As many as two-thirds of Justice-involved Veterans (JIVs) have a substance-use disorder (SUD), and up to 51% have a mental health (MH) condition; however, fewer than one-third of JIVs receive MH or SUD treatment, and addressing stigma is a recommended strategy for improving Veteran willingness to engage in treatment. Honest, Open, Proud (HOP) is an evidence-based stigma reduction intervention for justice-involved Veterans that is delivered by peers, which can ultimately increase access to and engagement in care, lower rates of criminal recidivism, and improve MH and SUD outcomes. However, implementation of such interventions with high-acuity patients often requires strategies that are intensive and costly. This trial will evaluate the relative impacts and costs of using a high-intensity (vs. low-intensity) strategy to implement a peer-led, stigma reduction intervention for justice-involved Veterans with co-occurring SUD and MH disorders.
Fresno, Palo Alto, Butler, Coatesville, Pittsburgh, Wilmington, and therefore have justice involvement
Veterans who meet DSM-5 criteria for a mental health and/or substance use disorder
Veterans who are willing to participate in VA-HOP
Does not have a history of justice involvement and or not enrolled in a participating site VJP program
Do not have a mental health and/or substance use disorder diagnosis