Do you or someone you love have a problem with cocaine?
STARS is currently recruiting for several federally funded treatment studies for cocaine abusers. Cocaine is one of the most widely abused drugs in the United States and the number of heavy cocaine users has been increasing over the past decade. Individuals who are dependent on cocaine often find themselves consistently using more than planned and unable to stop using on their own. Finding ways of breaking the cycle of using cocaine can be very challenging. In addition to the devastating impact on relationships, employment, health, and overall well-being, individuals using cocaine may also be struggling with other untreated difficulties, such as depression. STARS treatment options all offer weekly therapeutic support in addition to regular psychiatric and medical assessments. Anyone who uses cocaine and wants treatment will be considered for these research studies.
Cocaine Dependence:
Study 1
Individuals who use cocaine regularly often experience intense cravings for the drug, in addition to other psychological symptoms. Frequent urges to use cocaine can interfere with achieving and maintaining sobriety. This treatment study offers two medications geared towards alleviating the symptoms of cocaine dependence. Adderall-XR and Topiramate have independently shown promise in helping individuals with cocaine dependence, and the combination of these medications offers a potentially more successful approach to promoting abstinence. For this treatment study, patients participate for 14 weeks, visiting the clinic for 3 half hour-long visits each week. Patients are regularly scheduled to meet with a psychiatrist to discuss progress in treatment. As patients near completion of treatment, referrals are provided for further care as needed.
To learn more about this treatment please visit the National Institutes of Health clinical trials website.
Study 2
Sustaining long-term abstinence from cocaine often requires individuals to make important lifestyle changes in the areas of family relationships, recreational activities, social networks, and job skills. Research has also demonstrated that brain functioning can impact the recovery process. This non-medication based treatment study begins with an approximately 14-day period of abstinence from cocaine use. Patients have the option of spending this time period admitted to the Irving Clinical Center for Research for an inpatient stay or by attending the STARS clinic three times a week to provide urine samples. Following this period of abstinence, brain scans (PET scans and MRI scans) to determine patient functioning are performed by highly trained medical staff. Patients then receive outpatient treatment for a total of six months, meeting regularly with a therapist and the medical team. Patients visit the STARS clinic three days a week for the first twelve weeks and two days a week for another 12 weeks. During therapy sessions, the focus is on patients developing cocaine avoidance strategies and actively seeking alternative sources of fulfillment in their lives.
To learn more about this treatment please visit the National Institutes of Health clinical trials website.
Cocaine and Depression:
Symptoms of depression can include loss of interest in activities, difficulty making decisions, and a prolonged sad mood. Because depression and cocaine abuse often occur together, taking medication to alleviate the symptoms of depression may be particularly effective for assisting individuals to stop using cocaine. Mirtazapine (Remeron) is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of depression. For this treatment study, patients participate for up to 18 weeks, visiting the clinic three times per week for the first two weeks, and twice a week for the remainder of treatment. Patients receive weekly psychotherapy, in addition to regular meetings with a psychiatrist and the medical staff. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either Mirtazapine or placebo (non active medication). After 9 weeks of taking study medication (Mirtazapine or inactive placebo), if depression has not improved, the study medication is stopped, and patients are offered alternative medications. At the conclusion of treatment, all patients are offered referrals for further assistance.
To learn more about this treatment please visit the National Institutes of Health clinical trials website.
STARS is currently recruiting for several federally funded treatment studies for cocaine abusers. Cocaine is one of the most widely abused drugs in the United States and the number of heavy cocaine users has been increasing over the past decade. Individuals who are dependent on cocaine often find themselves consistently using more than planned and unable to stop using on their own. Finding ways of breaking the cycle of using cocaine can be very challenging. In addition to the devastating impact on relationships, employment, health, and overall well-being, individuals using cocaine may also be struggling with other untreated difficulties, such as depression. STARS treatment options all offer weekly therapeutic support in addition to regular psychiatric and medical assessments. Anyone who uses cocaine and wants treatment will be considered for these research studies.
Cocaine Dependence:
Study 1
Individuals who use cocaine regularly often experience intense cravings for the drug, in addition to other psychological symptoms. Frequent urges to use cocaine can interfere with achieving and maintaining sobriety. This treatment study offers two medications geared towards alleviating the symptoms of cocaine dependence. Adderall-XR and Topiramate have independently shown promise in helping individuals with cocaine dependence, and the combination of these medications offers a potentially more successful approach to promoting abstinence. For this treatment study, patients participate for 14 weeks, visiting the clinic for 3 half hour-long visits each week. Patients are regularly scheduled to meet with a psychiatrist to discuss progress in treatment. As patients near completion of treatment, referrals are provided for further care as needed.
To learn more about this treatment please visit the National Institutes of Health clinical trials website.
Study 2
Sustaining long-term abstinence from cocaine often requires individuals to make important lifestyle changes in the areas of family relationships, recreational activities, social networks, and job skills. Research has also demonstrated that brain functioning can impact the recovery process. This non-medication based treatment study begins with an approximately 14-day period of abstinence from cocaine use. Patients have the option of spending this time period admitted to the Irving Clinical Center for Research for an inpatient stay or by attending the STARS clinic three times a week to provide urine samples. Following this period of abstinence, brain scans (PET scans and MRI scans) to determine patient functioning are performed by highly trained medical staff. Patients then receive outpatient treatment for a total of six months, meeting regularly with a therapist and the medical team. Patients visit the STARS clinic three days a week for the first twelve weeks and two days a week for another 12 weeks. During therapy sessions, the focus is on patients developing cocaine avoidance strategies and actively seeking alternative sources of fulfillment in their lives.
To learn more about this treatment please visit the National Institutes of Health clinical trials website.
Cocaine and Depression:
Symptoms of depression can include loss of interest in activities, difficulty making decisions, and a prolonged sad mood. Because depression and cocaine abuse often occur together, taking medication to alleviate the symptoms of depression may be particularly effective for assisting individuals to stop using cocaine. Mirtazapine (Remeron) is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of depression. For this treatment study, patients participate for up to 18 weeks, visiting the clinic three times per week for the first two weeks, and twice a week for the remainder of treatment. Patients receive weekly psychotherapy, in addition to regular meetings with a psychiatrist and the medical staff. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either Mirtazapine or placebo (non active medication). After 9 weeks of taking study medication (Mirtazapine or inactive placebo), if depression has not improved, the study medication is stopped, and patients are offered alternative medications. At the conclusion of treatment, all patients are offered referrals for further assistance.
To learn more about this treatment please visit the National Institutes of Health clinical trials website.
The Substance Treatment and Research Service of Columbia University (STARS) provides free and confidential treatment of substance abuse in the context of a research treatment clinical trial.
Cutting edge approaches to treating addiction to alcohol, cocaine, heroin, narcotic pain pills or marijuana are available in a supportive and professional environment.
Cutting edge approaches to treating addiction to alcohol, cocaine, heroin, narcotic pain pills or marijuana are available in a supportive and professional environment.
