The investigators will recruit and randomize 200 individuals screening positive on the
NIDA Quick Screen.
All participants will receive SBIRT as currently implemented at Western Michigan and as
described above. Adult patients would be asked prior to appointments at Western Michigan,
either in-person when in a waiting room and/or via email for virtual appointments if
they'd would be willing to answer a brief, anonymous online survey regarding their
substance use as part of a research study. Upon completing the survey, the results of the
survey would be displayed for the patient to see. If the patient's answers to the
screening tool indicate their use may be risky or indicates a serious problem regarding
assessment, then they would be asked if they would consider participating in a research
study (the investigators would provide an online description of the requirements of the
study and the payments for participation). If they click through as being interested, the
investigators will display more detail about the research study, explain that they will
need to review and sign a consent form, and would be required to speak with a research
assistant in the coming days. The investigators would present them an electronic consent
form and require them to scroll through and, if necessary, could ask them a question or
two to confirm their understanding, before allowing them to electronically sign the
consent. The investigators would advise them that their participation will not be
anonymous. If the patient consents, then the investigators would have them to complete
the longer NIDA ASSIST or AUDIT screening tool. If the patient's answers indicate a risk
score in the low-risk range for either alcohol or illicit drugs, the investigators will
exclude them from continuing in the study.
If the patient's answers indicate a risk score in the moderate to high range, then they
would be randomized to the intervention group or the control group. As part of the
randomization process, the SBIRT/TAU and the SBIRT/eIntervention groups will have two
sub-groups each: (1) those with moderate risk drug or alcohol use and those at high risk
or with SUD as measured by the ASSIST and the AUDIT assessment tools). Thus, participants
will have been randomized into four cohorts of about 50 subjects each.
If the patient is randomized to the intervention group, then they would be presented a
set of digital interventions for them to access then as well as to have access to in the
coming weeks/months. If the patient is randomized to the control group, they will receive
a 'brief intervention' based on the "Drinker's Checkup" licensed by CHESS Health from San
Diego State University.
Whether in the intervention group or the control group, they would be recommended for a
referral to treatment. If they're already in SUD treatment, then will exclude them from
continuing in the study. If the patient is randomized to the intervention group, then in
addition to the referral, they would be given use of the Envoy App with referral details
and a TBD set of digital interventions for them to access then as well as to have access
to in the coming weeks/months. If the patient is randomized to the control group, then
they would only get the referral to treatment plus a basic version of the app that
consists solely of the survey engine used for primary data collection. The investigators
will conduct a 3-month randomized clinical trial, with a 6-month follow-up.