Pilot of two online programs to support people with substance use after release from federal prison
Official title: Pilot Trial of Digital Substance Use Disorder Interventions to Prevent Post-release Substance Use Disorder Relapse in Offenders in Correctional Service of Canada Custody
Run by St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton · NCT07342218 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test two online programs—Breaking Free Online and CBT4CBT—for people recently released from federal custody to help manage substance use and reduce the chance of returning to prison.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton Academic / other |
| Locations | 4 sites (Brantford, Ontario and 3 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 25, 2026 |
| Main results expected | July 2026 |
| Study ends | March 2027 |
| Registry record updated | March 13, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07342218 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults 18–55 who have previously served a custodial sentence with the Correctional Service of Canada, currently reside in one of the participating community correctional or residential centres, and have a history of substance use problems.
✕Probably not a fit
People who have never served a custodial sentence with the Correctional Service of Canada, who live outside the specified Ontario facilities, or who are outside the 18–55 age range are not eligible and are unlikely to benefit from this pilot.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This pilot will enroll adults aged 18–55 with a history of substance use who are living in community correctional residential centres after federal incarceration. Participants will use one of two digital interventions (Breaking Free Online, which includes CBT and mindfulness elements, or CBT4CBT) and be followed for six months. Investigators will compare engagement with each program and record rates of substance use relapse and re‑incarceration. The focus is on feasibility and usefulness of delivering digital treatments in a correctional-community setting to inform larger trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these accessible online programs could help people leaving prison manage cravings, build coping skills, and lower the risk of relapse and re‑incarceration.
How similar studies have gone: Digital CBT programs such as CBT4CBT have shown promising reductions in substance use in community trials, and Breaking Free Online has preliminary positive findings in criminal justice settings.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Individuals who have previously served custodial services in the Correctional Services of Canada (csc). * Individuals who have a history of substance use problems (i.e., determined by them not being allowed to use substances as part their parole terms) * Individuals who current reside in a Community Correctional Centre or Community-Based Residential Facility * Individuals between 18-55 years old Exclusion Criteria: \- Individuals who have never served a custodial sentence with the CSC
Where it's running
-
Salvation Army Booth Centre
Brantford, Ontario, Canada Recruiting -
The Salvation Army - Ellen Osler Home
Dundas, Ontario, Canada Recruiting -
The St. Leonard's Society Of Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Recruiting -
St Leonard's Clinton House
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: James MacKillop, PhD, CPsych, FCAHS — Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
- Study coordinator: James MacKillop, PhD, CPsych, FCAHS
- Email: jmackill@mcmaster.ca
- Phone: 905-522-1155 Ext. 3949
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Project SHIELD 2.0: Police Education to Support Public Health in Kentucky
Aimed at police in Kentucky, this program tests whether SHIELD training given to officers, with health workers helping deliver it, can reduce drug-related arrests and steer people who use drugs toward MOUD and other health services.
-
Real-time fMRI Neurofeedback for Anhedonia in Methadone-Treated Opioid Use Disorder
This feasibility study tests a real-time fMRI neurofeedback approach to see if it helps reduce anhedonia in people on methadone for opioid use disorder.
-
Trauma recovery options for veterans: comparing HRV biofeedback and present-centered therapy
This trial tests whether Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback plus trauma-informed care helps veterans with PTSD and substance use issues more than present-centered therapy.
-
Connecting Loved Ones to Support and Empower Recovery
A web-based program called KulaMind-Recovery tests whether guided online training, one-on-one coaching, and a community forum help loved ones support someone with a substance use disorder.
-
Next-Generation Dome Helmet for Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation in Treatment-Resistant Substance Use Disorder
This study tests whether focused ultrasound delivered through a Dome Helmet can be safely used to target brain regions and help adults with hard-to-treat substance use disorders see if their use declines.
-
NLP-based weekly writings to track mood and worry during residential rehab for SUD
This study tests whether weekly Spanish narratives and biweekly questionnaires can reveal patterns of mood and thoughts that relate to recovery in adults with substance use disorders in a Mexican rehab center.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.