Helping People in Substance Use Treatment Overcome Legal Barriers Using Free Online Legal Support to Improve Recovery from Opioid Use Disorder

What this Trial Is About

The opioid epidemic is a major health crisis in the United States, causing more deaths than car crashes, firearms, and HIVAIDS for people under fifty. Many individuals recovering from opioid use disorder face challenges such as unresolved minor legal problems, which can threaten their recovery by affecting job opportunities, housing, and treatment participation. This research evaluates whether addressing these legal issues with no-cost support improves treatment outcomes, family reunification, reduces criminal behavior, and enhances access to jobs and housing for people in opioid treatment programs. Participants in this trial are randomly assigned to either receive an experimental intervention involving free legal services delivered through an online platform at addiction treatment centers or to a control group that does not receive this intervention. The legal services aim to help clients resolve outstanding legal problems remotely and without an attorney. This trial uses a randomized controlled design and gathers data from multiple sources to assess the impact of resolving legal issues on substance use and justice involvement. During the study, participants substance use frequency and quantity, as well as their interactions with the justice system, are monitored over one and two years. The researchers collect and link administrative and qualitative data to track changes in these outcomes and understand how legal support affects recovery and social stability. The study began in December 2021 and continues through July 2025, providing a detailed view of how legal issue resolution may support long-term abstinence and improved life circumstances for people in opioid treatment.

Removing Barriers: Community Partnering for Innovative Solutions to the Opioid Crisis