Community Partnering for Opioid Use Disorder
(RB Trial)
Trial Summary
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on resolving legal issues to improve treatment outcomes for opioid use disorder.
What data supports the effectiveness of the drug buprenorphine for treating opioid use disorder?
Is buprenorphine generally safe for humans?
How is the drug used in the Community Partnering for Opioid Use Disorder trial different from other treatments for opioid use disorder?
What is the purpose of this trial?
The opioid epidemic has become one of America's deadliest crises, surpassing car crashes, firearms, and HIV/AIDS as a leading cause of death for Americans under fifty years of age. People trying to recover from opioid-use disorder face many obstacles. Obstacles such as minor legal problems (e.g., arrest warrants for failure to pay a fine, failure to appear in court, or late child support payments) can undermine the stability needed to overcome opioid dependence. Outstanding legal obligations make it difficult to find jobs and to secure housing. They can result in removal from treatment programs as well as incarceration. Resolving these legal problems requires coordination, organization, preparation, travel, and time-expectations that may be problematic for many people in the early stages of recovery. Technology has the potential to make resolving these legal problems much easier. Online platform technology is now available that can guide people in recovery through the resolution of many legal problems at no cost and without an attorney, potentially doing so quickly, remotely, and at any time of day.This study of individuals in treatment in Michigan tests whether resolving outstanding legal issues improves drug treatment outcomes. The research also examines whether and to what extent resolving legal issues supports family reunification, reduces future criminal behavior, and improves access to jobs and housing for clients in treatment for opioid use disorder. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is used to determine the effects of resolving legal issues on these outcomes. For identification, the investigators leverage the random assignment of legal services to treatment center clients, along with the random assignment of clients to treatment centers by birth month. We assemble a novel longitudinal dataset of hundreds of clients in treatment for substance use disorder and link these clients to several administrative datasets and qualitative data, which allows for measurement of: (1) substance use behaviors and (2) justice-system involvement, including civil and criminal legal system encounters. This study also uses linked client and administrative data to research the population in opioid treatment centers, follow-up behaviors, and whether the consequences of providing no-cost legal services differ by client background. Findings from this research will improve America's understanding of the acute socio-legal needs faced by those experiencing opioid use disorder and provide recommendations to help target resources toward the areas that best support long-term abstinence from opioids and other drugs.
Research Team
David Cordva, PhD
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for individuals currently receiving treatment for substance use disorders, specifically those struggling with opioid addiction and related challenges like alcoholism, risky behaviors, criminal activity, and housing insecurity. It's not open to people who aren't in such treatment programs.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants receive tutorial for free online legal resolution at treatment center
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for substance use behaviors and justice-system involvement
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Removing Barriers to Recovery
Removing Barriers to Recovery is already approved in United States, European Union, Canada for the following indications:
- Opioid use disorder
- Severe pain
- Opioid dependence
- Severe pain
- Opioid use disorder
- Severe pain
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of Michigan
Lead Sponsor
U.S. National Science Foundation
Collaborator