NCT02817698

Imaging the Neurochemistry of Drug Addiction With PET

• Status: Completed
• Phase: EARLY_Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 25 (actual)
• Sponsor: Yale University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 55 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

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.

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.

Conditions

• Smoking
• Cannabis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	cannabis	All cannabis dependent subjects will use cannabis cigarettes to induce elevated dopamine and beta endorphin levels in the brain.

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-11-29
• Primary completion: 2022-01-12
• Completion: 2024-06-14
• First posted: 2016-06-29
• Last updated: 2024-12-12
• Results posted: 2024-12-12

Locations

3 sites across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated drug study