A Social Network Approach to Improve HIV Prevention and Substance Use Treatment For People Who Use Drugs

What this study involves

The registry does not currently label this study as recruiting. Ask about its status before planning a screening visit.

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Age range

18 years - Not specified

Sex eligible

All sexes

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

Participants

398 Estimated

These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.

About the research

This study includes finalization of the LINKED social network intervention to improve PrEP and MOUD uptake among people who inject drugs (PWID) in collaboration with an Expert Advisory Board and staff (N=16) at The Sidewalk Project (TSP), followed by a Hybrid Type II cluster randomized trial of the LINKED intervention (versus an equal-attention control) among N=372 people who inject drugs, with 6- and 12-month follow-up assessment of PrEP and MOUD uptake. The investigators will also evaluate implementation outcomes to inform future sustainable implementation of LINKED in harm reduction organizations.

Who may be able to participate?

The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.

Inclusion Criteria:

Aim 1 - Virtual Focus Group

• Is 18 years or older
• Is a current TSP staff
• Is capable and willing to provide consent

Aim 2 - Intervention

• 18 years or older
• Spend majority of their time in the Los Angeles, CA area where recruited
• Able to complete surveys and group sessions in English
• Self-report to have injected drugs in the past 3 months
• Self-reported HIV negative serostatus
• Not currently on PrEP or MOUD
• Not pregnant
• If a network recruit: presents a valid recruitment coupon
• Is capable and willing to provide consent

Aim 3 - Virtual Focus Group/Surveys

• Is 18 years or older
• Is a current TSP staff
• Is capable and willing to provide consent

Exclusion Criteria:

Aims 1 and 3:

• Individuals who are not current TSP staff members will be excluded from participation.

Aim 2:

• Under age 18;
• Does not spend majority of time in the Los Angeles, CA area where recruited;
• Unable to complete surveys and groups sessions in English;
• Does not self-report injecting drugs in past 3 months;
• Self-reported HIV positive serostatus
• Currently on PrEP or MOUD
• Currently pregnant
• If a network recruit: does not present a valid recruitment coupon

Treatment, groups and participation

The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.

Assignment

Random assignment

Masking

No masking

What researchers are measuring

Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.

Primary measures

Research locations (3)

The overall study status and a local site’s status can differ. Confirm that location’s availability before traveling.

3 locations

Study team and timeline

Lead sponsor

NYU Langone Health

Study start

Jan 1, 2027 Estimated

Primary completion

Dec 1, 2028 Estimated

Study completion

Dec 1, 2028 Estimated

First posted

Feb 13, 2026 Actual

Last updated

Nov 10, 2026 Actual

Official study contacts