Connecting Loved Ones to Support and Empowering Recovery

Rhode Island Hospital60 enrolled

Overview

Substance use disorders are highly prevalent. However, recovery from them is possible. The recovery process can benefit greatly from support from loved ones. Loved ones may need guidance in the most helpful ways to support recovery. This study aims to refine and test a web-based intervention, known as KulaMind-Recovery, which offers online skill building and educational modules, one-on-one video sessions and "on-demand" text-based support from a coach, and access to a community forum to connect with others with shared experience.

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are one of the most prevalent chronic behavioral health issues in the United States and are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. However, there is a high rate of recovery from SUDs. The loved ones of those in recovery can be an important source of support. Unfortunately, relationships are often strained by the chronic relapsing and remitting nature of SUDs, and SUD-related stigma may impede support from loved ones. Efforts to implement evidence-based interventions for loved ones have been hampered by a number of factors, including required specialized training for interventionists and the lengthy nature of the interventions. Efficacious and scalable interventions are therefore needed to guide the loved ones of those in recovery in evidence-based approaches to support the recovery process. mHealth facilitated interventions could be used to address these barriers, allowing for more efficient use of interventionist time through automation while maintaining "on demand" availability and the human touch that many find helpful. The goal of this project is to refine the KulaMind-Recovery Platform (KM-R), which is an AI-powered online program that aims to improve healthy family/social network behaviors and self- regulation skills of loved ones of those in recovery to strengthen the social support network. In addition to online skill building and educational modules, each loved one is matched with a coach who provides emotional support, accountability, and troubleshooting via group-based video sessions and "on demand" text-based support. Lastly, KM-R includes access to a community forum that allows loved ones to connect with others with shared experience. To accomplish our goal of refining this intervention, we will conduct an open label pilot study with 30 dyads (individual in early recovery and a loved one), in which the loved ones receive access to KM-R for 3 months, to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary signs of efficacy of the intervention.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Interventions

KulaMind-RecoveryBEHAVIORAL

KulaMind-Recovery (KM-R) is an AI-powered web-based support platform that provides psychoeducation and training in evidenced-based cognitive behavioral skills and family interventions for substance use disorder. Loved ones will be matched with a human coach who will create a custom program of skills, psychoeducation materials, and other interventions. The coach will deliver these assignments through the AI digital tools on the KM-R platform, so loved ones can learn or practice skills at their convenience. For emotional support, accountability, and trouble shooting, coaches provide group video sessions each week. Each loved one will have access to text-based support form their coach, which allows the coach to support skill-building and troubleshooting in real time. Loved ones will also have access to a community forum, hosted on the platform, where they can connect with other loved ones with shared experiences. The community forum is monitored by a trained, live moderator.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria for Individuals in Recovery: * 18+ * have met criteria for a substance use disorder (with or without concomitant alcohol use disorder) in the past 24 months * have taken steps in the past 12 months to quit using drugs, cut down on drug use, or change the way in which they use drugs in order to improve the quality of their lives * willing to nominate a loved one to receive KulaMind-Recovery * have a loved one who is willing to participate in the study * able to understand and speak English and provide written and verbal consent Inclusion Criteria for Loved Ones: * 18+ * have a sustained relationship with the individual in recovery and are perceived to be an important person in the individual in recovery's life * do not provide professional substance use disorder-related services to the individual in recovery * have regular access to a device to engaged with KulaMind-Recovery * able to understand and speak English and provide written and verbal informed consent * do not endorse current (past month) suicidality

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Recovery Capital Score measured with the Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC)

Recovery capital represents the total collection of resources that an individual possesses which can facilitate addiction recovery. The Assessment of Recovery (ARC) is a psychometrically validated measure of recovery capital, which produces a recovery capital score ranging from 0 to 50. Higher scores represent greater recovery capital. This is the primary outcome of individuals in recovery.