Substance UseLINCS UP & INNCT07563517
Linking Individuals Needing Care for Substance Use Disorders to Peer Coaches & Across INcarceration Settings
A study testing Virtual Peer Recovery Coaching and Treatment as Usual in people with Substance Use, run by Emory University at 3 sites in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this study is to learn whether a virtual peer recovery coach (PRC) intervention can improve engagement in addiction treatment among incarcerated adults with substance use disorders. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Substance Use
- What is being tested?
- Virtual Peer Recovery Coaching and Treatment as Usual
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 550 participants
- Where
- 3 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- Sep 2026to Mar 2030
- 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 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Incarcerated at participating jail
- Able to speak and understand English
- Score of 3 or greater - "moderate level", "substantial level", or "severe level" of problems related to drug abuse - on DAST-10.
- Willing to follow study procedures and complete research follow-up calls
- Have at least two reliable contact numbers, e.g. participant and one or more relatives or close friends
Who cannot join
- Cognitive impairment (inability to comprehend the informed consent document as assessed by study staff during enrollment)
- Prior participation in the study
- Awaiting transfer to prison or jail outside the state of Georgia
Trial locations and contacts
3 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Yan Li contact
United States3 sites, 3 recruiting
- Recruiting
Atlanta City Detention Center
Atlanta, Georgia, 30303
- Recruiting
Fulton County Jail
Atlanta, Georgia, 30318
- Recruiting
Dekalb County Jail
Decatur, Georgia, 30032
About this study
The goal of this study is to learn whether a virtual peer recovery coach (PRC) intervention can improve engagement in addiction treatment among incarcerated adults with substance use disorders.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Read more
- Does the PRC intervention increase engagement with at least one recovery resource at 30 and 90 days?
- Does it improve secondary outcomes such as substance use, recovery capital, overdose events, and recidivism?
Researchers will compare Treatment-as-Usual with the PRC telehealth intervention to see if PRC support improves engagement in addiction care.
Participants will:
- Complete baseline and follow-up assessments
- Receive either Treatment-as-Usual or a virtual PRC session focused on motivational interviewing and linkage to recovery resources
Read the detailed description
This study evaluates a virtual peer recovery coach (PRC) intervention designed to support adults with substance use disorders during incarceration and the transition back to the community. The trial is conducted across multiple jail facilities in Metro Atlanta, where individuals experience high rates of substance use disorders and limited access to treatment services. Peer recovery coaches-individuals with lived experience who are trained in motivational interviewing and linkage to care-have demonstrated benefit in healthcare settings, but their effectiveness within jail environments has not been rigorously tested.
The intervention adapts an existing virtual PRC model for use in jail settings. PRCs meet with participants through a secure telehealth platform and provide individualized support focused on motivation, readiness for change, and connection to recovery resources. The model is designed to be scalable, flexible, and responsive to the needs of individuals with diverse substance use profiles, including those for whom no FDA-approved medications exist.
The study uses a phased implementation approach in which participating jail sites transition from usual care to the PRC intervention over time. This structure allows the program to be integrated into each facility's workflow while enabling evaluation of the intervention's impact. Participants are followed for one year to assess engagement with recovery resources and other indicators of health, stability, and community reintegration.
The findings will inform whether virtual PRC services can be effectively delivered in jail settings and whether they improve connection to treatment and recovery supports during a period of heightened vulnerability. Results may guide future implementation of peer-based models in correctional systems and other high-risk environments.
- Conditions
- Substance Use
- Being tested
- Virtual Peer Recovery Coaching, Treatment as Usual
- Keywords
- Support groups, Recovery, Substance use disorders during incarceration
- 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.
Virtual Peer Recovery CoachingBehavioural
A telehealth session with a peer recovery coach who provides motivational interviewing and tailored linkage to addiction treatment and recovery resources.
Treatment as UsualBehavioural
Participants are provided information about community-based addiction treatment and recovery resources as part of routine jail processes.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| PRC group | Experimental | Participants meet virtually with a trained peer recovery coach using a secure telehealth platform. PRCs use motivational interviewing, assess readiness to change, and provide individualized linkage to recovery resources. Support may include connection to medications for opioid use disorder, residential treatment, detoxification centers, harm reduction services, mutual support groups, sober living, or recovery community organizations. PRCs may also conduct post-release check-ins to support ongoing engagement. Receives: Behavioral: Virtual Peer Recovery Coaching |
| Standard of Care | Active comparator | Participants receive the jail's standard approach to substance use support. This includes a review of available community treatment and recovery resources consistent with existing facility practices. No peer recovery coach is involved, and no additional study-driven services are provided. Receives: Behavioral: Treatment as Usual |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Engagement With at Least One Recovery Resource
Engagement with at least one recovery resource, defined as:
- Formal addiction treatment (visit with a physician, psychologist, or licensed substance use counselor; or ≥1 night in detoxification or residential treatment), or
- Recovery Community Organization (RCO) participation (contact, intake, and participation in ≥1 evidence-based recovery activity), or
- Harm reduction organization engagement. Engagement may occur during incarceration or in the community after release.
Measured: 30 days and 90 days after enrollment
Secondary outcomes (12)
Days Receiving Medications for Substance Use Disorders
Number of days participants receive medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), stimulant use disorder, or alcohol use disorder.
Measured: Baseline to 30 days, 90 days, 180 days, and 1 year
Recidivism and Justice Involvement
New arrests, bookings, or jail stays documented through participant report or administrative data.
Measured: Baseline to 1 year
Healthcare Utilization
Emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and other acute care encounters.
Measured: Baseline to 1 year
Recovery Capital (BARC-10)
Brief Assessment of Recovery Capital (BARC-10) A 10-item validated scale that measures a person's internal and external resources that support recovery from substance use. Items assess domains such as social support, coping skills, housing stability, and personal motivation.
- Scores range from 10 to 60.
- Higher scores indicate greater recovery capital and stronger readiness to sustain recovery.
Measured: Baseline, 30, 90, 180 days, and 1 year
Number of Peer Recovery Coach Contacts
Number of PRC interactions among participants assigned to the intervention arm.
Measured: Baseline to 30 days, 90 days, 180 days, and 1 year
Self-Reported Substance Use (TLFB)
Days of substance use in the past 30 days using the Timeline Follow-Back method. A structured calendar-based interview used to measure self-reported substance use over the past 30 days. Participants recall days of use using memory anchors (events, routines).
Measured: Baseline, 30, 90, 180 days, and 1 year
Fatal Overdose Events
Overdose events identified through participant report, medical records, or community partner data.
Measured: Baseline through 1 year
Nonfatal Overdose Events
Overdose events identified through participant report, medical records, or community partner data.
Measured: Baseline through 1 year
Housing status
Current housing status (stable, unstable, homeless)
Measured: Baseline, 30, 90, 180 days, and 1 year
Employment status
Employment status (full-time, part-time, unemployed)
Measured: Baseline, 30, 90, 180 days, and 1 year
Social connections and Isolation: PROMIS scale
A validated set of items assessing perceived social support, loneliness, and connectedness.
- Generates T-scores standardized to the U.S. population (mean = 50, SD = 10).
- Higher scores on Social Support = more support.
- Used to evaluate social determinants of recovery.
Measured: Baseline, 30, 90, 180 days, and 1 year
All-Cause Mortality
Death from any cause, confirmed through vital records or the National Death Index.
Measured: Baseline through 1 year
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 May 2026
- Study startSep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionMar 2030 (estimated)
- Study completionMar 2030 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Substance UseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Emory UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 550 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Emory University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Joseph Carpenter, Emory University
- Investigators
- Joseph Carpenter, MD, Principal investigator, Emory University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07563517
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025P012936
- Other IDs
- 1R01DA064519-01
- Acronym
- LINCS UP & IN
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 17 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Linking Individuals Needing Care for Substance Use Disorders to Peer Coaches & Across INcarceration Settings
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07563517
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- LINCS UP & IN / 2025P012936
- Conditions
- Substance Use
- Keywords
- Support groups, Recovery, Substance use disorders during incarceration
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 550 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Emory UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- Study start
- Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Mar 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Mar 2030 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 May 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this study is to learn whether a virtual peer recovery coach (PRC) intervention can improve engagement in addiction treatment among incarcerated adults with substance use disorders.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does the PRC intervention increase engagement with at least one recovery resource at 30 and 90 days?
- Does it improve secondary outcomes such as substance use, recovery capital, overdose events, and recidivism?
Researchers will compare Treatment-as-Usual with the PRC telehealth intervention to see if PRC support improves engagement in addiction care.
Participants will:
- Complete baseline and follow-up assessments
- Receive either Treatment-as-Usual or a virtual PRC session focused on motivational interviewing and linkage to recovery resources
Detailed description
This study evaluates a virtual peer recovery coach (PRC) intervention designed to support adults with substance use disorders during incarceration and the transition back to the community. The trial is conducted across multiple jail facilities in Metro Atlanta, where individuals experience high rates of substance use disorders and limited access to treatment services. Peer recovery coaches-individuals with lived experience who are trained in motivational interviewing and linkage to care-have demonstrated benefit in healthcare settings, but their effectiveness within jail environments has not been rigorously tested.
The intervention adapts an existing virtual PRC model for use in jail settings. PRCs meet with participants through a secure telehealth platform and provide individualized support focused on motivation, readiness for change, and connection to recovery resources. The model is designed to be scalable, flexible, and responsive to the needs of individuals with diverse substance use profiles, including those for whom no FDA-approved medications exist.
The study uses a phased implementation approach in which participating jail sites transition from usual care to the PRC intervention over time. This structure allows the program to be integrated into each facility's workflow while enabling evaluation of the intervention's impact. Participants are followed for one year to assess engagement with recovery resources and other indicators of health, stability, and community reintegration.
The findings will inform whether virtual PRC services can be effectively delivered in jail settings and whether they improve connection to treatment and recovery supports during a period of heightened vulnerability. Results may guide future implementation of peer-based models in correctional systems and other high-risk environments.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| PRC group | Experimental | Behavioral: Virtual Peer Recovery CoachingParticipants meet virtually with a trained peer recovery coach using a secure telehealth platform. PRCs use motivational interviewing, assess readiness to change, and provide individualized linkage to recovery resources. Support may include connection to medications for opioid use disorder, residential treatment, detoxification centers, harm reduction services, mutual support groups, sober living, or recovery community organizations. PRCs may also conduct post-release check-ins to support ongoing engagement. |
| Standard of Care | Active comparator | Behavioral: Treatment as UsualParticipants receive the jail's standard approach to substance use support. This includes a review of available community treatment and recovery resources consistent with existing facility practices. No peer recovery coach is involved, and no additional study-driven services are provided. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Incarcerated at participating jail
- Able to speak and understand English
- Score of 3 or greater - "moderate level", "substantial level", or "severe level" of problems related to drug abuse - on DAST-10.
- Willing to follow study procedures and complete research follow-up calls
- Have at least two reliable contact numbers, e.g. participant and one or more relatives or close friends
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Cognitive impairment (inability to comprehend the informed consent document as assessed by study staff during enrollment)
- Prior participation in the study
- Awaiting transfer to prison or jail outside the state of Georgia
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Peer Recovery CoachingA telehealth session with a peer recovery coach who provides motivational interviewing and tailored linkage to addiction treatment and recovery resources. | Behavioural | PRC group |
| Treatment as UsualParticipants are provided information about community-based addiction treatment and recovery resources as part of routine jail processes. | Behavioural | Standard of Care |
Primary outcome
Engagement With at Least One Recovery Resource
Time frame: 30 days and 90 days after enrollment
Engagement with at least one recovery resource, defined as: * Formal addiction treatment (visit with a physician, psychologist, or licensed substance use counselor; or ≥1 night in detoxification or residential treatment), or * Recovery Community Organization (RCO) participation (contact, intake, and participation in ≥1 evidence-based recovery activity), or * Harm reduction organization engagement. Engagement may occur during incarceration or in the community after release.
12 secondary outcomes
Days Receiving Medications for Substance Use Disorders
Time frame: Baseline to 30 days, 90 days, 180 days, and 1 year
Recidivism and Justice Involvement
Time frame: Baseline to 1 year
Healthcare Utilization
Time frame: Baseline to 1 year
Recovery Capital (BARC-10)
Time frame: Baseline, 30, 90, 180 days, and 1 year
Number of Peer Recovery Coach Contacts
Time frame: Baseline to 30 days, 90 days, 180 days, and 1 year
Self-Reported Substance Use (TLFB)
Time frame: Baseline, 30, 90, 180 days, and 1 year
Fatal Overdose Events
Time frame: Baseline through 1 year
Nonfatal Overdose Events
Time frame: Baseline through 1 year
Housing status
Time frame: Baseline, 30, 90, 180 days, and 1 year
Employment status
Time frame: Baseline, 30, 90, 180 days, and 1 year
Social connections and Isolation: PROMIS scale
Time frame: Baseline, 30, 90, 180 days, and 1 year
All-Cause Mortality
Time frame: Baseline through 1 year
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 17 Aug 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Yan Li contact
Joseph Carpenter, MD principal investigator
Emory University
3 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Virtual Peer Recovery Coaching and Treatment as Usual in people with Substance Use, run by Emory University at 3 sites 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 3 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 17 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 3 sites 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 Joseph Carpenter, MD (404-778-5975, jecarpe@emory.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Engagement With at Least One Recovery Resource (time frame: 30 days and 90 days after enrollment). 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 17 Aug 2026.