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Substance Use DisordersNCT05854836

Preconception Intervention for Incarcerated Women With Substance Use

A study testing CHOICES-PLEAS (Pregnancy Liberated from Exposure to Alcohol and Substances) in people with Substance Use Disorders, run by St. Louis University at 1 site in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this pilot trial is to test the feasibility and acceptability as well as efficacy of the adapted intervention, CHOICES-PLEAS (Pregnancy Liberated from Exposure to Alcohol and Substances) among women will illicit polysubstance use participating in a court-mandated jail-based 90-day substance use disorder… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 49 years, women only
Conditions the study is for
Substance Use Disorders
What is being tested?
CHOICES-PLEAS (Pregnancy Liberated from Exposure to Alcohol and Substances)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
90 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
4 Dec 2023to 1 Mar 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 49 years
  • Women only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • English-speaking
  • Capable of becoming pregnant (did not undergo a permanent sterilization procedure and not using a highly effective long-acting reversible birth control method, i.e. intrauterine device or implant.)
  • During the three year prior to arrest or entering the treatment program engaged in vaginal sex with a male partner.
  • During the three months prior to arrest or entering the treatment program used at least one substance (heroin, fentanyl, opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, or marijuana or alcohol with another substance).
  • (For women recruited from the MAT Program): Expected length of incarceration at the St. Louis County Jail 2-6 months; expected release into the community.

Who cannot join

  • Participated in a focus group that was part of the formative work for this study to create the intervention adaptation
  • Non-English-speaking
  • Not capable of pregnancy (underwent a permanent sterilization procedure or using a long-acting reversible contraceptive method)
  • No vaginal sex with a male partner in the 3 years prior to incarceration or entering the treatment program.
  • No use of an illicit substance, such as only alcohol or marijuana use not in combination with another substance

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Jennifer R Bello Kottenstette, MD contact

314-617-3445

jennifer.bellokottenstette@health.slu.edu

Phebe Madhusudanan, MD, MPH contact

314-977-7341

phebe.madhusudanan@health.slu.edu

United States1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Buzz Westfall Justice Center

    St Louis, Missouri, 63105

    Brady Williams, 314-615-7239, bwilliams@stlouiscountymo.gov

    Mia Sutton, (314) 615-5697, MSutton@stlouiscountymo.gov

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Preconception Health Intervention to Reduce Substance Exposed Pregnancies Among Incarcerated Women

The goal of this pilot trial is to test the feasibility and acceptability as well as efficacy of the adapted intervention, CHOICES-PLEAS (Pregnancy Liberated from Exposure to Alcohol and Substances) among women will illicit polysubstance use participating in a court-mandated jail-based 90-day substance use disorder treatment program. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  1. What is the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the CHOICES-PLEAS intervention in a court-mandated jail-based substance use disorder treatment program?
  2. Does participation in CHOICES-PLEAS lower the risk of a substance exposed pregnancy at 1 and 3 months after release compared to a control condition?
  3. Does participation in CHOICES-PLEAS increase motivation to change substance use and reduce risky sexual behaviors at 1 and 3 months after release compared to a control condition? Participants will receive three one-on-one motivational interviewing sessions and one family planning referral visit during incarceration and one booster session at 1 month after release from jail.

Researchers will compare the CHOICES-PLEAS intervention to a control condition to see if participation in the intervention reduces risk of substance exposed pregnancy, increases motivation to change substance use, and reduces risk of risky sexual behaviors.

Read the detailed description

The investigators will recruit 90 female participants from one of two jail-based SUD treatment programs: the court-mandated substance use disorder treatment program (CM-SUDTx) or the Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) Program to participate in pilot testing of the intervention, CHOICES-PLEAS. Research staff will describe the study at an initial CM-SUDTx meeting or with MAT program participants and invite interested women to meet with staff individually after their treatment session to be screened for eligibility. Over a 2.5-year period, there are ten 90-day CM-SUDTx cohorts, each with approximately 15 women (150 total). The investigators expect 130 women (13/cohort, 87%) to meet eligibility criteria. Of those eligible, the investigators expect about 9/cohort will enroll and complete the intervention based on pilot work indicating about 70% of CM-SUDTx participants are interested in research. Women in the MAT program have a diagnosis of OUD with or without additional substance use. The same inclusion criteria will be used to determine eligibility with the addition of participants needing to be confined between 2 and 6 months to allow time for study procedures to take place during incarceration.

The investigators will randomize the ten CM-SUDTx cohorts to receive CHOICES-PLEAS (45 women) or brief advice and referral (45 women) over a 2.5 year period using a matching process before randomization to achieve balance between cohorts in the intervention and control groups. The treatment cohorts will be divided into two cells by program start time within the study period (Year 2 quarter 2 through Year 4 quarter 3). The first 5 cohorts will be placed in cell one and the second 5 cohorts in cell two. Cohorts will be randomly selected within each of these two cells to be assigned to either the intervention or control group to ensure 5 cohorts will receive CHOICES-PLEAS (9 women per cohort, n=45) and 5 will receive brief advice and referral (9 women per cohort, n=45). Participants recruited from the MAT program will be randomized by individual.

All participants will complete a baseline survey before the intervention. The investigators will collect comprehensive participant contact information for all participants after participants complete a baseline survey. The 5 treatment cohorts and MAT program participants randomized to receive the intervention (n=45 women, 9 per cohort over 2.5 years) will participate in CHOICES-PLEAS. Research staff will administer the three motivational interviewing sessions one-on-one over an 8-week period. Referral and scheduling of a family planning appointment will take place in session 1 and the appointment may be scheduled at any time prior to completion of the CM-SUDTx or release from jail.

The 5 treatment cohorts and MAT program participants randomized to the control group (n=45 women, 9 per cohort over 2. years) will receive brief advice and referral consistent with other studies testing a similar intervention that includes general information about healthy lifestyle for women as well as a referral guide to local resources.

At completion of the CM-SUDTx or prior to release from jail, all participants will complete a survey. Women will be asked to review and update their contact information sheet and the one-month booster session and three-month assessment will be scheduled.

At 1-month post release, participants randomized in the intervention group will participate in a one-on-one motivational interviewing booster session at a convenient location. At 1- and 3-months post-release, all participants will complete an in-person assessment at a convenient location where they will complete a survey to measure continuation in treatment, provide a urine drug screen and pregnancy test, and reassess all measures collected at the time of release.

Being tested
CHOICES-PLEAS (Pregnancy Liberated from Exposure to Alcohol and Substances)
Keywords
Substance Use Disorders, Preconception Health, Motivational Interviewing
Medical subject headings
Substance-Related Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • CHOICES-PLEAS (Pregnancy Liberated from Exposure to Alcohol and Substances)Behavioural

    CHOICES-PLEAS includes four manual-guided motivational interviewing sessions delivered by a trained counselor and one family planning counseling session delivered by a family planning clinician. The intervention is based on the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of behavior change and motivational interviewing that includes a decisional balance exercise, goal self-selection, self-monitoring, self-generated plans, and importance and confidence scales. By using a patient-centered approach based on the TTM that meets patients where they are, counselors can have a more effective impact on patient behaviors. This adaptation from the original CHOICES intervention contains unique features focused on the incarcerated setting, illicit polysubstance use, and risky sexual behaviors most common among women with illicit polysubstance use.

Study groups in NCT05854836
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
CHOICES-PLEASExperimentalParticipants in the experimental arm will receive the motivational interviewing intervention, CHOICES-PLEAS which consists of three one-on-one sessions and one family planning referral visit during incarceration and one booster session at one month after release from jail.
Receives: Behavioral: CHOICES-PLEAS (Pregnancy Liberated from Exposure to Alcohol and Substances)
Control conditionNo interventionParticipants in the active comparator will receive a control condition that consists of a booklet with general information about healthy lifestyle for women as well as a referral guide to local resources.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Number of participants with a change in risk of substance exposed pregnancy compared to baseline using Timeline Followback method assessing substance use and risky sexual behaviors

    Defined as continued drug abstinence, absence of risky sexual behaviors, or both

    Measured: one and three months after release from jail

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Self-efficacy to change substance use

    Self-efficacy will be assessed using the single item Abstinence Self-Efficacy scale with scores ranging from 1-10 with higher scores indicating higher confidence.

    Measured: one and three months after release from jail

  2. Self-efficacy to change risky sexual behavior

    Self-efficacy will be assessed using the adapted 18-item Self-efficacy for Birth Control and Condom Use Scale with scores 18 - 90, with higher scores indicating higher confidence.

    Measured: one and three months after release from jail

  3. Readiness to change substance use

    Readiness to change will be assessed using the adapted 12-item Readiness to Change Questionnaire for substance use with scores from 12 to 60 with higher scores indicating higher levels of readiness.

    Measured: one and three months after release from jail

  4. Readiness to change risky sexual behavior

    Readiness to change will be assessed using the adapted 11-item Readiness to Change Questionnaire for risky sexual behaviors with scores from 11 to 55 with higher scores indicating higher levels of readiness

    Measured: one and three months after release from jail

  5. Decisional balance to change substance use

    Decisional balance will be assessed using the 20-item Decisional Balance Scale for substance use. Each question asking about importance of making a decision is rated from 1 to 5, with 5 being extremely important and 1 being not important at all. A difference score is calculated by subtracting scores of the cons of substance use from the pros of substance use. Positive numbers indicate endorsing more pros than cons for substance use.

    Measured: one and three months after release from jail

  6. Decisional balance to change contraception use

    Decisional balance will be assessed using the 20-item Decisional Balance Scale for contraception use. Each question asking about importance of making a decision is rated from 1 to 5, with 5 being extremely important and 1 being not important at all. A difference score is calculated by subtracting scores of the cons of using contraception from the pros of using contraception. Positive numbers indicate endorsing more pros than cons for using contraception.

    Measured: one and three months after release from jail

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted11 May 2023
  2. Study start4 Dec 2023
  3. Primary completion30 Oct 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Mar 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
We will randomize the ten 90-day court-mandated substance use disorder treatment cohorts to receive CHOICES-PLEAS (45 women) or brief advice and referral (45 women) over a 2.5 year period using a matching process before randomization to achieve balance between cohorts in the intervention and control groups. Ninety-day cohorts run sequentially. The treatment cohorts will be divided into two cells by program start time within the study period. The first 5 cohorts will be placed in cell one and the second 5 cohorts in cell two. Cohorts will be randomly selected within each of these two cells to be assigned to either the intervention or control group to ensure 5 cohorts will receive CHOICES-PLEAS (9 women per cohort, n=45) and 5 will receive brief advice and referral (9 women per cohort, n=45).
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
90 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05854836
Sponsor's protocol ID
33381
Other IDs
K23DA053433
Status last verified
Jul 2026
First submitted
3 Apr 2023
Last updated
23 Jul 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided: The IPD sharing plan is still in development.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing CHOICES-PLEAS (Pregnancy Liberated from Exposure to Alcohol and Substances) in people with Substance Use Disorders, run by St. Louis University at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Jennifer R Bello Kottenstette, MD (314-617-3445, jennifer.bellokottenstette@health.slu.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Number of participants with a change in risk of substance exposed pregnancy compared to baseline using Timeline Followback method assessing substance use and risky sexual behaviors (time frame: one and three months after release from jail). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Jul 2026.

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