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RecruitingNCT07218549Updated Sep 28, 2026

Evaluation of the Safety and Effects of Psychoactive Substances in People With Past Opioid Use

A Phase 1 interventional study of Placebo and Oxycodone HCl in Opioid Use, Substance Use Disorders and Opioid Analgesia, sponsored by Christopher D. Verrico. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 55 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-28.

Sponsored by Christopher D. Verrico · Phase 1, Interventional, and Other

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Sep 2026; still recruiting 1 month later.
Updated Sep 28, 2026Now RecruitingSite recruiting status changedGo to Updates ↓
Phase
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
72
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 55 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to understand how kratom affects people. In this study, kratom will be compared with another substance and a placebo (an inactive substance). Researchers will also study how the substances move through and affect the body. This includes examining how the body absorbs, processes, and eliminates the drug (pharmacokinetics), as well as how the drug affects the body and how it may make you feel (pharmacodynamics). The information collected will help researchers better understand the effects and potential risks of kratom.

02

Conditions studied

  • Opioid Use
  • Substance Use Disorders
  • Opioid Analgesia

Keywords

  • Opioid Use
  • Substance Use Disorders
03

In context

Substance-Related Disorders

2,124 studies on the registry are indexed under Substance-Related Disorders; 393 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 72 is below the median of 108 across 1,727 interventional studies indexed under Substance-Related Disorders.

Browse Substance-Related Disorders studies →

Lead sponsor

Christopher D. Verrico is the lead sponsor of 3 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 55 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  1. English-speaking, 18- to 55-year-old males or females.
  2. Female subjects must have a negative serum pregnancy test at time of screening and negative urine pregnancy test upon admission. In addition, female subjects must meet one of the following conditions:

    • Is a woman of non-childbearing potential defined as no menses for at least 12 months with status confirmed by FSH and estradiol levels at screening or surgically sterile at screening visit OR
    • Is a woman of childbearing potential and using a contraceptive method that is highly effective, with a failure rate of \<1%, from Screening until 9 months after receiving the study medication. The investigator should evaluate the potential for contraceptive method failure (e.g., noncompliance, recently initiated) in relationship to the dose of study intervention.
  3. Male subjects must agree to the following from Day 1 until 9 months after receiving the study medication:

    • Not donate fresh unwashed semen

    Plus, either:

    • Be abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle (abstinent on a long term and persistent basis) and agree to remain abstinent OR
    • Use a male condom and should also be advised of the benefit for a female partner to use a highly effective method of contraception as a condom may break or leak when having sexual intercourse with a woman of childbearing potential who is not currently pregnant.
    • Use a male condom when engaging in any activity that allows for passage of ejaculate to another person
  4. Physically healthy, as determined by a clinical interview with a physician, laboratory tests (urinalysis, blood chemistry, 12-lead ECG), physical examination, and self-reported medical history.
  5. No current or past diagnosis of severe mental illness, as determined by a clinical interview.
  6. Clinical laboratory test results (CMP, CBC, etc.) must be within the normal reference range or with acceptable deviations that are judged to be not clinically significant by a study physician.
  7. Have a history of self-reported recreational opioid use as defined by at least 10 times in the past year and at least once in the 12 weeks before screening.
  8. Able and willing to give signed informed consent, reliable, and willing to make themselves available for the study's duration and follow study procedures.
  9. Agree not to consume any recreational drugs during the study (THC is excluded).
  10. Able to perform study procedures as determined by clinical judgment.
  11. Able to meet eligibility requirements of the Qualification Phase (i.e., drug discrimination) and Naloxone Challenges.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Seeking treatment for a substance or alcohol use disorder as determined by self-report during the intake interview.
  2. Current or past diagnosis of opioid use disorder or other substance use disorder (SUD) within the past year, excluding THC and nicotine-containing products. With regard to marijuana/THC, an individual must be able to tolerate 48 hours of abstinence from marijuana/THC products.
  3. History of opioid overdose.
  4. Using medication or supplements that might interact with kratom or oxycodone as determined by self-report during intake interview.
  5. Treatment with any investigational drug during the last 30 days.
  6. Participants on parole or probation.
  7. Currently pregnant or trying to conceive or currently lactating as determined by blood pregnancy testing at screening, urine pregnancy testing at admission, and self-reporting during interview and study visits.
  8. Current or recent history of significant violent or suicidal behavior or suicidal/homicidal risk as determined by the C-SSRS.
  9. Sensitivity, allergy, or contraindications/allergies to kratom, opioids, or similar compounds.
  10. Use prescription or nonprescription drugs and dietary supplements within seven days or five half-lives (whichever is longer) that, in the opinion of the study clinician may interfere with the investigational product.
  11. Positive urine drug screen (UDS) for substances of abuse at each admission in the Qualification and Treatment phases, excluding tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). If a participant presents with a positive UDS excluding THC at any admission or any visit, the investigator, at their discretion, may reschedule a repeat of UDS until the UDS is negative, excluding THC, before the participant is permitted to participate in any phase of the study.
  12. Positive alcohol breathalyzer test at each admission in the Qualification and Treatment Phase.
  13. History of sensitivity to heparin or heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
  14. Has not donated blood or plasma within the last six weeks.
  15. Has a history of increased intracranial pressure or brain tumors.
  16. Has gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus.
  17. Has a history of seizure disorders.
  18. Has a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cor pulmonale.
  19. Has a history of anemia or any other significant hematologic disorder.
  20. Has a condition or abnormality that, in the opinion of the PI or Study Physician, would compromise the safety of the patient or the quality of the data.
  21. Has a major surgery planned within the next 6 months.
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator)
Enrollment
72 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Placebo comparator
    Treatment Sequence A

    Placebo: A single dose of placebo to match kratom (over-encapsulated placebo in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

    Drug: Placebo

  • Active comparator
    Treatment Sequence B

    Active Control: A single 30 mg dose of oxycodone (1 X 30 mg tablet over-encapsulated placebo in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

    Drug: Oxycodone HCl

  • Active comparator
    Treatment Sequence C

    Kratom: A single 4 g dose of kratom (in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

    Drug: Kratom 4g

  • Experimental
    Treatment Sequence D

    Kratom: A single 8 g dose of kratom (in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

    Drug: Kratom 8g

  • Experimental
    Treatment Sequence E

    Kratom: A single 12 g dose of kratom (in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

    Drug: Kratom 12g

  • Experimental
    Treatment Sequence F

    Kratom: A single 16 g dose of kratom (in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

    Drug: Kratom 16g

Interventions

  • DrugPlacebo

    Placebo: A single dose of placebo to match kratom (over-encapsulated placebo in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

  • DrugOxycodone HCl

    Active Control: A single 30 mg dose of oxycodone (1 X 30 mg tablet over-encapsulated placebo in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

  • DrugKratom 8g

    Kratom: A single 8 g dose of kratom (in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

  • DrugKratom 12g

    Kratom: A single 12 g dose of kratom (in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

  • DrugKratom 16g

    Kratom: A single 16 g dose of kratom (in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

  • DrugKratom 4g

    Kratom: A single 4 g dose of kratom (in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Drug Liking Visual Analog Scale

    The primary endpoint of this study will be maximum (peak) effect (Emax) over 24 hours for Drug Liking ("at this moment"), assessed on a bipolar (0 to 100 points) visual analog scale (VAS).

    Time frame: From Treatment Week 1 to Treatment Week 8

Secondary outcomes

  1. Overall Drug Liking Visual Analog Scale

    Overall drug liking of the study products will be assessed 12 and 24 hours following each dose in the Treatment phase. VAS assessments will be scored on a 100-point scale, where a rating of "0" reflects the complete absence of a subjective effect while a rating of "100" reflects the maximum presence of a subjective effect.

    Time frame: From Treatment Week 1 to Treatment Week 8

  2. Take Drug Again Visual Analog Scale

    Take Drug Again will be assessed 12 and 24 hours following each dose in the Treatment phase. VAS assessments will be scored on a 100-point scale, where a rating of "0" reflects the complete absence of a subjective effect while a rating of "100" reflects the maximum presence of a subjective effect.

    Time frame: From Treatment Week 1 to Treatment Week 8

  3. Pharmacokinetic (PK)- maximum observed concentration (Cmax)

    Pharmacokinetic parameters of kratom alkaloids include maximum observed concentration (Cmax).

    Time frame: Treatment Week 1 to Treatment Week 8

  4. Safety- Adverse Events

    Endpoints will include a summary of the incidence of adverse events (AEs), serious adverse events (SAEs), as well as descriptive summary and statistics of the safety parameters.

    Time frame: Treatment Week 1 to Treatment Week 8

  5. Pharmacokinetic (PK)- time of last measurable observed concentration (Tlast)

    Pharmacokinetic parameters of kratom alkaloids include time of last measurable observed concentration (Tlast).

    Time frame: Treatment Week 1 to Treatment Week 8

  6. Pharmacokinetic (PK)- area under the curve from time 0 to the last measurable observed concentration (AUC0-T)

    Pharmacokinetic parameters of kratom alkaloids include the area under the curve from time 0 to the last measurable observed concentration (AUC0-T).

    Time frame: Treatment Week 1 to Treatment Week 8

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center
    Houston, Texas 77030, United States
    • Christopher D Verrico, PhD Pharmacology · Contact · verrico@bcm.edu · 713-791-1414
    • Adetola Vaughan, MA Psychology · Contact · avaughan@bcm.edu · 713-798-7658
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

1 registry update since Sep 25, 2026
Status
Not yet recruiting→Recruiting
changed Sep 28, 2026
Sites
Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center is now Recruiting
Sep 28, 2026
Show all 1 update
  1. Sep 28, 2026
    Not yet recruiting→Recruiting
    Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center is now Recruiting
    + 2 other changes: date precision and contact details

From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07218549
Lead sponsor
Christopher D. Verrico
Collaborators
Baylor College of Medicine
Responsible party
Christopher D. Verrico (Associate Professor, Baylor College of Medicine) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Oct 20, 2025
Start date
Sep 1, 2026
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2028 (estimated)
Completion
May 31, 2029 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 28, 2026

Study contacts

Christopher D Verrico, PhD Pharmacology
Contact
verrico@bcm.edu
713-791-1414 ext. 226020
Adetola Vaughan, MA Psychology
Contact
avaughan@bcm.edu
713-791-1414 ext. 226134
Christopher D Verrico, PhD Pharmacology
principal investigator · Baylor College of Medicine

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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