Substance use disorder affects millions of people and spans a range of substances — including opioids, stimulants, alcohol, and cannabis — that differ in their biology and treatment needs. It is a chronic brain condition, not a moral failing, and treatment combining medication with behavioral support produces the best outcomes.
What's actually going on in research
Medications targeting the brain's reward circuits — including GLP-1 agonists originally developed for diabetes — are now in trials for stimulant and alcohol use disorders where effective medications are lacking. Long-acting injectable formulations and implants are being developed to remove the daily burden of medication adherence and reduce relapse risk. Digital therapeutics and telehealth-delivered behavioral programs are being rigorously tested as scalable ways to extend reach to people who can't access in-person care.
GLP-1 drugs for craving
GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide — known for weight loss — are being tested for alcohol and stimulant use disorders based on evidence they reduce cravings and reward-seeking in animal studies.
Long-acting medications
Extended-release injections and implants of naltrexone and buprenorphine keep medication levels stable for weeks or months, removing the daily adherence barrier that leads to relapse.
Digital therapeutics
Smartphone apps delivering structured behavioral therapy are being tested in large trials as standalone and add-on treatments that can scale to populations without addiction specialist access.
What to know before you search
Eligibility requires a formal substance use disorder diagnosis and often specifies the primary substance, severity level, willingness to engage in treatment, and exclusion of unstable medical or psychiatric illness.
What types of trials are currently open
- Medication trials — Testing new or repurposed drugs targeting craving, withdrawal, or relapse prevention.
- Behavioral trials — Evaluating structured psychotherapy, contingency management, and motivational interventions.
- Digital intervention trials — Testing app-based therapy, remote monitoring, and telehealth delivery for substance use treatment.
- Harm reduction trials — Testing strategies to reduce overdose, infection, and other harms without requiring abstinence.
- Observational studies — Tracking recovery trajectories and identifying predictors of long-term sobriety.
Recently added Substance Use Disorder trials
TUBSIS 2.0 - Tobacco Use Behavioral Support and Intervention System
Background: Tobacco smoking and vaping remains public health concern, with many adults continuing to experience difficulties accessing appropriate support for smoking cessation in Switzerland and Türkiye. Structural barriers, including stigma related to attempting to quit, limited financial and time resources, low awareness of the health risks associated with tobacco smoking- and vaping-reduce engagement with traditional services. TUBSIS 2.0 aims to address these access inequities by providing a fully remote, anonymous and free internet-based program tailored to diverse adult populations in both countries. Objectives: The "TUBSIS 2.0: An Adaptation Study of Tobacco Addiction Support Programme - TUBSIS for Tobacco Users in Switzerland and Türkiye" project aims to support readiness to reduce or quit tobacco smoking/vaping, improve well-being and self-compassion and strengthen health-related behaviors. The intervention targets German-, English-, and Turkish-speaking adults and includes mindfulness-based strategies for quitting or reducing tobacco smoking and vaping. Motivation to cease tobacco smoking/vaping varies considerably across the lifespan. Younger individuals may perceive smoking/vaping cessation as unnecessary, often due to limited awareness of long-term health risks or a sense of invulnerability. In later adulthood, although addiction tends to be more deeply established, many individuals hesitate to attempt cessation because of concerns about the psychological and behavioral challenges associated with the process. It is therefore essential to provide individuals with support that helps them understand the cessation process, prepare for the challenges that can be expected and identify strategies that align with their psychological needs. Such strategies may include stress management and self-compassion practices that can be utilized before, during and after cessation attempts. TUBSIS 2.0 offers structured and accessible guidance to support this preparation by providing a clear, evidence-based pathway for individuals at different stages of readiness to change. Methods: TUBSIS 2.0 is a web-based, individual and asynchronous program consisting of eight modules delivered over four weeks. A total of 406 participants will be recruited and randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Data are collected anonymously at four measurement points (baseline, mid-term, post-term and 8-week follow-up) from participants. The program focuses on supporting participants' reducing or quitting tobacco smoking or vaping; to increase their readiness for smoking/vaping cessation, mental well-being, self-compassion and stress management with mindfulness strategies. Within the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA), the process of behaviour change is conceptualised as a dynamic, non-linear process that progresses through motivational and volitional phases. TUBSIS 2.0 has been adapted to reflect this structure by integrating phase-specific components. These components include modules that enhance risk awareness and outcome expectancies, planning and self-regulation tools to support action initiation and mindfulness-based strategies that are embedded throughout all phases to strengthen self-efficacy and coping. By addressing these shifting needs across the change process, the programme provides a responsive and theory-driven pathway for reducing/quitting tobacco smoking or vaping. Relevance: TUBSIS 2.0 is highly relevant to public health priorities, as it provides a cost-effective, scalable and environmentally sustainable intervention that eliminates barriers commonly associated with traditional cessation services. By requiring no travel, printed materials or in-person appointments, the programme offers equitable access to adults across all age groups, genders and diverse migrant communities in Switzerland and Türkiye. Its multilingual and culturally adapted structure addresses significant service gaps for populations that are underserved or hesitant to seek conventional support. By reducing tobacco smoking- or vaping-related harm and facilitating early behavioural change, TUBSIS 2.0 has the potential to decrease long-term healthcare costs while expanding access to evidence-based digital prevention tools.
Systematic Examination of Health Inequalities: Documentation, Patterns, and Determinants
The existence of social inequalities is a major global issue and a salient challenge for the European Union. During COVID-19 pandemic, health disparities became more evident. Indeed, the low-income residents in several European countries, including Greece, had limited access to the healthcare system for several reasons. In addition, vulnerable populations, with patients suffering from opioid use disorders and incarcerated individuals being among them, do not have the same chances regarding health services, compared to the general population. According to the World Health Organization, physical activity is a key non-pharmaceutical intervention for both prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases and address of social health inequalities. Thus, this study will focus on specific population groups of the Region of Thessaly, Greece, who have limited access to healthcare services. It aims, primarily, to the assessment of demographic characteristics (i.e., body mass index, alcohol consumption, smoking, educational level etc), which are fundamental parameters for the assessment of health inequalities. Secondly, quality of life, physical activity levels and biomarkers in the level of Biochemistry (i.e., blood oxidative stress and inflammation) and Physiology (i.e., cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition) will be collected a well. All data will be integrated into an interactive digital platform that will be accessible by any putative stakeholder in the area of health system or administration. Based on scientifically robust data and evidence-based findings, the research team of the project will draft recommendations and guidelines that will be communicated to all stakeholders. To that end, the problem of limited access to health system that the examined populations face, will be highlighted and targeted actions and policies are expected to be adopted by local (i.e., in the province of Thessaly) and national (i.e., Greek) authorities. In this respect, non-pharmaceutical interventions and guidelines will be proposed towards the trajectory of holistically approaching the issue of health inequalities.
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