Research and Evaluation of Link-Up, DCR in Brussels
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Self-reported questionnaire to monitor the consumption behaviors and sociodemographic characteristics.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Substance Use (Drugs, Alcohol). Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Research and Evaluation of Link-Up, Drug Consumption Room in Brussels
Overview
Link-Up is the second Safer Consumption Room (SCMR) to open in the Brussels-Capital Region. SCMRs are public health facilities designed for people who use drugs mainly in public places. They are hygienically safe spaces where users can safely consume the products they have acquired elsewhere without moral judgment, under the supervision of specially trained professional staff. It is a risk reduction facility. Before Link-Up, two other SCMRs were opened in Belgium, including one, GATE, in the Brussels region. These first two SCMRs are currently undergoing scientific evaluation as part of the REVE-DROOM project (approved by the CEHF (2024/28MAI/276, on 06/18/2024) of the "Drugs" research program funded by BELSPO (Federal Science Policy). The present project aims to replicate the study of the effects associated with the use of SCMRs on users, as implemented in the evaluation system currently underway at GATE in the new SCMR, Link-Up, with a view to also evaluating its effects. The RELINK study is being conducted at the request of Iriscare, the bicommunal social protection OIP (Public Interests Organization) of the Brussels-Capital Region. It is a study based on a natural experiment (i.e., all Link-Up users who agree to participate in the study will be included) and measures various indicators concerning them. The measured indicators primarily concern risky consumption practices (injection, consumption in public spaces, reuse and/or sharing of consumption equipment, and other practices that endanger the health of people who use drugs). As secondary effects, the measures concern the sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the user population, drug-use profiles, level of social integration, quality of life, level of personal recovery, and care needs. The analysis of these various indicators will make it possible to describe the profile of Link-up SCS users and to compare it with that of GATE users. In addition, the study design allows for an extension to conduct a cohort follow-up and, therefore, to measure changes associated with the use of the SCS service. The current study aims for a sample of at least 250 people recruited within the service. Indicator measurement is carried out using a questionnaire administered with the assistance of the research team and supported by SCS staff. The questionnaire consists of various scales validated in the scientific literature and already used in the REVE-DROOM study. Given the similarity of the proposed Link-Up system with the one implemented at GATE, the results of the two Brussels SCSs will be the subject of a comparative analysis.
Interventions
- Other Self-reported questionnaire to monitor the consumption behaviors and sociodemographic characteristics
Participants will complete a unique questionnaire covering different aspects: * risky consumption practices: injection, consumption in public spaces, reuse and/or sharing of consumption equipment, and other practices that endanger the health of people who use drugs * sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics * drug-use profiles * level of social integration * quality of life * level of personal recovery * care needs
Primary outcome measures
- Risky consumption behaviours [Time frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 6 months]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- user of the DCR Link-Up in Bruxelles
- agree to participate
- sufficient command of either French or Dutch
Exclusion criteria
- Refusal to participate
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- N/A
- Model
- Single group
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Other
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07452926 · RELINK