The Root Center is working with Dr. Vaughn Steele for the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Study. TMS, short for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, is a treatment that applies a series of magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in areas of the brain known to be associated with major depression. During TMS, pictures related to substance use such as pill bottles and syringes are displayed while a scientist applies magnetic pulses. The participant is encouraged to reflect on the negative experiences of their addiction. The hope is that the part of the brain that controls pleasure-seeking behavior will get rewired in ways that ultimately alleviate cravings and strengthen self-control after undergoing the series of pulses. With the pairing of repetitive TMS treatments (rTMS) and the use of brain imaging such as MRIs, Dr. Steele, and his research team at Yale hope to bring more understanding and evidence to the usage of TMS as a strong treatment modality that can change addictive behavior in OUD recovery.

The Root Center is working with Dr. Sheila Alessi , from UConn Health, for the PEth study. Peth is an abbreviation for Phosphatidylethanol, which is a direct biomarker of alcohol that can detect moderate to heavy drinking with high sensitivity and specificity over three week periods.  This study evaluates the efficacy of contingency management, an evidence-based treatment that provides motivational incentives to those living with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), to help support their path to recovery. The research team specifically focuses on the improvement of the application of this treatment, with the overall goal of a reduction in drinking alcohol for those who utilize contingency management in their care. This will help to better the understand the impact that contingency management has on a patient’s care versus the usage of standard care.