Lead Institution: University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Status: Active

Research type: Mixed Methods, Stepped-Wedge, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Setting(s): Drug courts

PI: Ekaterina Pivovarova

umass-chan-medical-school-logo

Improving Access to MOUD in Drug Courts Through Interagency Collaboration: COLAAB study

Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) can cut overdose deaths by about half, yet only a small fraction of drug court participants receive them. This study adapts and expands Clinical Organization and Legal Agency Alliance Building (COLAAB), a program shown to be effective in Massachusetts drug courts that strengthens partnerships between courts and MOUD providers through structured meetings, communication tools, site visits, and academic support. Researchers will evaluate how well COLAAB is adopted, how it improves collaboration and referral processes, how much it costs, and ultimately, how it impacts participantsโ€™ engagement in MOUD services.

Study Aims

Adapt COLAAB for widespread implementation

Implement COLAAB in MA and FL to assess primary outcomes of adoption and fidelity, and secondary outcomes of acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, and implementation costs

Examine the effect of COLAAB on collaboration quality, negative perceptions of MOUD providers/courts, MOUD attitudes, stigma toward court clients, communication quality, referral process efficiency, and court staff awareness of local providers

Examine the effect of COLAAB on the MOUD service outcome of client referral and engagement

Principal Investigator

Screenshot

Ekaterina Pivovarova, PhD

University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

MPI

portrait-barbara-andraka-christou

Barbara Andraka-Christou, PhD, JD

University of Central Florida

Justice Agency Partners

  • Massachusetts and Florida Specialty Courts