Imaging the Neurochemistry of Drug Addiction With PET

November 18, 2024 updated by: Kelly Cosgrove, Yale University
The investigators' project has two overarching goals. 1) The investigators will use newly developed positron emission tomography (PET) technology to investigate the dopaminergic neurochemistry of drugs of abuse including marijuana, traditional cigarettes, and cocaine, and 2) The investigators will extend PET technology to an additional neurotransmitter system - namely, the opioid-ergic system, using the same drugs of abuse.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Aim 1. To examine the magnitude, location and timing of drug-induced dopamine release.

  1. Tobacco smokers (n=20) will be imaged with [11C]raclopride PET, after overnight abstinence from tobacco. Subjects will smoke their preferred brand of cigarette during the PET scan.
  2. Marijuana smokers (n=20) will be imaged with [11C]raclopride PET, after overnight abstinence from marijuana. Subjects will smoke a marijuana cigarette during the PET scan.
  3. Cocaine users (n=20) will be imaged with [11C]raclopride PET, after overnight abstinence from cocaine. Subjects will be administered cocaine during the PET scan.

Aim 2. To examine the magnitude, location and timing of drug-induced beta-endorphin release. *The Investigators will attempt to use the same subjects from Aim 1 for Aim 2.

  1. Tobacco smokers (n=20) will be imaged with [11C]carfentanil PET, after overnight abstinence from tobacco. Subjects will smoke their preferred brand of cigarette during the PET scan.
  2. Marijuana smokers (n=20) will be imaged with [11C]carfentanil PET, after overnight abstinence from marijuana. Subjects will smoke a marijuana cigarette during the PET scan.
  3. Cocaine users (n=20) will be imaged with [11C]carfentanil PET, after overnight abstinence from cocaine. Subjects will be administered cocaine during the PET scan.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
25

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Early Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Connecticut
      • New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06519
        • Connecticut Mental Health Center
      • New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06519
        • Yale Magnetic Resonance Research Center
      • New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06519
        • Yale PET Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 55 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • General Inclusion Criteria:

    1. Men and women, aged 18-55 years
    2. Able to read and write English and give voluntary written informed consent
    3. Not treatment seeking or using treatment medications

Tobacco Smokers

  1. Have a Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) rating of at least 3.
  2. Have been using at least 7 cigarettes per day for at least 1 year
  3. Carbon monoxide levels > 10 ppm during intake evaluation
  4. Urine cotinine levels of > 150 ng/mL during intake evaluation
  5. Are not current users of marijuana or other illicit drugs

Marijuana Smokers

  1. Meet DSM-V criteria for cannabis use disorder based on the structured clinical interview diagnostic (SCID) or regular cannabis use of >5 times/week
  2. Test positive for THC
  3. Have been smoking cannabis on a regular basis for > 1 year

Cocaine Users

  1. DSM-V criteria for Cocaine Abuse or Dependence
  2. Recent street cocaine use in excess of amounts to be administered in the current study
  3. Intravenous and/or smoked (crack/ freebase) use
  4. Positive urine toxicology screen for cocaine

Exclusion Criteria:

  • 1. Current significant medical condition such as neurological, cardiovascular, endocrine, renal, liver, or thyroid pathology.

    2. History of or current neurological or significant psychiatric disorder such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (DSM-IV Axis 1).

    3. History of significant head trauma. 4. Women who are pregnant or nursing, or fail to use one of the following methods of birth control unless she or partner is surgically sterile or she is postmenopausal (hormone contraceptives [oral, implant, injection, patch, or ring], contraceptive sponge, double barrier [diaphragm or condom plus spermicide], or IUD).

    5. Regular or current significant use of any prescription, herbal or illegal psychotropic medications (e.g., antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, ecstasy) in the past 6 mo, with no current illegal drug use confirmed by urine toxicology (except for cocaine and marijuana when relevant).

    6. Significant substance misuse (including alcohol, and excluding cannabis and marijuana when relevant) that in the PI's determination interferes with the study results or safety of the subject.

    7. Have MRI-incompatible implants and other contraindications for MRI, such as a pacemaker, artificial joints, non-removable body piercings, claustrophobia, etc.

    8. Subjects with history of prior radiation exposure for research purposes within the past year such that participation in this study would place them over FDA limits for annual radiation exposure. This guideline is an effective dose of 5 rem received per year.

    9. Subjects with current, past or anticipated exposure to radiation in the work place within one year of proposed research PET scans.

    10. Subjects with history of IV drug use which would prevent venous access for PET tracer injection.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Drug of dependence
There is only one arm to the study. All subjects will receive their drug of dependence in this study. Nicotine dependent subjects will receive tobacco cigarettes, cannabis dependent subjects will receive cannabis cigarettes, and cocaine dependent subjects will receive IV cocaine.
Drug: cannabis
All cannabis dependent subjects will use cannabis cigarettes to induce elevated dopamine and beta endorphin levels in the brain.
Other Names:
  • marijuana

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Dopamine Levels at Baseline and After Drug of Dependence Administration as Confirmed by PET Images.
Time Frame: 90 minute PET scan acquisition. Drug of dependence will be given at -35 mins
PET images will be obtained in dependent subjects at baseline and after drug of dependence administration. Change in DA levels will be determined by change in binding potential of raclopride. Baseline levels will be assessed during the first scan in the morning after overnight abstinence from their drug of dependence using a 90-minute PET acquisition. Then, drug of dependence will be administered 35 minutes before a second 90-minute PET acquisition. The beginning of the second PET scan will be approximately 5 hours after the beginning of the first PET scan, however in some cases this may be longer, or the scans may take place on separate days due to scheduling constraints or scan cancellations.
90 minute PET scan acquisition. Drug of dependence will be given at -35 mins
Change in Beta Endorphin Levels at Baseline and After Drug of Dependence Administration as Confirmed by PET Images.
Time Frame: 120 minute PET scan acquisition. Drug of dependence will be given at -35 mins
PET images will be obtained in dependent subjects at baseline and after drug of dependence administration. Change in beta endorphin levels will be determined by change in binding potential of carfentanil. Baseline levels will be assessed during the first scan in the morning after 12 hour abstinence from their drug of dependence using a 90-minute PET acquisition. Then, drug of dependence will be administered 35 minutes before a second 90-minute PET acquisition. The beginning of the second PET scan will be approximately 5 hours after the beginning of the first PET scan, however in some cases this may be longer, or the scans may take place on separate days due to scheduling constraints or scan cancellations.
120 minute PET scan acquisition. Drug of dependence will be given at -35 mins

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Yale University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Kelly Cosgrove, PhD, Yale University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
November 29, 2017

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 12, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 14, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 27, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 27, 2016

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 29, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
December 12, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 18, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 1604017594
  • 1R01DA038709-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • 1R01DA038832-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • 1R03DA047588-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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