Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
There is a body of research that provides clear evidence that young people are more at risk of harm from substance use than adults. The developing brain is more susceptible to the effects of alcohol and drugs and adolescents are more likely to develop harmful and dependent drug use in a shorter time than adults. The impact of alcohol and drug use in adolescence can have lifelong implications, increasing the chances of experiencing physical and mental health issues and social problems. Young people who have committed an offence are far more likely to be using alcohol and drugs than other young people and there is clear evidence that their use of drugs is associated with their criminal activity. Many young offenders are managed in the community and there is evidence that these young people are more at risk of suffering negative consequences of drug and alcohol use. While the youth justice system routinely looks for signs of problematic drug use in this population access to treatment to address their use can be difficult and many of those in need do not receive any treatment. The RISKIT-CJS intervention was developed to address the underlying issues associated with adolescent risk-taking. The aim of this study is to find out whether the RISKIT-CJS intervention is more effective at reducing substance abuse than standard care.
Who can participate?
Young people aged between 13 and 17 who are engaged with a Youth Offending Team on a community order.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups, where by one third take part in the RISKIT intervention and two thirds receive usual treatment. Those in group one receive treatment as usual for the duration of the study. Those in group two receive usual treatment as well as the RISKIT-CJS intervention. This is delivered over four sessions. The first session involves a face-to-face meeting to discuss substance use and risk taking behavior, to support behavior change and enhance motivation to change. The second session involves a four hour group session in which participants gain a better understanding of substance use and harms, triggers associated with substance use, minimizing risk, risk diversion and distraction, sexual health. The third session involves another four hour group session in which participants learn communication strategies, assertiveness training, anger management, mindfulness and future planning strategies. The final session is an hour-long individual session in which barriers to change, managing expectancy and enhancing self-efficacy are discussed. Participants in both groups complete a number of questionnaires at the start of the study and then again after six and 12 months to assess substance use and wellbeing.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Those who participate in the RISKIT programme are more likely to reduce their alcohol and drug use and manage their risk taking behaviour in a more appropriate ways leading to reductions in unprotected sex and criminal activity, all of which have implications for the future wellbeing of young people. There are no known risks involves with participating in this study.
Where is the study run from?
The study is run from the University of Kent with satellite co-ordination centres based at Kings College, London and University of Teesside, and takes place in Youth Offending Teams located in the South East, London and Greater London and North East of England (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2016 to August 2019
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Simon Coulton
s.coulton@kent.ac.uk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Prof Simon Coulton
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7704-3274
Contact details
Centre for Health Service Studies
University of Kent
Canterbury
Ct2 7NZ
United Kingdom
+44 1227 824535
s.coulton@kent.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
1.0
Study information
Scientific title
RISKIT-CJS: Pragmatic randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a multi-component intervention to reduce substance use and risk-taking behaviour in adolescents involved in the criminal justice system
Acronym
RISKIT CJS
Study hypothesis
Primary null hypothesis:
The RISKIT CJS intervention is no more effective than treatment as usual in reducing the frequency of substance use 12 months after randomisation as measured using the Time Line Follow Back 28.
Secondary null hypotheses:
1. The RISKIT CJS intervention is no more cost-effective than treatment as usual over 12 months after randomisation
2. The RISKIT CJS intervention is no more effective than treatment as usual in increasing mental health wellbeing 12 months after randomisation as measured Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale
3. The RISKIT CJS intervention is no more effective than treatment as usual in reducing criminal justice recidivism in the 12 months after randomisation
Ethics approval
Ethics was approved by University of Kent Social Research Ethics Committee, 12/12/2016, ref SRCEA169
Study design
Multi-centre individually randomised controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Adolescent substance use
Intervention
Participants are randomised to one of two groups using a secure independent randomization service and occurs after completion of the baseline battery. Randomisation employs blocks of unequal size stratified by centre. It is unequal in order to ensure twice as many participants receive the control versus the intervention.
Control condition: Participants receive treatment as usual as provided by the current provider, there is no limit on the intervention or duration of treatment.
RISKIT-CJS intervention: Participants receive treatment as usual augmented with the RISKIT-CJS intervention. RISKIT-CJS is delivered over 4 sessions. Session 1 is an individual face to face session with a trained interventionist lasting 45 minutes; to discuss substance use and risk taking behavior, to support behavior change and enhance motivation to change. Session 2 is a group intervention over a 4-hour period involving both psycho-education and skills development including; understanding substance use and harms, triggers associated with substance use, minimizing risk, risk diversion and distraction, sexual health. Session 3 is a group intervention over 4 hours and involves; communication strategies, assertiveness training, anger management, mindfulness, future planning strategies. Session 4 is an individual face to face session addressing barriers to change, managing expectancy and enhancing self-efficacy delivered over 60 minutes.
All participants are followed up at 6 and 12 months after randomization.
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measures
Percent days abstinent from substance use in the 28-days prior to the 12-month follow-up is measured using the Time-Line Follow Back 28 (TLFB28) method 12 months after randomization.
Secondary outcome measures
1. Quantity and type of substances consumed, sexual activity (planned, unplanned and regretted) and incidences of self-harming behaviour in the 28 days prior to the 6 and 12-month follow-up derived from the Time Line Follow-up (TLFB28) method at baseline, 6 and 12 months
2. Mental health and wellbeing assessed using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being scale (WEMWBS) at baseline, 6 and 12 months
3. Health, social care, criminal justice, education and employment related units of service utilisation over the 12-month trial period, assessed using a trial specific Client Receipt Service Inventory (CRSI) at baseline, 6 and 12 months
4. Health Utility assessed using the EQ5D-5L at baseline, 6 and 12 months
5. Process evaluation of the intervention will be assessed using the Therapeutic Alliance Scale for Children (TASC-r) measured after each intervention session and ratings of fidelity of motivational interviews assessed using the Behavioural Change Counselling Index (BECCI)
6. Prognostic analysis will include Demographics, Readiness to change using the RCQ-TV, Self-Efficacy using the Situational Confidence Scale (SCQ) measured at baseline only
7. Qualitative outcomes will involve group and individual interviews with participants, individual interviews with interventionists, criminal justice staff involved in the study and commissioners
Overall trial start date
01/09/2016
Overall trial end date
31/08/2019
Reason abandoned
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Aged between 13 and 17 years inclusive
2. Involved with Youth Offending Team on a community order
3. Score of 2 or more on the substance use domain of the ASSET risk profile
4. Willing and able to provide informed consent
Participant type
Other
Age group
Child
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
567
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Severity of substance use requiring immediate referral for clinical intervention for detoxification.
2. Criminal justice involvement that is likely to lead to incarceration within the follow-up period.
3. Currently on an order that requires substance use abstinence.
Recruitment start date
01/03/2017
Recruitment end date
28/02/2018
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
University of Kent
Canterbury
CT2 7NZ
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
University of Teesside
Borough Road
Tees Valley
Middlesbrough
TS1 3BX
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Kings College London
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 8BB
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
University of Kent
Sponsor details
The Registry
Canterbury
CT2 7NZ
United Kingdom
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
National Institute for Health Research
Alternative name(s)
NIHR
Funding Body Type
government organisation
Funding Body Subtype
Federal/National Government
Location
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal, conference presentations, and publication of manual and guides for commissioners
Intention to publish date
31/08/2020
Participant level data
Stored in repository
Results - basic reporting
Publication summary
2017 protocol in: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28284187