Title

Emergency Department Initiated Extended-Release Naltrexone and Case Management for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder
Feasibility of Emergency Department Initiated Extended-Release Naltrexone and Case Management Services for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder
  • Phase

    Phase 4
  • Study Type

    Interventional
  • Study Participants

    179
This is a phase 4, open-label, feasibility study of extended release naltrexone (Vivitrol, Alkermes Pharmaceutical) and case management for treatment of alcohol use disorders in the ED.

Excess alcohol use is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and contributes to a large number of emergency department (ED) visits. The rate of alcohol-related ED visits is increasing, and there is evidence that this increase may be driven by a subset of patients who frequently visit the ED due to an underlying alcohol use disorder (AUD). The proposed study will assess the feasibility of implementing a multimodal treatment for AUD in the emergency department for 25 patients with AUD. The rationale for including each component of the multimodal treatment is outlined below.

Pharmacotherapy is recommended as the standard of care for alcohol use disorders. Of the four drugs approved by the FDA for treatment of alcohol use disorder, extended release naltrexone has been found to be superior at reducing healthcare utilization, increasing detoxification facility use, and reducing total cost. Fewer than 1 in 4 patients with AUD currently receives treatment with an FDA approved agent and use of these drugs in EDs is virtually non-existent.

ED patients with alcohol use disorders frequently suffer from multiple medical, mental health, and social problems that influence their health. Providing such patients with case management services has shown promise in improving health related outcomes while curbing ED utilization and healthcare costs.

Regardless of comorbidity, limited access to substance use and mental health services is a significant barrier to receiving treatment, and large disparities exist in access based on income level. Facilitated referrals, where a healthcare worker communicates with the patient and service providers and assists the patient with obtaining follow up, have been used effectively to improve access to specialty care after ED discharge. Case managers are familiar with community treatment resources and are well versed in providing facilitated referrals.

The primary hypothesis is that implementing this multimodal treatment will be feasible in an ED setting and will reduce alcohol use. Feasibility measures (recruitment, retention, continuation of treatment after the trial) are the primary outcomes. The intent of the intervention is to change drinking behavior in a way that benefits participants' health and quality of life. As such, we will conduct a limited efficacy assessment. Treatment efficacy will be assessed by comparing alcohol consumption, quality of life, and life consequences related to alcohol use before and after the intervention.

The primary efficacy outcome is change in total alcohol consumption measured by a 2 week timeline follow back. Change from baseline will be assessed after the 3 month intervention period, and at the conclusion of the study follow up period for all outcomes.
Study Started
Aug 14
2020
Primary Completion
May 01
2022
Study Completion
May 01
2022
Results Posted
Jun 22
2023
Last Update
Jun 22
2023

Drug Vivitrol (Extended Release Naltrexone)

Monthly Injections of 380mg Extended-Release Naltrexone, case management services as needed tailored to the individual participant

  • Other names: Case Management, SBIRT

Multimodal Intervention Experimental

The intervention is multimodal and consists of: Intramuscular injections of 380mg extended-release Naltrexone, given once monthly for 3 months. Case Management services

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Active alcohol use by self-report
Known alcohol use disorder or suspected alcohol use disorder and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score ≥ 8 or AUDIT-C score > 4, or frequent emergency department visits and hazardous drinking defined as: At least 3 emergency department visits in the past 12 months, including the index visit, and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score ≥ 8 or AUDIT-C score > 4

Exclusion Criteria:

Opioid use: currently receiving opioid analgesics, self-report of opioid use in past 7 days, current physiologic opioid dependence, patients in acute opioid withdrawal, urine toxicology screen positive for opiates including fentanyl
History of hypersensitivity to naltrexone, polylactide-co-glycolide (PLG), carboxymethylcellulose, or any other components of the diluent
Liver function tests (AST, ALT) > 5x upper limit of normal or known cirrhosis
Platelets less than 100,000 per cubic mm
Acute condition at the time of enrollment that necessitates medical therapy with opioids
Pregnant
Incarcerated

Summary

Multimodal Intervention

All Events

Event Type Organ System Event Term

Participants Retained in Study at 3 Months

Percentage of enrolled participants who attend final study visit at the end of the intervention period

Multimodal Intervention

Retention at 12 Months

Percentage of enrolled participants who complete final study visit at the end of the follow up periods

Multimodal Intervention

Change in Daily Total Alcohol Consumption From Baseline at 3 Months

Self-reported total daily alcohol consumption at 3 months, compared to baseline

Multimodal Intervention

-7.5
drinks per day (Median)
95% Confidence Interval: -8.6 to -5.9

Change in Total Alcohol Consumption at 12 Months

Change in self-reported total daily alcohol consumption from baseline

Multimodal Intervention

Change in Quality of Life Score at 3 Months

Kemp Quality of Life score at 3 months compared to baseline. Score is 1-7 with higher scores indicating higher quality of life.

Multimodal Intervention

1.2
score on a scale (Mean)
95% Confidence Interval: 0.5 to 1.9

Substance Use Treatment Utilization

percentage of participants self-reporting engagement in community substance use treatment programs

Outcome Measure Data Not Reported

Recruitment

Percentage of those approached who enroll in the study

Outcome Measure Data Not Reported

Continued Naltrexone Use After Intervention Period

Percentage of enrolled who self reported continuing treatment with naltrexone through their primary physician after the end of the study intervention period

Multimodal Intervention

Change in ED Utilization

Change in the number of emergency department visits determined by electronic medical record review

Outcome Measure Data Not Reported

Change in WHO Drinking Risk Level

Change in World Health Organization drinking risk level from baseline. Risk levels are scored 1-4 with higher scores indicating more severe health risk from alcohol use

Multimodal Intervention

-2.0
score on a scale (Median)
Inter-Quartile Range: -3.0 to 0.0

Change in Alcohol Related Life Consequences (Short Inventory of Problems Scale, Version 2R: SIP-2R)

Change in life consequences due to alcohol use from baseline as measured by revised short inventory of problems (score 0-45 with higher scores indicating more severe alcohol related life consequences)

Multimodal Intervention

-13.0
score on a scale (Median)
Inter-Quartile Range: -19.0 to -7.0

Receipt of All Study Naltrexone Injections

Percentage of participants receiving all 3 scheduled naltrexone injections received

Multimodal Intervention

Age, Continuous

43
years (Median)
Full Range: 28.0 to 79.0

Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) score

11
units on a scale (Median)
Inter-Quartile Range: 9.0 to 12.0

Amphetamines

7
Participants

Annual income

30,000
U.S. Dollars/ year (Median)
Inter-Quartile Range: None

Any comorbid substance use

16
Participants

Cannabis

12
Participants

Cocaine

2
Participants

Comorbid serious mental illness

8
Participants

Daily alcohol consumption over the past 14 days

7.6
drinks per day (Median)
Inter-Quartile Range: 4.8 to 13.2

Education

14
years (Median)
Full Range: 8.0 to 20.0

Employed

21
Participants

Kemp Quality of Life Scale Score

3.6
units on a scale (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 1.7

Short Inventory of Problems Score (SIP-2R)

26
units on a scale (Median)
Inter-Quartile Range: 15.0 to 31.0

Stable housing

21
Participants

Tobacco use

20
Participants

WHO drinking risk level

4
units on a scale (Median)
Inter-Quartile Range: 3.0 to 4.0

Race/Ethnicity, Customized

Sex: Female, Male

Overall Study

Multimodal Intervention

Drop/Withdrawal Reasons

Multimodal Intervention