Memantine-enhanced Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid-dependent Young Adults

Opiate dependence is an increasing problem among young adults (18-25 years old) whose rates
of current use of illicit drugs are generally high (19.7 %)according to data from the 2007
National Survey on Drug Use & Health (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration 2008). Young adults start using heroin around this age range, and more
recently have had increasing rates of prescription-type drug use. Given that young adults
with opiate dependence who are seeking treatment are relatively treatment naïve, have a
shorter period of addiction, and are more likely to choose buprenorphine over methadone,
developing short-term buprenorphine treatment alternatives to long-term methadone agonist
treatment is needed.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Men and women between 18-25 years old

- Opioid dependence as evidenced by signs of opiate withdrawal, self-reported history
of opioid dependence for a consecutive 12 month period and positive urine for opioids

Exclusion Criteria:

- Current diagnosis of other drug or alcohol dependence (other than opiates, cannabis
or tobacco)

- Serious medical illness (e.g. major cardiovascular, renal, endocrine, hepatic
disorder)

- Current serious psychiatric illness or history of psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar
type I disorder and participants with suicidal or homicidal thoughts

- Women who are pregnant, nursing or refuse to use a reliable form of birth control or
refuse monthly pregnancy testing

- Screening liver function tests (SGOT or SGPT) greater than 3 times normal