NCT04499079

Brief Summary

Youth involved in the juvenile justice system (YJJ) bear a disproportionate burden of the addiction crisis. YJJ substance use (SU) is extremely prevalent, with a third of YJJ meeting criteria for a substance use disorder (SUD). The investigators seek to address the national addiction crisis at its epicenter. Despite their high need for SUD services, and the proliferation of evidence-based interventions to reduce SU, YJJ are rarely connected to needed, high-quality SU care. A care cascade model highlights gaps in YJJ achieving the full continuum of SUD care (i.e., SUD risk identification, treatment referral, treatment initiation, and treatment engagement). YJJ on community supervision/probation face a unique problem accessing SUD services; while the courts or probation may identify YJJ need for SUD care, YJJ must receive care through healthcare agencies in the community. The primary goal of the project, Alliances to Disseminate Addiction Prevention and Treatment (ADAPT) is to address this and other gaps along the care cascade for YJJ. The investigators will accomplish this goal by creating alliances between the juvenile justice system (JJ) agencies and community mental health centers (CMHCs) in eight Indiana counties. ADAPT takes a two-pronged approach. First, the investigators will employ a Learning Health System (LHS) to develop collaborative alliances between JJ agencies and CMHCs, organizations that traditionally operate independently. Second, the investigators will present local Cascade data during continuous quality improvement cycles within the LHS alliances. By offering agency representatives an opportunity to view and discuss, for example, the local rate at which YJJ with SUD risk are initiating CMHC SU services, the investigators will facilitate development of tailored, local solutions to improve the Cascade for each county's YJJ. To maximize long-term sustainability of ADAPT's JJ-CMHC alliances, the investigators will conduct this research in collaboration with leaders from an existing statewide initiative, the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). JDAI is a juvenile justice reform effort that utilizes data-driven decision-making and is implemented in almost 300 counties across the US. If this project is successful, the JDAI infrastructure and support for this research will inform sustainment and expansion across Indiana and the nation. The investigators hypothesize that ADAPT - novel LHS alliances using Cascade data to implement localized solutions to YJJ receiving evidence-based addictions care - will positively impact SU and recidivism outcomes over time. The investigators seek to complete the following specific aims: AIM 1: Implement LHS alliances between JJ agencies and CMHCs. The investigators will establish LHS alliances: novel, collaborative partnerships between JJ agencies and CMHCs. AIM 2: Generate and track local solutions to address gaps in the Cascade for YJJ in rural Indiana counties. Quantifying local Cascade data will enable JJ agencies and CMHCs to suggest and implement tailored, evidenced-based interventions, which will be tracked through LHS quality improvement cycles. AIM 3: Assess implementation outcomes and processes. We will assess implementation outcomes, such as system alliance, among JJ and CHMC personnel using mixed methods. AIM 4: Assess the impact of ADAPT. Conduct a stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of LHS alliances on the Cascade for YJJ. We will analyze administrative data linked across JJ and health systems to assess the long-term, community-wide effects of ADAPT on public health and safety outcomes (e.g., lower rates of SU-related outcomes and criminal recidivism).

Trial Health

55
Monitor

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
12,400

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jun 2020

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
enrolling by invitation

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 1, 2020

Completed
2 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 30, 2020

Completed
6 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

August 5, 2020

Completed
5.7 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

April 30, 2026

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

April 30, 2026

Completed
Last Updated

July 18, 2025

Status Verified

June 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

5.9 years

First QC Date

July 30, 2020

Last Update Submit

July 15, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

Juvenile Justice Behavioral Health Services Cascade

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

  • Utilization of substance use treatment services

    Completion of substance use treatment, completion of substance use classes, enrollment in medication assisted treatment

    10 years

  • Recidivism

    Rate of re-offense

    10 years

  • Substance use related health outcomes

    Hospital and emergency department visits related to substance use

    10 years

Study Arms (2)

Probation Referral Practice as Usual

NO INTERVENTION

Data are collected regarding standard probation practice and outcomes before implementation of the Learning Health System.

Learning Health System

EXPERIMENTAL

Participating counties receive a system-level intervention, a Learning Health System, designed to improve youth connection to substance use treatment.

Other: Learning Health System

Interventions

This is a system-level intervention designed to improve collaboration among personnel from the juvenile and behavioral healthcare systems.

Learning Health System

Eligibility Criteria

Age11 Years - 22 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Reside in a participating county assigned to receive the LHS intervention
  • Utilized any local CMHC service during the 24-month intervention period
  • Age 11 to 22 years old

You may not qualify if:

  • N/A

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Indiana University School of Medicine

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

  • O'Reilly L, Sun D, Schwartz K, Gillenwater L, Dir A, Monahan P, Aarons GA, Saldana L, Adams Z, Zapolski T, Hulvershorn L, Aalsma MC. Impact of learning health systems on cross-system collaboration between youth legal and community mental health systems: a type II hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial. Implement Sci Commun. 2024 Dec 24;5(1):142. doi: 10.1186/s43058-024-00686-6.

  • Ahrens K, Blackburn N, Aalsma M, Haggerty K, Kelleher K, Knight DK, Joseph E, Mulford C, Ryle T, Tolou-Shams M. Prevention of Opioid Use and Disorder Among Youth Involved in the Legal System: Innovation and Implementation of Four Studies Funded by the NIDA HEAL Initiative. Prev Sci. 2023 Oct;24(Suppl 1):99-110. doi: 10.1007/s11121-023-01566-6. Epub 2023 Jul 1.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Substance-Related DisordersRecidivismOpioid-Related DisordersCriminal Behavior

Interventions

Learning Health System

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Chemically-Induced DisordersMental DisordersBehaviorNarcotic-Related Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Delivery of Health CarePatient Care ManagementHealth Services AdministrationHealth Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor of Pediatrics

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 30, 2020

First Posted

August 5, 2020

Study Start

June 1, 2020

Primary Completion

April 30, 2026

Study Completion

April 30, 2026

Last Updated

July 18, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations