The goal of this clinical trial is to test a treatment strategy for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) who use fentanyl. Participants will receive medically-administered doses of intravenous (IV) fentanyl at intervals until they are comfortable and do not have withdrawal symptoms. They then will be given opioid agonist therapy (OAT) once daily by mouth, which is the current standard treatment for OUD. In this trial, each participant's starting dose of OAT will be tailored to meet their opioid needs, based on the amount of IV fentanyl they received.
The main questions this trial aims to answer are:
* Is the IV fentanyl protocol feasible and safe for use in a community clinic setting?
* Will the protocol result in higher-than-standard starting doses of OAT? Are these doses safe, and will they enable participants to stay on OAT for a longer time?
Who can participate
Age range
19 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Opioid use disorder (OUD) of any severity by DSM-5 Clinical Diagnostic criteria
. Intentional use of unregulated fentanyl by any route (injection and/or inhalation) by participant self-report
. Urine drug test (UDT) positive for fentanyl at screening or within 7 days prior to date of screening visit
. Clinical indication to start OAT with methadone or SROM
. Willing and able to provide written informed consent for study participation
. If taking prescribed opioids for safer supply/risk mitigation, willing to discontinue them starting on study Day 1 and for the first 7 days of the study
Exclusion criteria
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Number of clinically significant study drug-related adverse events requiring intervention
Timeframe: Count starting from the beginning of the IV fentanyl induction procedure up to the end of Day 7 on OAT