Secondary analysis of a combined harm‐reduction treatment and extended‐release naltrexone randomized clinical trial for alcohol use disorder: Differences across race, ethnicity and sex assigned at birth

Race, ethnicity and sex assigned at birth were largely not associated with trial inclusion, data missingness, treatment adherence, side effects, or outcomes in a combined harm-reduction treatment and extended-release naltrexone randomised clinical trial for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Although Multiracial/other people of color (POC) participants attended fewer brief behavioral harm-reduction treatment for AUD sessions, they did not differ from white participants on alcohol and physical health-related quality of life outcomes. Among participants receiving extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX), women showed greater improvement than men on physical health-related quality of life. Compared with white participants, Multiracial/other POC participants who received XR-NTX showed less improvement than those who received placebo. Given their post hoc nature and limited power, findings are hypothesis-generating. They suggest the equitable utility of behavioral harm-reduction treatment and the importance of assessing sociodemographic differences in AUD treatment response.