Reducing Drug Use in Justice-Involved Emerging Adults

NCT05834881 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: K23DA048161
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 35
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The overarching purpose of this pilot study is to investigate an increasingly common, but under-researched, practice of employing paraprofessional coaches to improve emerging adults' access to and engagement in evidence-based substance use practices, focusing on the paraprofessional coaches' outcomes and the role of lived experience.

Conditions

Substance-Related Disorders

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Changes from baseline up to 30 months post-baseline in Paraprofessional Coach Urine Drug Screens (measured at 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 months).

  Number of positive drug screens from toxicology testing with paraprofessional coaches for amphetamines, barbiturates, buprenorphine, benzodiazepines, cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamines, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methadone, oxycodone, phencyclidine (PCP), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), alcohol (ETG), and morphine.

  Baseline to 30 months

• Changes from baseline to 6 months post-baseline in Emerging Adult Client Urine Drug Screens (measured at 0, 4, and 6 months).

  Number of positive drug screens from toxicology testing with emerging adult clients for amphetamines, barbiturates, buprenorphine, benzodiazepines, cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamines, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methadone, oxycodone, phencyclidine (PCP), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), alcohol (ETG) and morphine.

  Baseline to 6 months

Secondary Outcomes (27)

• Changes from baseline to 6 months post-baseline in Emerging Adult Client Abstinence Self Efficacy (measured at 0, 4, and 6 months).

  Baseline to 6 months

• Levels of services Emerging Adult Client Satisfaction with Treatment (measured at 4 and 6 months).

  Baseline to 6 months

• Changes from baseline to 6 months post-baseline in Emerging Adult Client Vocational and Educational Attainment (measured at 0, 4, and 6 months).

  Baseline to 6 months

• Changes from baseline to 6 months post-baseline in Emerging Adult Client Quality of Relationship with Paraprofessional Coach (measured at 0, 4, and 6 months).

  Baseline to 6 months

• Changes from baseline to 6 months post-baseline in Emerging Adult Recovery Capital (measured at 0, 4, and 6 months).

  Baseline to 6 months

Study Arms (2)

CM combined with Vocational/educational Coaching from Coaches without Lived Experience

EXPERIMENTAL

This group will receive contingency management (CM) combined with vocational/educational coaching from paraprofessional coaches without lived experience in community settings.

Behavioral: Contingency Management (CM) combined with vocational/educational coaching

CM combined with Vocational/educational Coaching from Coaches with Lived Experience

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

This group will receive contingency management (CM) combined with vocational/educational coaching from paraprofessional coaches with lived experience in community settings.

Behavioral: Contingency Management (CM) combined with vocational/educational coaching

Interventions

Contingency Management (CM) combined with vocational/educational coaching BEHAVIORAL

Two evidence based practices, CM and vocational/educational coaching, will be combined and delivered by paraprofessional coaches in an intervention named PEERS (Peers Education Empowering Recovery Supports). CM uses positive reinforcement (e.g., chances to win prizes) for clients who abstain from substance use. A standardized and well-validated CM protocol will be used in the proposed study. Vocational/educational coaching assists individuals in completing educational and vocational goals. A workbook developed specifically for vocational/educational coaching in emerging adults will be used in the study.

CM combined with Vocational/educational Coaching from Coaches with Lived Experience; CM combined with Vocational/educational Coaching from Coaches without Lived Experience

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Between 18-30 years old

You may not qualify if:

• Life threatening or unstable condition requiring treatment (e.g., suicidal/homicidal ideation)
• Emerging Adult Client Eligibility Criteria
• years old
• Have current or historical lived experience with the juvenile or adult criminal legal system (e.g., probation, parole, diversion, deflection).
• Screen positive for substance use disorder
• Qualifying for federal disability benefits which would preclude them from engaging in educational/vocational coaching
• Currently unhoused without a primary address
• Life threatening or unstable condition requiring treatment (e.g., suicidal/homicidal ideation)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Chestnut Health Systems: lead
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Chestnut Health Systems

Eugene, Oregon, 97401, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Substance-Related Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Chemically-Induced Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 22, 2023
• First Posted: April 28, 2023
• Study Start: May 26, 2023
• Primary Completion: December 17, 2025
• Study Completion: December 17, 2025
• Last Updated: February 6, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)