Overdose Prevention Education for Youth
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial explores the effectiveness of a brief education program in preventing drug overdoses among young people. It focuses on teaching youth about the risks of drugs, such as fentanyl, and how to safely respond to an overdose, including the use of naloxone, a medication that can reverse overdoses. The trial includes two groups: one receives this specialized education, while the other receives regular care. Youth aged 13-26 who are scheduled for a physical exam and can speak English may be suitable for this study. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to important educational research that could save lives.
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's best to discuss this with the trial organizers or your healthcare provider.
What prior data suggests that this overdose prevention education is safe for youth?
Studies have shown that teaching people how to prevent overdoses is generally safe. This training helps individuals understand opioid overdoses and how to use naloxone, a medication that can reverse them. Although the training doesn't involve taking any medication, it provides knowledge that can potentially save lives. Research has demonstrated that this education is effective in adults and doesn't cause harm. Now, researchers are adapting it for young people. This pilot study examines how well young people and their healthcare providers accept this training. No reports indicate any negative effects from receiving this kind of education.12345
Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about the brief youth overdose prevention education because it offers a proactive approach to tackling overdose risks among young people. Unlike traditional methods that often focus on treatment after an overdose has occurred, this intervention emphasizes prevention through education, aiming to equip youth with vital knowledge and skills before an incident happens. The program's flexibility, allowing for in-person or Zoom-based training, makes it accessible and adaptable to different settings, potentially reaching a wider audience. This proactive and educational approach could significantly reduce overdose incidents, making it a promising new tool in overdose prevention efforts.
What evidence suggests that this trial's brief youth overdose prevention education could be effective?
Research shows that teaching people about preventing overdoses enhances their understanding of opioid overdoses and the use of naloxone, a life-saving medicine during an overdose. Studies have found that these educational programs improve awareness and understanding of the risks associated with opioid use and overdoses. For adults, these programs have lowered overdose deaths and are cost-effective. In this trial, the intervention group will receive a 45-minute training session focused on overdose prevention education, while the control group will receive usual care. Although direct evidence for young people is still being gathered, researchers expect these methods to help reduce overdoses among them. The goal is to make young people aware of overdose risks and teach them how to respond safely.26789
Who Is on the Research Team?
Sarah Bagley, MD MSc
Principal Investigator
Boston Medical Center, Internal Medicine, Addiction Medicine
Amy Yule, MD
Principal Investigator
Boston Medical Center, Psychiatry
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for adolescents aged 10-19 in the United States who may benefit from overdose prevention education. The study aims to assess a new intervention's feasibility and acceptability among youth and healthcare providers.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention Training
Providers in the intervention group complete a 45-minute training session on overdose prevention education, either in person or via Zoom.
Intervention Implementation
Providers deliver the brief overdose prevention education intervention to youth patients during comprehensive physical exams.
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, with assessments at baseline, 2 weeks, and 6 months.
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Brief youth overdose prevention education
Trial Overview
The trial tests a brief educational program on overdose prevention, including naloxone information, against usual standard care. It's a pilot randomized controlled trial with two groups: one receiving the intervention and the other continuing with regular advice.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Providers randomized into this arm will complete a 45-minute intervention training. The training will occur either in person or via Zoom teleconference and include overdose prevention education, the pilot brief overdose prevention education intervention, intervention practice, and how to complete the fidelity checklist to be completed at the end of each visit.
Providers randomized into this arm will deliver usual care to the youth patients.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Boston Medical Center
Lead Sponsor
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Collaborator
Citations
Brief overdose education can significantly increase ...
The data indicate that overdose prevention training improves participants' knowledge of opioid overdose and naloxone use.
Effectiveness of educational interventions in United States ...
Four studies showed improved knowledge and attitudes towards opioid use and two showed increased understanding of opioid withdrawal and overdose ...
3.
journals.lww.com
journals.lww.com/journaladdictionmedicine/fulltext/9900/a_scoping_review_of_youth_overdose_prevention.503.aspxA Scoping Review of Youth Overdose Prevention
We identified a total of 16 unique programs that fit our inclusion criteria, 9 from the peer-reviewed literature and 7 from the gray literature.
A Scoping Review of Youth Overdose Prevention ...
The 2 key objectives of this study were (1) to identify and summarize existing youth overdose prevention interventions and (2) to delineate what ...
The Call for a School-Based Approach to Opioid Overdose ...
Overdose education with naloxone distribution (OEND) is a proven public health strategy that reduces opioid overdose deaths in adults and may be ...
Preventing Substance Use and Overdose Among Young ...
The reality is that substance use in the United States has never been riskier, whether it is done by adolescents or young adults engaging in ...
Brief overdose education can significantly increase ...
Conclusions. The data indicate that overdose prevention training improves participants' knowledge of opioid overdose and naloxone use, but naloxone may be ...
Youth-Focused Prevention: A NACo Opioid Solutions ...
Youth-focused programs can help counties achieve a variety of goals, including reducing the number of youth who begin using substances.
9.
kff.org
kff.org/mental-health/teens-drugs-and-overdose-contrasting-pre-pandemic-and-current-trends/Teens, Drugs, and Overdose: Contrasting Pre-Pandemic ...
Fentanyl deaths as a share of all adolescent drug overdose deaths increased significantly from 32% in 2018 to 65% in 2020. This increase marked ...
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