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

Study Information

While medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) can reduce the chance of overdose death by up to 50%, only around 15% of drug court participants receive these medications. This study aims to address barriers to MOUD such as negative attitudes, poor communication, lack of knowledge about MOUD providers, and inefficient referral processes.

Clinical Organization and Legal Agency Alliance Building (COLAAB), which was tested in three Massachusetts drug courts and found to be effective, is a program that convenes meetings between drug court staff and MOUD providers to improve processes and build partnerships; develops guides and communication tools; conducts tours of MOUD facilities and drug court observations; and provides an academic liaison to improve relationships and referral procedures. Investigators are adapting COLAAB for broader use, evaluating its success in terms of adoption, effectiveness, and costs; examining how COLAAB affects collaboration, communication, and referral processes; and assessing its impact on MOUD service engagement.

Grant number: 1R01DA064508

Link to NIH Reporter record: https://reporter.nih.gov/search/kz8HidDG_kaY1NWlVoVc9g/project-details/11262365

 

Study Team

PI: Barbara Andraka-Christou, Ekaterina Pivovarova

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

Research Type

Cluster-Randomized, Stepped Wedge Clinical Trial, Mixed Methods