A Universal Primary Care Based Pilot Intervention to Reduce Youth Overdose Risk

What this Trial Is About

Adolescent overdose deaths are a leading cause of death among youth aged 10 to 19 in the United States, with numbers continuing to rise. Researchers are evaluating a brief overdose prevention education intervention designed for youth in primary care settings. This pilot study aims to assess how feasible and acceptable this intervention is for both healthcare providers and young patients, addressing a gap as there are currently no recommended overdose prevention programs specifically for youth in healthcare. In this two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial, pediatric and family medicine providers are randomly assigned to either deliver the brief overdose prevention education or provide usual care. Providers in the intervention group receive a 45-minute training, conducted in person or via Zoom, which covers overdose prevention education, intervention delivery, practice, and fidelity checklist completion. The intervention includes informing youth about overdose risk factors, safety strategies, recognizing and responding to overdoses, and naloxone use, with naloxone kits offered to take home. Youth participants aged 13 to 26 scheduled for a comprehensive physical exam with participating providers complete assessments at baseline, 2 weeks, and 6 months. Researchers will measure the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention by providers and youth, as well as youth knowledge and skills related to overdose risk, recognition, and response. The study excludes youth unable to consent or with cognitive limitations or acute medical/psychiatric distress. Participation is tracked over six months to evaluate the intervention's impact and acceptability.

A Universal Primary Care Based Intervention to Reduce Youth Overdose Risk