The Community Paramedic Response and Overdose Outreach With Supportive Medical-Legal Services Study

Description

CROSSROADS is a Hybrid Type I Implementation Effectiveness Trial. The primary objective of the study is to examine how the CROSSROADS intervention, which incorporates a Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) into community paramedic (CP) standard of care, addresses health-harming legal needs (HHLN) influencing adverse substance use outcomes and risk of CLS (Criminal Legal System) engagement.

The key component of the CROSSROADS intervention is that it directly identifies and addresses HHLN. The MLP utilized in this study is Docs for Health (D4H), a technology-supported mobile application MLP that utilizes a ‘screen and intervene’ approach.

The primary aim is to compare the CROSSROADS intervention versus standard of care (SOC) CP programs across four sites (Durham, NC; Miami, FL; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland, ME) on 1) frequency of opioid and stimulant use, and 2) CLS (police, incarceration, and probation/parole) involvement. Researchers will randomly assign 400 adults to the SOC CP program (n=200) or CROSSROADS (n=200). Follow-up will occur at 1, 6, and 12 months.

The focus of the study is to examine how Community paramedic programs addressing socio-structural-legal factors influence adverse substance use outcomes and risk of criminal legal engagement. The long-term goal is to assess how innovative non-carceral interventions can be best implemented to address adverse substance use outcomes and prevent CLS exposure.