A Social Network Approach to Improve HIV Prevention and Substance Use Treatment For People Who Use Drugs

Summary

This study includes finalization of the LINKED social network intervention to improve PrEP and MOUD uptake among people who inject drugs (PWID) in collaboration with an Expert Advisory Board and staff (N=16) at The Sidewalk Project (TSP), followed by a Hybrid Type II cluster randomized trial of the LINKED intervention (versus an equal-attention control) among N=372 people who inject drugs, with 6- and 12-month follow-up assessment of PrEP and MOUD uptake. The investigators will also evaluate implementation outcomes to inform future sustainable implementation of LINKED in harm reduction organizations.

Eligibility

Age range

18+ years

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

No

Interventions

• Behavioral
  LINKED

  LINKED is a theory-driven social network intervention (SNI) that leverages peer influence within the social networks of people who inject drugs (PWID) to disseminate information, encourage communication, and increase pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) uptake and persistence in harm reduction organization (HRO) settings.

• Behavioral
  Group Intervention

  Group intervention facilitated by trained study staff that supports critical thinking about what constitutes low, medium, and high risks for HIV and overdose.

Locations (3)