Ending Self-Stigma Program for HIV/AIDS with Substance Use
(IRIS Trial)
Trial Summary
Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on reducing stigma among people with HIV who use opioids and cocaine.
What data supports the effectiveness of the Ending Self Stigma treatment for people living with HIV and using substances?
How does the Ending Self-Stigma treatment for HIV/AIDS with substance use differ from other treatments?
The Ending Self-Stigma treatment is unique because it specifically targets the internalized stigma (negative self-judgments) experienced by people living with HIV who also use substances, which can hinder their access to healthcare and overall well-being. Unlike traditional medical treatments, this program focuses on reducing self-stigma to improve mental health and social interactions, thereby enhancing the quality of life and engagement in HIV care.14678
What is the purpose of this trial?
The goal of this clinical trial is to test an intervention to reduce stigma among people living with HIV who use opioids and cocaine. The main question it aims to answer is:- Does reducing internalized stigma about HIV and/or drug use lead to improved HIV care outcomes?After a year spent adapting an existing intervention to be applied specifically among people living with HIV who use substances, 70 participants will be randomized to receive either treatment-as-usual or the newly adapted intervention. The intervention itself will consist of less than ten group-based meetings to discuss and work through the stigmas people commonly associate with HIV and/or drug use.
Research Team
Jesse B Fletcher, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Friends Research Institute, Inc.
Alicia Lucksted, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
University of Maryland
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for adults over 18 living with HIV who also use opioids or cocaine. Participants must have experienced stigma related to their HIV status or substance use, be able to give informed consent, and speak English.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention Adaptation
Adaptation of the existing intervention to be applied specifically among people living with HIV who use substances, including formative interviews and pilot studies.
Treatment
Participants receive either the newly adapted ESS-HSU intervention or minimally enhanced treatment-as-usual. The ESS-HSU intervention consists of up to nine group-based virtual sessions.
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for primary HIV-related outcomes including ART adherence, viral suppression, and retention in HIV healthcare.
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Ending Self Stigma for Persons living with HIV and Use Substances
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Friends Research Institute, Inc.
Lead Sponsor
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Collaborator
University of Maryland
Collaborator
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Collaborator
Johns Hopkins University
Collaborator