Center for Addiction Medicine

Participate in a Study

Clinical research is at the heart of all medical advances. At the MGH Center for Addiction Medicine, we aim to develop new and effective treatments for drug use disorders and to understand the effects of drug use on the brain and body. It is your participation that helps researchers to ultimately uncover better ways to treat and prevent drug use disorders and to understand the effects of drugs on the brain. We have the highest standards for protection of the confidentiality and privacy of all study participants.

Visit the National Institute of Health’s website for more information on clinical research trials. Learn about what this kind of study is, why people participate, and what the experience was like for both volunteers and researchers.

Studies at MGH-CAM seeking volunteers

To inquire about participating, please see the list below, organized by category. Use the contact information provided for the study in which you’re interested.

MARIJUANA SMOKERS

Studies in adolescents who use marijuana

Contingency Management for Six Months of Cannabis Abstinence among Adolescents, PI: Randi Schuster, Ph.D. This pilot study will examine whether cognitive change over six months of cannabis abstinence is associated with improved real-world academic performance and brain functioning in adolescents. You must be between the ages of 13 and 20 to participate.

Visit https://rally.partners.org/study/mars or call (617) 643-3575 to see if you are eligible.

Real-Time Assessment of Substance Use, PIs: Eden Evins, M.D., MPH, Brenden Tervo-Clemmens, Ph.D. The purpose of this study is to learn more about teens’ day-to-day patterns of use of cannabis and alcohol. You must be between the ages of 15 and 20 to participate.

Visit https://rally.partners.org/study/sasu_study or call (617) 643-3225 to see if you are eligible.

OPIOID USERS

Studies in adults who use opioid medication for pain management

Evaluation of Medical Cannabis and Prescription Opioid Taper Support for Reduction of Pain and Opioid Dose in Patients with Chronic Non-Cancer Pain, PI: Jodi Gilman, Ph.D. The purpose of this study is to assess whether medical marijuana, when added to a behavioral prescription opioid taper support program, improves pain and reduces opioid dose in adults on COT for CNCP more so than the behavioral intervention alone. You must be between the ages of 18 and 75 and use opioid medication for pain management to participate.

Visit https://rally.partners.org/study/potsmm or call (617) 643-4537 to see if you are eligible.

VAPERS

Studies in adolescents vapers

Varenicline For Vaping Cessation in Non-Smoker Vaper Adolescents , PIs: Eden Evins, M.D., MPH, Randi Schuster, Ph.D. This project will determine whether varenicline, the most effective treatment for addiction to smoked tobacco, is effective for vaping cessation in adolescents. You must be between the ages of 18 and 25 and vape nicotine daily or near daily to participate.

Visit https://rally.partners.org/study/vaper_adolescents or call (617) 643-7611 to see if you are eligible.

OTHER

Studies in adults with chronic low back pain

Evaluation of Cannabidiol for Reduction of Brain Neuroinflammation, PIs: Jodi Gilman, Ph.D., Marco Loggia, Ph.D. In this project, we will use PET/MR imaging to image glial activation in patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP), and investigate whether CBD, compared to placebo, reduces pain- and depression-related neuroinflammation in cLBP. You must be between the ages of 18 and 75 and have a diagnosis of chronic low back pain to participate.

Visit https://rally.partners.org/study/cbdpain or call (617) 724-0382 to see if you are eligible.