This project will aim to develop and pilot test, R-Assist, a mobile health application to support individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders (COD) in their recovery, who have recently released from a participating Massachusetts jail.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Have been released from the participating jail within the past 150 days
* Own a smartphone (Android or iOS; 90% met this criterion in our prior studies)
* Have COD: any substance use disorder (we will allow poly-substance use disorders) and a co-occurring mental health disorder (depression, anxiety, trauma related disorders, bipolar, and/or schizophrenia)
* Consent to R-Assist app use observation and e-tracking
* Consent to audio recording during interviews and focus groups.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Acutely suicidal, homicidal, or psychotic
* Unable to provide informed consent
* Individuals released with monitoring devices or individuals involved in drug treatment courts
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
App usage
Timeframe: From enrollment for 1.5 months during the open pilot
2
System Usability Scale (SUS)
Timeframe: From enrollment for 1.5 months during the open pilot
3
Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS)
Timeframe: From enrollment for 1.5 months during the open pilot
4
Composite International Diagnostic Instrument for DSM-IV: Social determinants of health (SDOH) linkages
Timeframe: From enrollment for 1.5 months during the open pilot
5
Composite International Diagnostic Instrument for DSM-IV: Substance Use Disorder
Timeframe: From enrollment for 1.5 months during the open pilot
6
Composite International Diagnostic Instrument for DSM-IV: Mental Health
Timeframe: From enrollment for 1.5 months during the open pilot