Collaborative Care for Polysubstance Use in Primary Care Settings (Co-Care)

Overview 

The Research Need 

People with risky use of opioids and other substances often face complex clinical problems. Many of these individuals receive care in primary care settings, which are typically an ideal context for diagnosis and treatment. However, few patients are identified by primary care providers, pointing to a need to increase primary care-based adoption of effective, evidence-based practices. 

About the Program 

This program will design and test a primary care setting-based, multidisciplinary treatment model to serve patients with unhealthy use of opioids and alcohol, stimulants, and/or sedatives. Researchers will first plan, develop, and define a treatment model and pilot test its feasibility and acceptability. They will next conduct a large, randomized, controlled efficacy-effectiveness trial. This research aims to identify approaches for reducing polysubstance use, problem behaviors, and overdose risk, and create linkages to substance use disorder treatment.  

The program will build upon existing components such as the Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medication, and other Substance use (TAPS) screening tool, which has been validated in a National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network-funded research project, as well as components of the Prevention of Progression to Moderate or Severe Opioid Use Disorder (STOP) and Optimizing Care for People with Opioid Use Disorder and Mental Health Conditions studies, funded by the Helping to End Addiction Long-term® Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative®. The trial will be conducted in four to six health systems with an estimated 500 patients.