Integrated Treatment of Adolescents with Substance Use Disorders and PTSD

Date Added
February 3rd, 2026
PRO Number
Pro00147842
Researcher
Austin Hahn

List of Studies

Keywords
Adolescents, Alcohol, Stress Disorders, Substance Use
Summary

This study focuses on adolescents who experience both substance use problems and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which often occur together and can seriously impact mental health, school performance, and relationships if left untreated. The goal is to evaluate a trauma-focused treatment called Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders for Adolescents (COPE-A), which is designed to address both conditions at the same time. Earlier pilot studies showed that COPE-A is safe, feasible, and effective in reducing substance use and PTSD symptoms compared to a supportive counseling approach.

In this larger study, 120 adolescents from across the U.S. will receive treatment through telehealth. Researchers will compare COPE-A to person-centered therapy to see which leads to greater improvements in substance use and PTSD symptoms. The study will also examine effects on depression, HIV risk behaviors, relationships, and overall quality of life, while using brief daily surveys to track changes over time.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Deirdre Salinsky
843-806-7724
salinsky@musc.edu

Adapting a Brief Dyadic Intervention for Co-occurring Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder

Date Added
January 6th, 2026
PRO Number
Pro00145687
Researcher
Sarah Giff

List of Studies

Keywords
Alcohol, Mental Health, Military, Stage I, Substance Use
Summary

Co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) disproportionately affects Veterans and has significant negative impacts on the safety, wellbeing, and quality of life of Veterans, their romantic partners, and their families. However, treatments that address co-occurring PTSD-AUD and restore Veterans' psychosocial functioning are lacking. The overall goal of this project is to improve treatment approaches aimed at reducing symptoms of co-occurring PTSD-AUD and improving functioning among Veterans and their partners. We plan to do this by learning from Veterans, family members, and treatment providers in order to inform an adaptation of a brief dyadic AUD intervention to be delivered alongside integrated PTSD-AUD treatment for Veteran couples and then conducting a pilot trial of an adapted Brief Family Involved Treatment (B-FIT) intervention with Veterans with PTSD-AUD and their romantic partners.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Sarah Giff
(843) 789-7280
sarah.giff@va.gov

Internal Barriers to Engaging in Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Date Added
December 5th, 2025
PRO Number
Pro00147876
Researcher
Sara Witcraft

List of Studies

Keywords
Substance Use
Summary

This project aims to identify and evaluate internal barriers that inhibit engagement with pharmacological treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Participants, consisting of adults diagnosed with OUD, will complete a series of surveys that will take approximately 30 minutes. In conducting this study, investigators intend to identify barriers that could be improved by future interventions.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Sara Witcraft
843-792-3577
witcraft@musc.edu

Sex differences in neurobehavioral response to acute THC in adults with cannabis use disorder

Date Added
December 2nd, 2025
PRO Number
Pro00148223
Researcher
Erin Martin

List of Studies

Keywords
Substance Use
Summary

This study will examine sex differences in how the brain processes reward in people that regularly use cannabis. Men and women that use cannabis at least 4 days a week will participate in a study involving 3 in-person visits. The first visit will be used to determine eligibility for the study. The other two visits will last 7 hours each and take place at least two days apart. Visits include administration of either THC, the chemical responsible for many of the psychoactive effects of cannabis, or a placebo; completion of questionnaires; and a 1.5-hour brain scan.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Erin Martin
843-876-3528
marterin@musc.edu

Characterizing Hemp-Derived Alternative Cannabinoid Product Use

Date Added
November 26th, 2025
PRO Number
Pro00147471
Researcher
Ashley Dowd

List of Studies

Keywords
Substance Use
Summary

The goal of the current project is to gather preliminary data from adults across the United States using an online survey study regarding alternative cannabinoid use, motivations, and experiences. We will also conduct interviews with some participants to gather more open-ended responses regarding the targets of interest in order to inform future work about alternative cannabinoids.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Ashley Dowd
843-792-5819
dowdas@musc.edu

A pragmatic remote approach to improve transitions of care and retention in opioid use disorder treatment.

Date Added
November 4th, 2025
PRO Number
Pro00146867
Researcher
Allison Smith

List of Studies


Keywords
Psychiatry, Substance Use
Summary

This is a small, test study to see if mailing buprenorphine works for patients with opioid use disorder and a recent medical hospitalization. It tries to remove some of the existing barriers to make it easier to stay in treatment and make it easier for individuals to keep taking their medicine after discharge. The purpose of this research study is to determine if mailing buprenorphine is possible, acceptable, and look at the early results of how well it works.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Hannah Schneider
843-580-8243
schneidh@musc.edu

Prospective changes in patient-reported and objective functioning following reduction of cannabis use

Date Added
September 2nd, 2025
PRO Number
Pro00145652
Researcher
Rachel Tomko

List of Studies


Keywords
Mental Health, Psychiatry, Substance Use
Summary

This study is an 8-week cannabis reduction trial among adults (ages 18+; N=176) with CUD who are interested in reduction to assess effects of cannabis reduction on: 1) cannabis-related problems and consequences, 2) objective measures of sleep and cognitive performance, and 3) patient-reported improvements, including quality of life and CUD severity. All participants will receive CUD treatment and cannabis use will be comprehensively assessed via detailed self-report and urinary cannabinoids.All participants will receive cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT4CBT- a computerized cognitive behavioral therapy) enhanced with motivational interviewing, brief counseling, and financial incentives provided on a sliding scale for demonstrating reduction in urinary cannabinoids.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Kevin Branson
843-792-0493
bransonk@musc.edu

Sex differences in the genetics of cannabinoid metabolism

Date Added
May 29th, 2025
PRO Number
Pro00144812
Researcher
Erin Martin

List of Studies

Keywords
Substance Use
Summary

This study will examine genetic factors that contribute to the different ways people feel after consuming cannabis. People that use cannabis at least 4 days per week will participate in a study involving 1 in-person visit followed by a 5-day remote assessment period. The in-person visit will determine if an individual is eligible for study participation and their blood will be drawn to assess genetics. During the remote assessment period, participants will complete multiple short surveys per day describing their feelings and their recent cannabis use.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Erin Martin
843-876-3528
marterin@musc.edu

A pragmatic remote approach to improve transitions of care and retention in opioid use disorder treatment: Qualitative Interviews

Date Added
May 20th, 2025
PRO Number
Pro00141967
Researcher
Allison Smith

List of Studies


Keywords
Psychiatry, Substance Use
Summary

The primary objective of this proposal is to conduct surveys and qualitative interviews to get feedback from (1) stakeholders and (2) people with lived experience of opioid use and a related medical hospitalization, on the barriers and facilitators of new potential strategy of treatment. The potential proposed intervention we will ask questions about is the direct mailing medications for opioid use disorder (OUD) in an attempt to overcome many of the barriers that interfere with treatment retention (i.e. transportation). Qualitative interviews will be used to get feedback on the feasibility, appropriateness, and acceptability of mailing maintenance medications for OUD after a hospital discharge. In a future study, this feedback will be used to develop a protocol to test this method.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Allison Smith
843-792-0686
smithall@musc.edu

A randomized, controlled trial of varenicline for e-cigarette cessation

Date Added
May 9th, 2025
PRO Number
Pro00142969
Researcher
Benjamin Toll

List of Studies


Keywords
Drug Studies, Substance Use
Summary

This is a smoking cessation study which is examining varenicline for use in reducing or quitting e-cigarettes. Half of the participants will receive a placebo pill and half will receive varenicline. All participants will be asked to complete daily, brief REDCap EMA diaries (to report e-cigarette use, other tobacco use, and record videos of medication taking) and attend research visits every 3 weeks (i.e., weeks 3, 6, 9, 12) to complete additional assessments and receive compensation for doing so.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Rachel Bracci
(843)737-1516
chrisrac@musc.edu



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