Trauma-focused writing plus rewards to help women who inject drugs stick with PrEP

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

This study enrolls 240 women who inject drugs and are starting PrEP at a low-barrier clinic in Philadelphia. Participants are randomized to receive either expressive writing focused on trauma plus contingency management or neutral writing plus contingency management, with follow-up to see who has higher PrEP adherence and lower HIV risk behaviors. The intervention aims to address trauma and substance-use factors that make adherence harder, using objective measures to track PrEP use and abstinence from stimulants and opioids. If successful, the approach could be feasible to implement in real-world PrEP programs serving WWID.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• Drexel University
  Philadelphia, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Roth, Alexis Marie — Drexel University
• Study coordinator: Roth, Alexis Marie

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

• Improving PrEP and mental health/substance-use reach for Hispanic men through community-driven implementation

  A team at the University of Miami is collaborating with HIV organizations to describe and share real-world methods that help more Hispanic men access PrEP and mental health or substance-use care, with plans to spread successful approaches to other regions.

  NIH research University of Miami Coral Gables · Coral Gables, United States · NIH-11403951

• Bringing PrEP and mental health/substance-use services to Hispanic men through community partnerships

  This project works with local HIV organizations to spread practical ways to improve access to PrEP and mental health/substance-use care for Hispanic men.

  NIH research University of Miami Coral Gables · Coral Gables, United States · NIH-11389178

• Peer-driven behavioral support to boost long-acting PrEP/ART adherence for people at risk of HIV

  A team at the University of Maryland Baltimore is testing a peer-delivered program to help people who use drugs stay adherent to long-acting PrEP/ART to reduce HIV risk and improve viral suppression.

  NIH research University of Maryland Baltimore · Baltimore, United States · NIH-11378199

• Using peer support to help people with substance use improve HIV prevention and treatment with long-acting injections

  This project explores how peer support can help people who use drugs better manage their HIV prevention or treatment with long-acting injectable medications.

  NIH research University of Maryland Baltimore · Baltimore, United States · NIH-11158975

• Understanding barriers to HIV prevention for Black men who have sex with men

  This study is looking into why Black men who have sex with men in the southeastern U.S. aren't using a medication called PrEP to help prevent HIV, focusing on issues like stigma and substance use, and it aims to find ways to make it easier for them to access and stick with PrEP, especially after the challenges brought

  NIH research University of Connecticut Storrs · Storrs-Mansfield, United States · NIH-11059173

• Improving HIV prevention for women who inject drugs through a trauma intervention.

  This study is exploring a new way to help women who inject drugs and are at risk for HIV, especially those in sex work, by using writing activities and support to encourage them to stick with their HIV prevention medication, PrEP, while also addressing their past traumas and challenges.

  NIH research Drexel University · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-10828747

About this research

1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.