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Led by Ohio State University · Updated on 2025-09-22
300
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
52 weeks
Total Duration
Youth experiencing homelessness face many challenges including high rates of substance use and mental health disorders, which can have long-lasting effects on their well-being. This research aims to study a comprehensive prevention program that targets social factors affecting these youth to improve their health outcomes. The study uses a dismantling design to identify which parts of the intervention are most effective in reducing opioid misuse and improving mental health among homeless youth aged 14 to 24 years. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups Motivational Interviewing combined with the Community Reinforcement Approach plus usual services Strengths-Based Outreach and Advocacy plus usual services a combination of all three interventions or usual services alone offered by a community drop-in center. The interventions include counseling sessions, advocacy to help meet basic needs and connect with resources, and usual drop-in center support. The study evaluates how these approaches impact opioid use disorder prevention and mental health outcomes. Youth will be assessed at the start and then again at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months to monitor substance use, mental health, and overall well-being. Assessments include interviews about substance use, questionnaires for depression and anxiety, and health surveys. The study also explores how factors like age, sex, and past experiences affect responses to the interventions. Researchers will track costs to help guide future programs for homeless youth.
CONDITIONS
Building Social and Structural Connections for the Prevention of Opioid Use Disorder Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness
J
Jodi Ford, PhD
N
Natasha Slesnick, PhD
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Ohio State University
Lead Sponsor
This table compares participation in this trial with other options available for this condition. The information is drawn from published research and the trial’s study details and is provided for educational purposes only.
| Factors | MI/CRA + SAU | SBOA + SAU | MI/CRA + SBOA + SAU | SAU (Services as Usual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | This arm combines Motivational Interviewing sessions with a Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) and provides all standard drop-in center services. | Participants receive Strengths-Based Outreach and Advocacy (SBOA) tailored to their needs, in addition to all standard services. | Both MI/CRA and SBOA behavioral interventions are provided together, along with standard services from the center. | Participants only receive the standard services normally available to youth at the drop-in center. |
| Role in trial | Evaluates whether adding MI/CRA to standard services can prevent opioid use disorder in homeless youth. | Tests if SBOA added to standard services improves outcomes related to opioid use disorder or associated risks. | Determines if a combined behavioral approach (MI/CRA + SBOA) further reduces opioid use risk when delivered with usual services. | Serves as the active comparator arm, reflecting the standard service experience. |
| Primary use | To strengthen motivation for change and build life skills that may reduce opioid use and related risks. | To help youth identify their strengths, set goals, and connect to community resources as a way to buffer substance use and associated challenges. | To assess whether blending MI/CRA and SBOA more effectively prevents opioid use disorder or related risks than either approach alone. | To deliver the standard range of services and supports for homeless youth as typically available at the drop-in center. |
| How it is given or performed | Participants attend two Motivational Interviewing sessions and twelve 1-hour Community Reinforcement Approach sessions, with all standard center services accessible. | SBOA session count and frequency are tailored to each participant's needs; participants also access all standard services. | Participants receive both structured MI/CRA sessions and individually tailored SBOA sessions, in addition to standard drop-in services. | Participants access the regular drop-in center’s services, such as basic needs assistance, counseling, and health supports. |
| Evidence status | The MI/CRA approach has been tested in other substance use and adolescent samples but its effectiveness for preventing opioid use disorder in homeless youth is still being evaluated. | SBOA is supported by some published research for improving engagement and reducing risk among homeless youth, but data specific to opioid use prevention are limited. | The efficacy of combining MI/CRA and SBOA for reducing opioid use or related outcomes in this population is experimental and not yet established. | Standard services as usual have not been proven sufficient for preventing opioid use disorder in homeless youth, which is why enhanced interventions are being tested. |
| Important limitations | Success depends on participant engagement in structured sessions and access to stable contact points for session delivery, which can be challenging for youth experiencing homelessness. | Flexible SBOA delivery method may lead to varying levels of exposure, and unstable circumstances may limit capacity to participate fully. | Coordinating both interventions for individuals facing housing instability may be especially difficult, risking incomplete delivery. | Usual services may lack targeted behavioral strategies for substance use prevention, and many youth remain at risk despite access to standard supports. |
Disclaimer: This comparison is created with the help of artificial intelligence(AI) and may contain errors or missing information. It is not medical advice and does not mean one option is better or safer than another. Clinical trials are still being studied, and joining a trial is your choice. Please consult your healthcare professional before making any decisions.
You may qualify if you...
You will not qualify if you...
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - Duration varies based on intervention components
Participants receive behavioral interventions including Motivational Interviewing, Community Reinforcement Approach, and/or Strengths-Based Outreach and Advocacy depending on their assigned group. The number and frequency of sessions vary based on the intervention type and individual needs.
Multiple sessions including 2 Motivational Interviewing sessions and up to 12 Community Reinforcement Approach sessions; Strengths-Based Outreach and Advocacy sessions are flexibly scheduled based on youth needs
Duration - Up to 24 months post intervention
Participants are monitored with assessments on substance use, mental health, and related outcomes at multiple time points after the intervention.
Assessments at baseline, and 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post intervention
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
4
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Jodi Ford, Natasha Slesnick, Christopher Browning...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42449276/Ohio State University
Lead Sponsor
