A Social Network AOD Intervention for Homeless Youth Transitioning to Housing

RanD

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 1

Conditions: Substance Use

Treatments: Behavioral: Motivational Network Intervention; Other: Usual Care

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT04637815

R34DA047502 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

RHINO Study ID: 2018-0539

Details and patient eligibility

About

This project will pilot test a computer-assisted social network intervention, using motivational interviewing techniques, that can help case managers work with formerly homeless young adults who recently transitioned to supportive housing to reduce substance use and increase permanent supportive connections during this critical transitional period.

Full description

The goal of this study is to conduct a pilot evaluation of a motivational network intervention (MNI) to reduce substance use and strengthen supportive connections for recently homeless 18-25 year-olds who have transitioned to a housing program. The goal of this pilot study is to evaluate, through a small randomized controlled trial (Stage 1b), the added benefit of incorporating the MNI into case management for transitional age youth (TAY) residents of housing programs. We hypothesized that residents receiving the MNI as part of case management would show more positive changes in their substance use behaviors and the composition and structure of their personal networks (i.e., greater proportion of network members who are low-risk) over a 3-month follow-up period compared to residents receiving usual case management only.

Enrollment: 39 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 25 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18-25
• In a housing program for homeless transition age youth
• Past month substance use
• Screen positive for past-year harmful substance use

Exclusion criteria

• Not able to speak/understand English

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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39 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention will consist of four sessions spaced two weeks apart that will last approximately 30 minutes each and consist of two parts: a network interview to capture network data about the time period since their last interview and a discussion of a resulting network visualization conducted in a motivational interviewing style. Participants will receive the intervention as part of existing case management.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Motivational Network Intervention

Usual Care

Active Comparator group

Description:

As part of residency, participants receive regular case management meetings.

Treatment:

Other: Usual Care