Supporting Treatment Access and Recovery Through Linkage and Support (STAR-LS)

Rigorous Evaluation of Strategies to Prevent Overdose Through Linking People With Illicit Substance Use Disorder to Recovery Support Services

This 3-year Hybrid Type 1 study will randomize 208 people with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders (COD) referred from the Worcester Hub. This study seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of MISSION, a multi-component team approach, versus linkage with a Peer Specialist on improving outcomes among individuals with CODs. We expect that individuals receiving MISSION versus linkage only will show greater improvement in treatment engagement, substance use, and mental health outcomes. This study will also concurrently conduct a process evaluation to inform sustainability and future implementation of such interventions.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Substance Use Disorders; Mental Health Disorders
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Full MISSION; Behavioral: Linkage Only Delivered by a Peer Specialist

Detailed Description

Addiction is a growing public health problem in the United States (U.S.), with nearly 21 million Americans meeting criteria for substance use disorder (SUD), 1.6 million meeting criteria for opioid use disorder (OUD), and opioid-related overdoses have increased by 50% over the past 5 years. Among people with SUD, 49% have comorbid mental health disorders (COD). Individuals with COD are vulnerable to substance use relapses, mental illness exacerbations, overdoses, homelessness, and criminal justice involvement. However, despite the high rates of morbidity, mortality, and broad social determinant of health needs among people with COD, only 8% of individuals in the U.S. received treatment for both mental illness and SUD. Among those with a COD receiving treatment, 6-month engagement rates are as low as 16% for psychosocial treatments, and 90% of individuals leaving treatment will relapse within 12 weeks. Massachusetts is also hard hit, with a 16% higher SUD prevalence compared to the U.S., and Worcester, the second largest city in Massachusetts, is disproportionately affected by SUD, having one of the highest overdose rates in the state and is ranked 2nd on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's social vulnerability index. These findings highlight the need to improve treatment access and engagement to support recovery in Worcester, Massachusetts. Both linkage and multicomponent wraparound models have gained popularity as a solution to increase treatment access and engagement. Maintaining Independence and Sobriety through Systems Integration, Outreach and Networking (MISSION) is a hybrid multicomponent linkage and treatment approach, providing assertive outreach linkage support combined with psychosocial treatment, delivered by a cross disciplinary team. MISSION is aligned with the Social Ecological Model (SEM) to address multilevel client needs via 3 evidence-based practices. They include 1) Critical Time Intervention (CTI), a time-limited form of assertive community treatment; 2) Dual Recovery Therapy (DRT), which is integrated group therapy for COD; and 3) Peer Support (PS), offering support for people in recovery by people in recovery. In response to Funding Opportunity Announcement (RFA-CE-22-010), the proposed 3-year Hybrid Type I study, "Supporting Treatment Access and Recovery through Linkage and Support (STAR-LS)," will recruit and randomize 208 patients with COD in Worcester, MA in the Hub, a program run by the Worcester Health and Human Services to one of the following conditions: 1) MISSION; or 2) Peer Support (linkage only). There are three specific aims: Aim 1: To evaluate the effectiveness of MISSION or compared to Peer Support to improve engagement, substance use and mental health symptoms. Aim 2: To examine mechanisms of action of the interventions. Aim 3: To conduct a sequential mixed methods process evaluation to inform sustainability and future implementation. This proposal is aligned with CDC's Strategic Priority Areas and Health People 2030 Core Objectives as it intends to improve behavioral health outcomes strengthen and sustain the recovery ecosystem for people with COD.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 208
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, 01655
      • University of Massachusetts Medical School

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Are 18 or older;
• Have a COD (1 or more substance use disorders (e.g., alcohol and illicit substances), and a mental health disorder (including depression, anxiety, trauma related disorders, bipolar, and/or schizophrenia);
• Are in the Hub; and
• Are not engaged in other ongoing multi-component treatment for COD with a behavioral health treatment provider or have not seen their provider for at least 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• We will exclude individuals who are acutely psychotic, acutely suicidal with a plan, or homicidal
• Or with concurrent severe alcohol use disorder or high dose benzodiazepine requiring detoxification.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Full MISSION; Participants assigned to this condition will receive full MISSION services. MISSION services include 6-months of integrated mental health and substance use treatment and treatment planning with the MISSION Case Manager (13 session curriculum) and Peer Support Specialist (11 session curriculum). Content of these sessions will be directed using the MISSION Treatment Manual and Consumer Workbooks. MISSION teams will also provide linkages and supports to treatment services within the participant's community throughout the duration of the study.	Behavioral: Full MISSION; MISSION is a time-limited, cross disciplinary, team-based wraparound approach that provides 6 months of psychosocial treatment combined with assertive outreach, empowering clients to access and engage in care and community services to promote recovery. The MISSION treatment curriculum integrates 3 evidence-based practices: 1) Critical Time Intervention (CTI), a time-limited form of assertive community treatment; 2) Dual Recovery Therapy (DRT), which is integrated mental health and substance use group therapy; and 3) Peer Support (PS), offering support for people in recovery by people in recovery.
Active Comparator: Linkage Only Delivered by a Peer Specialist; Our Linkage only arm delivered by a Peer Specialist will act as the comparison group to the MISSION arm. Participants randomized to the linkage only arm will receive 6-months of linkage care from a Peer Specialist. The Peer Specialist will provide informal treatment planning as well as linkages and support to community services, but will not provide integrated dual disorders treatment, nor will this arm utilize any MISSION materials or offer Peer led groups.	Behavioral: Linkage Only Delivered by a Peer Specialist; Linkage only is provided via Peer Specialists whom have lived experiences similar to that of our participants. Linkage only includes informal treatment planning and linkages and supports to needed community services.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Self-report opioid use and other substance use	Measured by self-report days of use using the Time-line Follow Back (TLFB)	Baseline
Self-report opioid use and other substance use	Measured by self-report days of use using the Time-line Follow Back (TLFB)	3-months
Self-report opioid use and other substance use	Measured by self-report days of use using the Time-line Follow Back (TLFB)	6-months
Self-report opioid use and other substance use	Measured by self-report days of use using the Time-line Follow Back (TLFB)	9-months
Mental Health Functioning	Measured by self-report mental health symptoms on Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale (BASIS-24)	Baseline
Mental Health Functioning	Measured by self-report mental health symptoms on Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale (BASIS-24)	3-months
Mental Health Functioning	Measured by self-report mental health symptoms on Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale (BASIS-24)	6-months
Mental Health Functioning	Measured by self-report mental health symptoms on Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale (BASIS-24)	9-months
PTSD Symptoms	Measured by self-report PTSD symptoms on Patient Checklist (PCL-5)	Baseline
PTSD Symptoms	Measured by self-report PTSD symptoms on Patient Checklist (PCL-5)	3-months
PTSD Symptoms	Measured by self-report PTSD symptoms on Patient Checklist (PCL-5)	6-months
PTSD Symptoms	Measured by self-report PTSD symptoms on Patient Checklist (PCL-5)	9-months
Mental Health Impairment	Measured by self-report on World Health Organization Disability Assessment (WHODAS 2.0)	Baseline
Mental Health Impairment	Measured by self-report on World Health Organization Disability Assessment (WHODAS 2.0)	3-months
Mental Health Impairment	Measured by self-report on World Health Organization Disability Assessment (WHODAS 2.0)	6-months
Mental Health Impairment	Measured by self-report on World Health Organization Disability Assessment (WHODAS 2.0)	9-months
Health functioning	Measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF)	Baseline
Health functioning	Measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF)	3-months
Health functioning	Measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF)	6-months
Health functioning	Measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF)	9-months
Therapeutic Alliance Client	Measured by Working Alliance Inventory-C	Baseline
Therapeutic Alliance Client	Measured by Working Alliance Inventory-C	3-months
Therapeutic Alliance Client	Measured by Working Alliance Inventory-C	6-months
Therapeutic Alliance Client	Measured by Working Alliance Inventory-C	9-months
Therapeutic Alliance Therapist	Measured by Working Alliance Inventory-T	Baseline
Therapeutic Alliance Therapist	Measured by Working Alliance Inventory-T	3-months
Therapeutic Alliance Therapist	Measured by Working Alliance Inventory-T	6-months
Therapeutic Alliance Therapist	Measured by Working Alliance Inventory-T	9-months
Recovery Capital	Measured by Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC)	Baseline
Recovery Capital	Measured by Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC)	3-months
Recovery Capital	Measured by Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC)	6-months
Recovery Capital	Measured by Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC)	9-months
Alcohol or other drug 12-Step Participation	Measured by self-report using the Alcoholics Anonymous Inventory (AAI)	Baseline
Alcohol or other drug 12-Step Participation	Measured by self-report using the Alcoholics Anonymous Inventory (AAI)	3-months
Alcohol or other drug 12-Step Participation	Measured by self-report using the Alcoholics Anonymous Inventory (AAI)	6-months
Alcohol or other drug 12-Step Participation	Measured by self-report using the Alcoholics Anonymous Inventory (AAI)	9-months
Overdose Risk	Self-report using the Overdose Risk Questionnaire (OdRi)	Baseline
Overdose Risk	Self-report using the Overdose Risk Questionnaire (OdRi)	3-months
Overdose Risk	Self-report using the Overdose Risk Questionnaire (OdRi)	6-months
Overdose Risk	Self-report using the Overdose Risk Questionnaire (OdRi)	9-months
Number of Outreach and Linkage Sessions	Self-reported using the Psychosocial Treatment & Healthcare Services Tracking Sheet	Baseline
Number of Outreach and Linkage Sessions	Self-reported using the Psychosocial Treatment & Healthcare Services Tracking Sheet	3-months
Number of Outreach and Linkage Sessions	Self-reported using the Psychosocial Treatment & Healthcare Services Tracking Sheet	6-months
Number of Outreach and Linkage Sessions	Self-reported using the Psychosocial Treatment & Healthcare Services Tracking Sheet	9-months
Baseline Demographics	Self-reported using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI)	Baseline
Community Health & Social Needs	Self-report using the Accountable Health Communities & Health-Related Social Needs	Baseline
Fidelity to Intervention	Measured via clinical staff submitting weekly treatment fidelity logs	Weekly
Acceptability & Appropriateness	Using the The Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM) and Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM)	6-months
Feasibility of Intervention	Using the Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM)	6-months
Satisfaction with Care	Self-report using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire	6-months
Psychiatric Severity	Measured by Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 (SCID-RV)	Screening
Psychiatric Severity	Measured by Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 (SCID-RV)	Baseline
Psychiatric Severity	Measured by Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 (SCID-RV)	3-months
Psychiatric Severity	Measured by Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 (SCID-RV)	6-months
Psychiatric Severity	Measured by Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 (SCID-RV)	9-months
Suicide Severity	Self-report using the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)	Screening

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester
• Collaborators: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; University of Massachusetts, Amherst; University of Massachusetts, Lowell
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: David Smelson, PsyD, University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 24, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 27, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 27, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): February 6, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 13, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 6, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Addiction; Substance Use; Social Determinants of Health; Co-Occurring Disorders; Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD); Peer Support; Equity; Opioid Overdose; Mental Health Disorders; Healthcare Access; Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT); Coordination of Care; Socioecological Model; Multi-component Interventions
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Narcotic-Related Disorders; Drug Misuse; Mental Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Compulsive Behavior; Impulsive Behavior; Drug Overdose; Prescription Drug Misuse; Opioid-Related Disorders; Behavior; Opiate Overdose; Substance-Related Disorders; Behavior, Addictive
• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY00000749

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Consistent with Health and Human Services/Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) policy, research resources and data will be made readily available for research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community after publication of any scholarly work. Scholarly publications will also be immediately available to the public on PubMed Central. Additionally, raw and analyzed de-identified data used in publications will be responsibly shared through submissions to a CDC-approved data repository. Other methods for data sharing will be via presentations at professional conferences and, as findings permit, disclosure of summary data to professionals and the general public. To the extent feasible and appropriate, we will share pre-publication findings with colleagues who have a demonstrable, legitimate scientific interest that may be addressed by research findings. We expect to further disseminate the study via gray literature and the project website.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: De-identified data will be shared with qualified and approved researchers via an appropriate data repository. Research data will be destroyed 6 years after the end of the Fiscal Year in which the study is completed. The master list of identifiers will be destroyed at the 6-year mark or when all statistical analyses have been completed and scientific papers have been published, whichever comes first.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: We will share findings with colleagues who have a demonstrable, legitimate scientific interest that may be addressed by research findings.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ANALYTIC_CODE

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No