Monthly Injectable Buprenorphine for Methamphetamine Use Disorder (MURB)

Overview 

The Research Need 

Stimulants such as methamphetamine are currently contributing to the evolving opioid overdose crisis. Unlike the robust evidence that supports the use of medications for opioid use disorder, medications for methamphetamine use disorder with co-occurring opioid misuse are not yet available.  

About the Program 

This program will test the use of injectable extended-release buprenorphine to treat methamphetamine use disorder among individuals with opioid misuse that is not severe enough to warrant medications for opioid use disorder.   

Immediate-release sublingual (under-the-tongue) buprenorphine is known to reduce stimulant use. The recent approval of extended-release buprenorphine injected under the skin expands the potential use of this medication and may improve the poor treatment adherence that has complicated medication trials. 

This research will be conducted at four to six treatment sites participating in the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) that brings together medical and specialty treatment providers, researchers, patients, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.