or suspected abuse of a 
child or elderly person, or if you become a danger to yourself or others. When the results of the 
research are published or discussed in conferences, no information will be included that would 
reveal your identity unless your specific consent for this activity is obtained.  
We understand that information about you obtained in connection with your health is personal, 
and we are committed to protecting the privacy of that information.  If you decide to be in this 
study, the researcher will get information that identifies you and your personal health 
information.  This may include information that might directly identify you, such as your name 
and address. This information will be de-identified at the earliest reasonable time after we 
receive it, meaning we will replace your identifying information with a code that does not 
directly identify you. The principal investigator, Kathleen Carroll, PhD. will keep a link that 
identifies you to your coded information, and this link will be kept secure and available only to 
the PI or selected members of the research team. Any information that can identify you will 
remain confidential.  All personal information will be coded and stored in a locked cabinet and 
any data stored on a computer will be password protected to further protect your confidentiality.  
The research team will only give this coded information to others to carry out this research study. 
The link to your personal information will be kept for the 1 year follow up period after which 
time the link will be destroyed and the data will become anonymous. The data will be kept in this 
anonymous form for a minimum of 3 years after the study has ended and then will be destroyed.   
The information about your health that will be collected in this study includes:

Past and present medical records

Research records

Records about phone calls made as part of this research

Records about your study visits
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Information obtained during this research about:

Laboratory test results

The diagnosis and treatment of a mental health condition
Information about you and your health, which might identify you, may be given to

Yale University School of Medicine

APT Foundation

Clinical Science Labs

National Institute of Health (NIH). The research sponsor

Members of the Human Investigations Committee or ethics Committee(s)

Key Investigators

Key Study Personnel

Data and Safety Monitoring Board and others authorized to monitor the conduct of the 
study

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA); This is done so that the FDA can review 
information about the use of the drug product involved in this research.  The information 
may also be used to meet the reporting requirements of drug regulatory agencies.
By signing this form, you authorize the use and/or disclosure of the information described 
above for this research study.  The purpose for the uses and disclosures you are authorizing is 
to ensure that the information relating to this research is available to all parties who may need 
it for research purposes.
All health care providers subject to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability 
Act) are required to protect the privacy of your information.  The research staff at the Yale 
School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Hospital are required to comply with HIPAA and to 
ensure the confidentiality of your information.  Some of the individuals or agencies listed 
above may not be subject to HIPAA and therefore may not be required to provide the same 
type of confidentiality protection. They could use or disclose your information in ways not 
mentioned in this form.  However, to better protect your health information, agreements are in 
place with these individuals and/or companies that require that they keep your information 
confidential. 
The research team can only give information about you to others for research with your 
permission.  We will make every effort to insure your confidentiality.  In all records of the study 
you will be identified only by a number.  Your name will not appear in any publication or be 
released to anyone without your written consent.  However, you should understand that there is a 
risk that you will be recognized by other participants or staff involved in the study, but this is no 
greater than the usual risk of identification that occurs in our usual treatment in this clinic. If you 
find this risk unacceptable you should not sign this consent form.
If you decide to take part in this research study, you will be required to give us information about 
your substance use and we will test you for drug use. This research is covered by a  Certificate of 
Confidentiality (CoC) issued by the NIH. The researchers can use this Certificate to legally 
refuse to disclose information that may identify you in any federal, state, or local civil, criminal, 
administrative, legislative, or other proceedings, for example, if there is a court subpoena. The 
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researchers will use the Certificate to resist any demands for information that would identify you, 
except as explained below.
The protection offered by the CoC does not stop us from voluntarily reporting information about 
suspected or known sexual, physical, or other abuse of a child or older person, or a participant’s 
threats of violence to self or others. If any member of the research team is given such 
information, he or she will make a report to the appropriate authorities. 
Because this research is sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services through 
NIDA, staff from that and other DHHS agencies may review records that identify you only for 
audit or program evaluation. They cannot report anything that would harm you or other research 
subjects.
Even when a CoC is in place, you and your family members must still continue to actively 
protect your own privacy. If you voluntarily give your written consent for anyone to receive 
information about your participation in the research, then we may not use the CoC to withhold 
this information.
You have the right to review and copy your health information in your medical record in 
accordance with institutional medical records policies.  However, by deciding to take part in a 
single or double blinded treatment study and sign this permission form, you will not be allowed 
to look at or copy your study related information until after the research is complete.
This authorization to use and disclose your health information collected during your participation 
in this study will never expire.
Voluntary Participation and Withdrawal
You are free to choose not to participate, and if you do become a participant, you are free to 
withdraw from the study at any time.  If you withdraw it will not adversely affect your 
relationship with this clinic or the clinicians or doctors here.  If you decide to withdraw we can 
refer you to a clinic or doctor who can offer you treatment. 
If you do become a subject, you are free to stop and withdraw from this study at any time during 
its course.  To withdraw from the study, you can call a member of the research team at any time 
and tell them that you no longer want to take part.  This will cancel any future appointments 
The researchers may withdraw you from participating in the research if necessary only for not 
coming in for treatment or if you show signs of clinical deterioration and need more intensive 
care.  Withdrawing from the study will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are 
otherwise entitled.  It will not harm your relationship with your own doctors or with Yale-New 
Haven Hospital.  
Withdrawing Your Authorization to Use and Disclose Your Health Information
You may withdraw or take away your permission to use and disclose your health information at 
any time. You may withdraw your permission by telling the study staff or by writing to Kathleen 
Carroll, PhD; 40 Temple Street., Suite 6C; New Haven, CT 06511. If you withdraw your 
permission, you will not be able to stay in this study.
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When you withdraw your permission, no new health information identifying you will be 
gathered after that date.  Information that has already been gathered may still be used and given 
to others until the end of the research study, as necessary to insure the integrity of the study 
and/or study oversight.  
Questions
Please feel free to ask about anything you do not understand and please consider this research 
and the consent form carefully before you decide whether or not to participate.  You may take as 
much time as necessary to think it over.
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Authorization and Permission
I have read (or someone has read to me) this form and have decided to participate in the project 
described above.  Its general purposes, the particulars of my involvement and possible hazards 
and inconveniences have been explained to my satisfaction.  My signature also indicates that I 
have received a copy of this consent form.
By signing this form, I give permission to the researchers to use [and give out] information about 
me for the purposes described in this form.  By refusing to give permission, I understand that I 
will not be able to be in this research. 
Printed Name of Subject:_____________________________
            
Signature:___________________________________
Date:______________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________
Signature of Person Obtaining Consent
Date
If after you have signed this form you have any questions about your privacy rights, please 
contact the Yale Privacy Officer at (203) 432-5919.
If you have further questions about this project or if you have a research-related problem, you 
may contact the Principal Investigator Kathleen Carroll, PhD at (203) 737-1544.  If you would 
like to talk with someone other than the researchers to discuss problems, concerns, and questions 
you may have concerning this research, or to discuss your rights as a research subject, you may 
contact the Yale Human Investigation Committee at (203) 785-4688. 
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