Conditions: Cannabis Dependence
Keywords: Cannabis Cannabis Dependence Cannabis Use Disorder Marijuana Naltrexone Long Acting Injectable Naltrexone Treatment
Allocation: NA | Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Enrollment: 12
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This is an 8 week, outpatient research study testing the use of long-acting naltrexone (Vivitrol) as a treatment for marijuana dependence. Vivitrol is a medication that is effective in treating dependence on opiates and opioids, and in treating dependence on alcohol. It is FDA approved for these disorders. It is a long-acting medication that contains enough medicine in each injection to last for one month. One way it works is by blocking the effects of opiates, including opiates released by the body in response to drugs and alcohol. In this study, we are interested in testing the effects of Vivitrol in people with marijuana dependence.

Individuals participating in this study will receive two Vivitrol injections, each given four weeks apart, (week 1 and week 5). The injection is given in the muscle of the buttock on one side. Participants will attend clinic visits two times a week during this 8-week study for medical management for drug use and for monitoring of physical and psychological health.

Detailed description:
This is an 8 week, outpatient, open-label clinical trial of long-acting injectable naltrexone as a treatment for cannabis dependence.

The purpose of the study will be to evaluate marijuana use patterns and tolerability of long-acting naltrexone in 7 treatment-seeking, cannabis-dependent outpatients; also to assess feasibility of conducting a larger trial with this medication. Cannabis dependent patients will have twice weekly clinic visits where they will receive injections of Vivitrol four weeks apart, in Week 1 and in Week 5. The psychosocial intervention for this study will be Medical Management, designed to facilitate adherence to the study medication and monitoring procedures, as well as to support the participant in achieving his or her marijuana use goals.

Participants will self-report cannabis use, will provide urine toxicology for quantitative assessment of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in marijuana), and will provide serum samples for safety monitoring, and will answer questionnaires and will report on their physical and psychological health weekly.

Arms:
arm 1: Two doses of long-acting injectable naltrexone, 380 mg by intramuscular injection in the gluteal muscle at study day 1 and again between study days 28-30.

Interventions: intervention 1: Long-acting injectable naltrexone
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Vivitrol is a long-acting opioid antagonist which blocks opioid agonists from binding at opioid receptors. It be administered as described above.

Protocol document: