An interventional study of Minds and Mentors and Twelve Step Intervention Group in Opioid Use Disorder, Substance Use Disorders and Medication Assisted Treatment, sponsored by University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Active, not recruiting at 4 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 19 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-06.
Sponsored by University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The proposed research effort will:
The purpose of this study is as follows:
Although medications for opioid use disorders (MOUD) is safe and effective and is currently considered the gold standard for treating OUD, adherence to MOUD regimens remains a challenge. Early studies have demonstrated efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions as adjunctive treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) while reducing substance use and cravings. In addition, non-randomized pilot studies suggest that mindfulness-based interventions may be effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in individuals undergoing MOUD.
The goal of the proposed study is to determine the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention that also utilizes peer mentors in addition to professional substance abuse therapists (the Minds and Mentors program [MiMP]) in improving adherence to MOUD and reducing relapse rates in a sample of individuals with OUD who are also on MOUD versus a twelve-step facilitation (TSF) program. The MiMP is a twelve-week intervention that uses group therapy and meets once a week for about two hours. The primary outcome measure will is adherence to medications for OUD. The secondary outcome measures will include the demographic covariates, depression, anxiety, stress, quality of life, and cravings. Finally, exploratory outcome measures will include cortisol levels and rates of reactivity to drug cues. This study will randomize participants in either intervention or control group in blocks of five. Data collection will occur at baseline, 8 weeks, 12 weeks (end of treatment) and at 12- week and 24- week follow-up.
1,412 studies on the registry are indexed under Opioid-Related Disorders; 290 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 240 is above the median of 63 across 1,124 interventional studies indexed under Opioid-Related Disorders.
Browse Opioid-Related Disorders studies →University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa is the lead sponsor of 39 studies on the registry; 15 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Subject Exit criteria:
Treatment will utilize a group format. The twelve-week mindfulness based relapsed prevention group therapy intervention is co-led by a licensed counselor and a peer mentor for eight weeks, followed by group sessions led by peer mentors for an additional four weeks.
Behavioral: Minds and Mentors
Participants in the attentional control group will attend 12 weeks of a enhanced 12 step treatment program.
Behavioral: Twelve Step Intervention Group
Participants will be randomized into Minds and Mentors to attend weekly group therapy sessions for 12 week. The mindfulness-based relapse prevention therapy intervention will be led by a licensed counselor for eights weeks followed up by four additional sessions led by a certified recovery support specialist (peer mentor).
Participants will be randomized to the Twelve Step Intervention Group to attend weekly group therapy sessions for 12 week. The twelve step intervention group will be led by a licensed counselor.
Adherence Rate
Adherence rate operationalized as number of weeks a participant continually receives MOUD as prescribed by primary provider for the duration of the intervention and follow-up period
Time frame: 9 months
Relapse
Relapse as measured through both self-report utilizing the Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB) and Urine Drug Screen (UDS). The TLFB is a structured interview using calendar-based anchors to assess weekly drug use. UDS is a weekly urine dipstick for substance use; the urine cup has a multi-drug 12 panel test on the cup's surface, which detects several substances including opiates, and uses concentrations levels established by SAMSHA. A participant will be coded as positive for use (i.e., having relapsed) if: (a) the participant self-reported use for that week; or (b) the participant denied use, but provided a positive urine drug screen for opioids. Relapse will be ascertained in 30-day periods. At baseline, a Timeline Followback (TLFB)8 for the 30 days before admission will be obtained (with opioid use separated from other drug use) and a urine drug screen collected. For follow-up assessments, the TLFB for the previous 60 days, 3 months, 3 months post and 6 months post will be obtained.
Time frame: 9 months
Cravings
Cravings as measured by the Opioid Craving Scale (OCS), a modification of the Cocaine Craving Scale will be utilized to assess opioid craving. The OCS consists of three items rated on a visual analogue scale from 0-10: (1) How much do you currently crave opiates? (rated from not at all to extremely), (2) In the past week, please rate how strong your desire to use opiates has been when something in the environment has reminded you of opiates (rated from no desire to extremely strong), and (3) Please imagine yourself in the environment in which you previously used opiates. If you were in this environment today and if it were the time of day that you typically used opiates, what is the likelihood that you would use opiates today? (rated from not at all to I'm sure I would use opiates). The total score is calculated by averaging the three items.
Time frame: 9 months
Depression
Depression as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), a 9-item self-report that measures depressive symptoms
Time frame: 9 months
Stress
Stress as measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), a 10-item self-report of perceived stress
Time frame: 9 months
Anxiety
Anxiety as measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), a 7-item self-report of anxiety
Time frame: 9 months
Quality of Life
Quality of life as measured by the PROMIS Physical Functioning/ Quality of Life, a 6-item self report of physical functioning and quality of life
Time frame: 9 months
Cortisol Reactivity
Cortisol reactivity to drug cues as measured by non-invasive salivary cortisol levels. Non-invasive salivary cortisol levels will be assessed as a measure of stress reactivity to cues at baseline, post-treatment, and follow-up time points. Two samples will be acquired at each assessment session to represent resting baseline cortisol levels, stress induced cortisol levels to drug-related cues, and return to rest levels. To minimize diurnal cycle effects, assessment will take place in the afternoon when cortisol is lower, and reactivity can be detected. After 20 minutes at rest, five mL of saliva will be collected via the passive drool. Next, participants will watch a 20-minute video depicting drug cues. A second sample will then be collected to assess cortisol reactivity to drug cues. Participants will be asked to rate the extent of high, craving, and withdrawal feelings using a 10-point scale. Samples will be transported in coolers to Dr. Glenn's lab where they will be immediately
Time frame: 9 months
Plan to share: Undecided
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This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in May 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa