Project POINT: Effectiveness and Scalability of an Overdose Survivor Intervention

Summary

The investigators seek to assess the effectiveness of Project POINT (Planned Outreach, Intervention, Naloxone, and Treatment). As originated in Indianapolis, Project POINT is a collaboration between Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services (EMS), the Eskenazi Emergency Department, Midtown Mental Health, and researchers at Indiana University. POINT is a quality improvement initiative that connects trained outreach workers with emergency department (ED) patients who experienced a non-fatal overdose. A member of the POINT team (a recovery coach or care coordinator with specialized training) meets patients after they have experienced an opioid overdose and, following a model of patient-centered care, offers them a range of evidence-based services including a brief assessment of high-risk behaviors, Hepatitis C and HIV testing, harm reduction counseling informed by motivational interviewing, and treatment referrals with follow-up to either a medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) provider, detoxification services, or an inpatient treatment setting

The primary goal of this project is the establishment of POINT as an effective and scalable intervention for engaging patients in MAT. This study employs a Hybrid Type 1 effectiveness implementation design to take full advantage of current POINT expansion efforts currently happening in Indiana. The goal of this study is to replicate POINT in new hospitals and test its feasibility through (a) assessment of the chosen implementation strategy and (b) the testing of research protocols and secondary data collection procedures.

Conditions

• Substance Use Disorders
• Overdose

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

POINT

A recovery coach meets patients in the ED after they have been revived from an overdose to offer a range of services including an assessment of high-risk behaviors, Hep C/HIV testing, harm reduction counseling, and treatment referrals with follow-up to either a medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) provider, detoxification services, or an inpatient treatment setting. Patients are offered a take-home naloxone kit and assistance with Medicaid enrollment. Close collaboration with the local community mental health provider ensures POINT patients have their first assessment for MOUD within 1-2 business days of ED discharge. Also, recovery coaches offer to accompany patients to intake appointments or criminal justice and child welfare meetings as part of the standard care they deliver.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

  collaborator NIH

• Indiana University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Dennis P Watson, PhD · Indiana University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-02-12

Primary Completion

2021-12-09

Completion

2021-12-09

Countries

• United States

Study Locations