Trial results for THRIVE, a culturally adapted harm reduction intervention for Substance Use Disorder, were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-05-07, showing increased mean scores for participant confidence, willingness, and comfort in using harm reduction techniques post-intervention.
Background
Substance Use Disorder, particularly involving opioids and stimulants, presents significant public health challenges. Harm reduction strategies are crucial for mitigating adverse outcomes such as overdose and transmission of infectious diseases. However, the effectiveness of these interventions can vary across different populations. This study focused on developing and testing a culturally adapted harm reduction intervention specifically for Black adults who misuse opioids and/or stimulants, aiming to enhance their knowledge of overdose prevention and intervention techniques, as well as their confidence and willingness to utilize and teach these interventions to others at risk. Addressing these factors within a culturally relevant framework is vital for improving engagement and outcomes in communities disproportionately affected by substance use.
Trial design
This completed study, identified as Phase NA, enrolled 57 participants with Opioid Use and/or Stimulant Use. The trial aimed to develop and test a culturally adapted harm reduction educational intervention. The primary questions it sought to answer included whether the intervention would increase overall knowledge of overdose and prevention/intervention techniques, and enhance confidence and willingness to use and teach these interventions to others at-risk. The intervention involved a culturally adapted harm reduction educational approach for Black adults.
Key results
The trial results indicate improvements in participant confidence, willingness, and comfort regarding harm reduction techniques following the intervention:
- Participant Confidence Using Harm Reduction Techniques:
- At Baseline, mean scores were 5.43 (Standard Deviation: 3.70) and 6.61 (Standard Deviation: 3.61) on a scale.
- Post Intervention, the mean score was 8.36 (Standard Deviation: 2.90) on a scale.
- Participant Willingness to Use Harm Reduction Techniques:
- At Baseline, mean scores were 6.02 (Standard Deviation: 3.78) and 7.86 (Standard Deviation: 3.39) on a scale.
- Post-intervention, mean scores were 8.46 (Standard Deviation: 2.87) and 8.68 (Standard Deviation: 2.67) on a scale.
- Participant Comfort to Possess Harm Reduction Techniques:
- At Baseline, mean scores were 7.26 (Standard Deviation: 3.53) and 7.70 (Standard Deviation: 3.39) on a scale.
- Post Intervention, mean scores were 8.70 (Standard Deviation: 2.55) and 8.49 (Standard Deviation: 2.92) on a scale.
What this means
The posted results suggest that the THRIVE culturally adapted harm reduction intervention was associated with increased self-reported confidence, willingness, and comfort among Black adults who misuse opioids and/or stimulants. The observed increases in mean scores from baseline to post-intervention across all three measured outcomes indicate that the educational intervention may be effective in empowering participants with harm reduction knowledge and skills. These findings imply that culturally tailored approaches can play a significant role in improving engagement with and adoption of harm reduction practices, potentially leading to better public health outcomes for this specific population.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT06609278, titled "THRIVE: Culturally AdapTed Harm Reduction Intervention", were posted on 2026-05-07 on clinicaltrials.gov.