Neurocognitive Effects of Opiate Agonist Treatment (NEO)

After randomization, each medication will be prescribed and administered by one of these experienced clinicians, according to well- established national protocols. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio in variable size blocks of 4-8 via central, computer-generated randomization. Given the relatively small sample size, we will randomize in blocks to ensure comparison groups of approximately equal size. Because medication type will not be blinded, we will vary block size to prevent anticipation of treatment arm assignment. We will also stratify randomization by HIV status to ensure equal numbers of HIV-infected persons in each arm.

INTERVENTION DOSE. Doses of buprenorphine and methadone will be adjusted within pre-specified ranges to ensure that comparisons between the two treatments are based on individually optimized doses.

Buprenorphine (we will use the buprenorphine/naloxone combination exclusively) will be administered at a dose of 8 to 32 mg per day, though we expect most subjects not to exceed 24 mg per day. These doses approximate methadone doses of 60 to 100 mg daily, which are in the upper range of doses generally used in clinical practice, but are well-known to be most efficacious and are also most prevalent in DoSA. Since study clinicians will be experienced substance abuse treatment providers, some flexibility will be allowed within these parameters. Both buprenorphine and methadone will be administered daily as oral medications.

The study will have two phases: induction/stabilization (weeks 1 - 3) and maintenance (weeks 4 - 24).

During dose induction/stabilization, subjects will attend daily visits (Sx/week) with a study clinician and receive gradually increasing doses of medication (see below). The first week of induction/stabilization will be considered a run-in period; at the conclusion of this week participants will complete enrollment in the trial and also complete their first NP research visit. The purpose of the run-in period is to ensure that we enroll persons who are able to comply with all trial requirements.

MAINTENANCE PHASE. The maintenance stage of opioid pharmacotherapy begins when a patient is responding optimally to medication treatment and routine dosage adjustments are no longer needed. Patients at this stage have stopped abusing opioids and many remain on the same dosage of treatment medication for many months, whereas others require frequent or occasional adjustments. During maintenance (starting on day 22, week 4),subjects in both arms will attend the clinic three times per week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and will receive bottles of medication to take home for the other four days of the week. Subjects will receive increases in their doses starting in week 4 if they meet pre-established criteria, up to 100 mg of methadone, and up to 32 mg of buprenorphine.

Our proposed research plan includes two follow-up visits, three and six months after the baseline visit. We anticipate that subjects will still be in the maintenance phase at the time of both these visits.