National Institute on Drug Abuse 1R01DA062746-01A1

Impact of Cannabis on Opioid Self-Administration: Determining if Cannabis Alters the Drive to Take Opioids in Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder

The award funds research to study the impact of cannabis on opioid self-administration in individuals with opioid use disorder through controlled clinical trials, aiming to inform public health and regulatory decisions.

Description

This project aims to provide fundamental public health data by conducting two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, within subject, inpatient studies enrolling individuals with moderate-to-severe opioid use disorder and opioid physical dependence. The studies will determine how repeated inhaled cannabis exposure impacts intranasal oxycodone self-administration and if cannabis, when offered as an alternative drug option, can alter the choice to take an opioid. Secondary outcomes include abuse potential assessments and safety/physiological measures, with exploratory outcomes examining endocannabinoid tone and experimental pain response. The research will inform clinical practice, medical cannabis recommendations, risk mitigation strategies, and regulatory decisions relevant to the opioid epidemic.

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