Research Volunteers

Volunteer Opportunities

The Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit has a number of opportunities to participate in clinical studies as a research volunteer. Eligibility requirements vary depending on the study but are generally open to both men and women at least 18 years of age. These research projects are currently looking for people who are:

• Attention Cigarette Smokers
• Caffeine users
• Cancer patients
• Cigarette smokers wanting to quit
• Cocaine users with a desire to quit
• Effect of Prescription Oral Methamphetamine on Decision Making
• Energy drink consumers
• Healthy marijuana users
• Heroin or prescription drug dependent
• Interested in meditation and psilocybin
• Opioid users (heroin or prescription pain relievers) looking withdrawal treatment

> Attention Cigarette Smokers
The Smoking Clinic at The Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center is currently recruiting adult cigarette smokers who are trying to quit for a research study. The study evaluates two medications to help smokers quit. The study lasts ten weeks, and requires 12 visits to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.  Scheduling is flexible and you will be compensated for your time in completing the study requirements. If you are interested call us at 410-550-2799 for details. Principal investigator: Annie Umbricht, M.D. (IRB Protocol # NA_00074143) Download flyer

> Effects of Prescription Oral Methamphetamine on Decision Making
Healthy men and women ages 21-55 who have used stimulants to get high (such as cocaine, methamphetamine, or amphetamine) in the last six months are needed to participate in a research study about effects of prescription oral methamphetamine on decision making at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. This is not a treatment study. This study requires one 4-5 hour screening visit and three overnight sessions lasting about 32 hours each. During each session, you will be required to remain overnight at a residential unit.Earn up to $525 for completing the study. For more information please call 410-550-9497. Principal Investigator: Matthew W. Johnson, Ph.D. (IRB Protocol NA_00041057). Download flyer

> Smokers Wanting to Quit
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is seeking cigarette smokers who would like to quit smoking for participation in a scientific research study. The study involves ingestion of psilocybin in a comfortable, supportive setting. Psilocybin is a psychoactive substance found in psychedelic mushrooms that have been used as a sacrament in various cultures. Some research studies have suggested that psychedelics, when administered under interpersonally supportive and well-prepared conditions, may be effective in helping people overcome addictions. Cognitive behavior therapy and ongoing interpersonal support will be integrated with psilocybin sessions in order to help participants quit smoking. Questionnaires, interviews, and biological measures of smoking will be used to assess the treatment’s effects on consciousness, mood, and smoking. Volunteers enrolled in the research study will receive careful preparation and 3 sessions in which they will receive psilocybin. Structured guidance will be provided during the sessions and afterwards to facilitate integration of the experiences. Volunteers must be between the ages of 21 and 65, have no personal history of severe psychiatric illness, or recent history of alcoholism or drug dependence other than cigarettes, have someone willing to pick them up and drive them home at the end of the 3 psilocybin sessions (around 5:00 PM), and must live within travel distance of the Hopkins Bayview campus in Baltimore. If you would like to discuss the possibility of volunteering, please call 410–550–1972 and ask for Albert, the study’s research coordinator or go to www.smoking-insight.org¬. Confidentiality will be maintained for all applicants and participants. Principal Investigator: Matthew W. Johnson, Ph.D., (Protocol: NA_00016166) Download Flyer