RecruitingNot Applicable

Fighting Addictions, Improving Lives: COmprehensive Drug Rehabilitation With Music

Austria, Israel, Italy600 participantsStarted 2025-07-01

Plain-language summary

FALCO is a parallel pragmatic randomized control trial addressing long-term effects of music therapy (MT) on substance use disorder (SUD). 600 participants will be recruited from multiple European countries (see Locations). They will be randomized into one of the following intervention arms: Active Music Group (AMG), Music Listening Group (MLG) or Treatment as Usual (TAU) as offered locally.

Who can participate

Age range

18 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: * patients seeking or receiving treatment at the recruitment site for an existing substance use disorder based on ICD-10 criteria * ≥18 years old * not currently undergoing detoxification (detoxification has been completed or is not currently planned at the time of recruitment) * any type of substance use including polysubstance and alcohol use Exclusion Criteria: * exclusively nicotine dependence * psychotic episode in the last 3 months * insufficient language skills to participate in treatment without the use of a translator * hearing impairment that considerably impairs hearing of music played at a moderate volume (not relevant if hearing is sufficiently compensated by a hearing aid) * existing diagnosis of dementia * is currently receiving music therapy or has received music therapy (i.e. at planned and reoccurring intervals, not counting single random occurrences) during the past year

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

Addiction Severity assessed by the the European Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI)

Timeframe: Baseline, 1 year, 2 years.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07028983

SponsorNORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2028-06-30

Contact for this trial

Christian Gold, PhD

+47 975 01 757 chgo@norceresearch.no

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Substance Use Disorder (SUD) trials