HUSTLE will increase engagement in substance abuse treatment, behavioral health, and HIV services for 400 adult racial/ethnic underrepresented individuals with substance use/co-occurring disorders, including gay, bisexual, non-binary and transgendered individuals, in Bexar County, Texas who are at risk or living with HIV/AIDS through the use of screening, assessment, Brief Strength-based Case Management (BSCM), Recovery Support Services (RSS), and Whole Health Action Management (WHAM).
Population: HUSTLE will serve 400 adult racial/ethnic individuals, who have substance use or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorder and are living with, or at risk for HIV/AIDS and reside in Bexar County, Texas. Fifty individuals will be enrolled in YR01, 100 in YR02, 100 in YR03, 100 in YR04, and 50 in YR05. Recruitment will take place through varied referral sources.
Interventions: Prospective clients will be screened for substance use using the Texas Christian University Drug Screen-5 (TCU-DS-5) and mental health using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-3/9). If an individual screens positive, they will be offered the opportunity to enroll in HUSTLE and given a comprehensive intake assessment, utilizing the GPRA tool, and other local measures. After intake, participants will be eligible to receive a multicomponent, culturally competent, and trauma-informed services from University Health staff and partner organizations, namely Rosetta’s Key, Lifetime Recovery, Alamo Center Education and Treatment, University Medicine Associates and Kind Clinic. The integrated services include, Whole Health Action Management, Brief Strength-based Case Management, Recovery Support Services, Substance Use and Mental Health Treatment, and HIV and Viral Hepatitis (B & C) testing and linkage to care. Clients will complete 6- and 12-month follow-up assessments and receive a $30 gift card for completing each follow-up.
Goals and Objectives: The primary goal of HUSTLE is to prevent/reduce the use of substances and/or maintain abstinence among HUSTLE participants (Goal #1). It is expected that at 6- and 12-month follow-up a significantly lower proportion of adults will report fewer days of binge drinking and illicit drug use and increased abstinence compared to baseline. By 6- and 12-month follow-up it is also expected that clients will report increased access and engagement in HIV/SUD/COD care and improved mental health compared to baseline (Goal #2).