Fentanyl Education for Drug Overdose

(BSAFE Trial)

This trial aims to determine if a counseling program can help individuals who use stimulants, such as cocaine or meth, reduce their risk of accidental fentanyl overdose. Participants will either receive the BSAFE counseling intervention, which includes personalized plans and weekly reminders, or watch unrelated videos for comparison (attention control). The trial targets individuals who regularly use stimulants and have not recently used opioids. The study focuses on reducing overdose risk through education and behavior change. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the opportunity to contribute to important research that could lead to new strategies for overdose prevention.

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you have used opioids in the past 30 days or are using an opioid blocker like naltrexone.

Research has shown that the BSAFE program is designed to be safe and supportive. It employs motivational interviewing, a counseling technique that encourages positive changes without judgment. This method is generally easy to manage and lacks the side effects associated with medications.

The program also incorporates text message reminders and assistance in finding care for stimulant use. These components emphasize education and support over medication, reducing the likelihood of negative side effects.

Researchers are excited about the BSAFE Intervention because it offers a personalized approach to reducing overdose risk, which is different from traditional methods that often rely on medication or broad educational programs. BSAFE uses motivational interviewing to create tailored plans for individuals, aiming to change personal risk behaviors directly. Additionally, it incorporates weekly safety reminders via text messages and connects participants to care for managing stimulant use, offering a comprehensive support system that current treatments may lack. This multifaceted approach could provide a more effective and engaging way to prevent overdoses.

In this trial, participants may receive the BSAFE program, designed to reduce overdoses and risky behaviors in people who use stimulants and might accidentally use fentanyl. The program builds on successful strategies for preventing opioid overdoses, which have been proven to lower overdose risks. It incorporates motivational interviewing, a counseling method that helps people make changes, and skills-building techniques to create personal safety plans. Studies have shown that similar programs can effectively reduce overdose chances by educating people and connecting them to care. The goal is to provide practical tools and support to manage stimulant use and avoid accidental fentanyl exposure. Another group in this trial will receive an attention control, where participants will watch 45-minute videos unrelated to the intervention.¹²⁴⁶⁷