Early Addiction Care Pathway After Acute Drug Intoxication in Emergency Departments (NCT07738835) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Early Addiction Care Pathway After Acute Drug Intoxication in Emergency Departments
France266 participantsStarted 2026-10-15
Plain-language summary
Acute intoxication with psychoactive substances represents a major public health issue and a frequent reason for emergency department (ED) visits. Beyond the acute medical management of intoxication, one of the main challenges remains the continuity of addiction care after discharge. Many patients disengage rapidly from follow-up services, leading to recurrent intoxication episodes, repeated ED admissions, and increased morbidity.
The IPAIS study (Interventions Précoces en Addictologie dans le cadre des urgences par Intoxications aiguës aux Stupéfiants) is a multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, open-label clinical trial designed to evaluate whether an enhanced early addiction care pathway improves retention in addiction treatment among patients admitted to emergency departments for acute intoxication involving at least one illicit psychoactive substance (excluding isolated alcohol intoxication).
All participants will receive an early addiction consultation within 24 to 72 hours following the acute event. In the experimental group, this consultation will be combined with a structured and standardized feedback session on toxicological analysis results and a proactive follow-up strategy including scheduled telephone contacts over a 6-month period. The control group will receive early addiction consultation according to usual care procedures, without the structured feedback and standardized follow-up program implemented in the experimental arm.
The primary objective of the study is to determine whether the enhanced intervention improves retention in the addiction care pathway at 6 months after inclusion. Retention is defined as sustained engagement in addiction care, operationalized as at least one addiction-related consultation per month and/or regular telephone-based addiction follow-up over the 6-month period.
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 admitted and/or hospitalized in the emergency department or intensive care unit following acute poisoning must:
* Be over 18 years of age
* Have consumed at least one identifiable non-alcoholic narcotic, including psychoactive substances detected by standard urine drug screening (dipstick)
* Have a history of using at least one non-alcoholic psychoactive substance within the last 30 days
* Speak and understand French
* Have at least 1 cm of hair
* Be covered by a social security scheme (member or dependent)
* Be the patient or a relative/close contact/trusted person who has been informed about the study and has given their informed consent (or completed the emergency inclusion procedure)
* Have a mobile phone number or email address to be contacted
Exclusion Criteria:
* Acute suicidal crisis requiring priority psychiatric care
* Acute alcohol intoxication (after confirmation by urine drug screening in the Emergency Department)
* Acute episode related to exclusive opiate use, requiring opiate substitution therapy
* Prolonged hospitalization in intensive care or follow-up care due to complications of alcohol intoxication beyond 8 days after the initial addiction assessment
* Protected patient: under a valid legal guardianship, curatorship, or conservatorship
* Patient requiring involuntary psychiatric hospitalization
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.