Parent Activation for Substance Use Disorders

(LEAP Trial)

Overseen By Ashli Sheidow, Ph.D.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Oregon Social Learning Center

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores ways to enhance treatment engagement for young people in the juvenile justice system who face challenges with substance use and antisocial behavior. It will test whether probation officers can use a method called "parent activation" to involve parents more effectively in their children's treatment, compared to standard services. The study targets probation officers in rural areas of Idaho and Oregon who are willing to participate. Probation officers in these areas may find this trial a suitable opportunity. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique chance to contribute to innovative solutions for engaging families in treatment.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that this protocol is safe for juvenile justice populations?

Research shows that Parent Activation involves increasing parental involvement in their child's treatment. Although specific evidence about the safety of Parent Activation is lacking, the study is labeled "Not Applicable" for its phase, indicating a low-risk status. Treatments in this category are usually non-invasive or behavioral, suggesting they are generally safe.

This study aims to involve parents to improve outcomes for young people in the juvenile justice system. It excludes medication or physical procedures, reducing the risk of side effects. Juvenile probation officers collaborate with parents to enhance their active participation in treatment, aiming to improve results without introducing medical risks. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Parent Activation approach for addressing substance use disorders because it involves empowering parents as active participants in the treatment process, which is a departure from traditional methods. Unlike standard treatments that typically focus on the individual with the disorder, Parent Activation equips Juvenile Probation Officers (JPOs) to engage families and improve outcomes by fostering a supportive home environment. This method is particularly promising because it aims to strengthen family dynamics, which can be a critical factor in recovery and long-term success. Additionally, by integrating this family-focused approach into usual services, it has the potential to enhance existing treatment frameworks, making it a comprehensive strategy for tackling substance use disorders in youths.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for substance use disorders?

Research has shown that involving parents in treating substance use problems can lead to better results. In this trial, one group will receive the Parent Activation intervention, which involves parents actively participating in the treatment process. Studies have found that when parents join programs with their children, substance use decreases significantly. Specifically, one study discovered that parents who participated in family therapy reduced their substance use over time, which also improved family relationships. Additionally, programs focusing on the family have led to more families staying together and creating more stable home environments. These findings suggest that involving parents in the treatment process can effectively help young people with substance use issues. Meanwhile, the other group in this trial will receive Usual Services, serving as a comparison to evaluate the effectiveness of the Parent Activation approach. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Michael McCart, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Oregon Social Learning Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for juvenile probation/parole officers in certain counties of Idaho or Oregon. It's designed to help them learn how to activate parents, aiming to improve outcomes for youth with substance use and antisocial behavior issues.

Inclusion Criteria

Any juvenile probation/parole officer working in a participating county in Idaho or Oregon who consents to participate.

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Parent Activation Implementation

Juvenile probation/parole officers deliver Parent Activation to juveniles and families

36 months

Biweekly visits

Usual Services

Juvenile probation/parole officers deliver usual services to juveniles and families

36 months

Biweekly visits

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in family outcomes, self-efficacy, and other measures

36 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Parent Activation
• Usual Services

Trial Overview

The study is testing a new approach called 'parent activation' against the usual services provided by the juvenile justice system. The goal is to see if this method can better engage parents and support youth treatment in rural areas.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Parent Activation Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This group of JPOs will deliver Parent Activation as a service to the juveniles and families on their caseloads.

Group II: Usual Services Active Control 1 Intervention

This group of JPOs will deliver services as usual to the juveniles and families on their caseloads.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Oregon Social Learning Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

36

Recruited

8,900+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 85 distressed parents of substance-abusing adolescents, 12 weeks of coping skill training (CST) resulted in greater coping skillfulness compared to 12-step facilitation (TSF), with both interventions outperforming the delayed treatment control (DTC).

Both CST and TSF significantly reduced the number of problem days caused by the adolescent's substance use, and these benefits were maintained over a 12-month follow-up, indicating their effectiveness for supporting parents in this challenging situation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Skill training versus 12-step facilitation for parents of substance-abusing teens. McGillicuddy, NB., Rychtarik, RG., Papandonatos, GD.[2021]

A study involving 545 parents of youth with substance use disorders showed that participation in a clinician-led group based on the CRAFT model improved parents' feelings of empowerment in coping with their child's issues, despite overall stress levels remaining unchanged.

The low retention rate, with only 12% of parents completing all 8 weeks, suggests a need for adaptations to the program to enhance engagement and support for parents in real-world settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Naturalistic Evaluation of a Group Intervention for Parents of Youth with Substance Use Disorders. Ameral, V., Yule, A., McKowen, J., et al.[2021]

The Parent SMART intervention, which includes technology-assisted resources and telehealth coaching, aims to improve parenting skills and reduce adolescent substance use in families of adolescents undergoing residential treatment, with a total of 220 parent-adolescent dyads participating in the study.

This fully-powered randomized controlled trial will assess the effectiveness of Parent SMART compared to traditional treatment, with follow-up assessments at 6, 12, and 24 weeks post-discharge to evaluate its impact on parenting practices and adolescent behaviors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parent SMART (Substance Misuse in Adolescents in Residential Treatment): Protocol of a Randomized Effectiveness Trial of a Technology-Assisted Parenting Intervention. Becker, SJ., Helseth, SA., Kelly, LM., et al.[2022]

In a study of 125 addiction treatment programs in the U.S., only 43% offered any form of parenting classes, and even fewer utilized a structured curriculum, highlighting a gap in integrating parenting skills education into addiction treatment.

Effective parenting practices are known to reduce negative outcomes for children of parents with substance use disorders, yet the lack of structured parenting interventions in treatment programs suggests a missed opportunity to improve family outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Integration of parenting skills education and interventions in addiction treatment. Arria, AM., Mericle, AA., Rallo, D., et al.[2021]

Citations

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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5939592/

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Findings demonstrated that parents involved in integrated programs with child treatment services had reductions in severity of substance use (effect sizes ...

2.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3725219/

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SUDs negatively affect emotional and behavioral patterns from the inception of the family, resulting in poor outcomes for the children and adults with SUDs.

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Parents in the BSFT condition decreased their consumption significantly more over time, and these results were mediated by family functioning.

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researchprotocols.org

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Parent SMART (Substance Misuse in Adolescents ...

This protocol paper describes a fully-powered randomized controlled pragmatic effectiveness trial of Parent SMART as an adjunct to residential TAU.

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sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878929325000672

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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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A multilevel random-effects model revealed a statistically significant, small detriment to child well-being for parental substance abuse over time (r = .15).

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bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com

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Promoting permanency in families with parental substance ...

In 2017, the opioid-related death rate of 46.3 per 100,000 people was more than double the national rate of 13.3 [13]. According to the Public ...