Information for Patients, Friends, and Family (FAQs)

If you are thinking about participating in the CLARO study, you might have some questions. Here are some things you should know.

About the Study

How to Join

What to Expect

Participating Clinics

About the Study

What is a research study?

A research study is a scientific way of finding an answer to a question. Health care research studies typically look at ways to improve care for patients. Participating patients often complete surveys, interviews, or other tests, and researchers compare these results to see which treatments work best. Research studies help doctors know which treatments to use, and they can help all patients get better care.

What is CLARO?

CLARO stands for Collaboration Leading to Addiction Treatment and Recovery from Other Stresses.

CLARO is a research study looking for ways to improve treatment for people who have opioid use disorder (addiction to heroin or pain pills), and also have depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Usually, patients get separate treatment for opioid use and mental health. The CLARO study wants to find out if it’s helpful for patients to have a team of health care workers that collaborate together to treat both opioid and mental health issues.

The team approach is called "collaborative care."

What is collaborative care?

"Collaborative care" is a team approach to treatment where health care providers work together to treat multiple health issues.

A collaborative care team usually includes a primary care doctor, a mental health provider (like a counselor), an outside mental health expert, and a care manager. You may already have a primary care doctor or a mental health provider. The care manager will make sure they are working together and making decisions about your treatment as a team. The care manager can also answer any questions you have and offer you help getting resources for other things, including housing, food, transportation and more. The outside mental health expert will check in with the care manager from time to time to make sure that your treatment plan is meeting your needs.

Why should I sign up?

Your participation in this study may help you access treatment for substance use and mental health. It could also help future patients of the clinic. We hope the research will benefit you, your community, and other communities by finding better ways to access opioid and mental health treatment in health clinics.

Additionally, you will be paid up to $205 for signing up and finishing three interviews. To get paid the full amount, you must stay in the study for 6 months.

When does the study start?

We will start looking for participants in the fall of 2020 and will continue recruiting through May 2023.

How to Join

Am I eligible to join this study?

To join the CLARO study, you must:

• Have both an opioid use disorder (addiction to heroin or pain pills) and depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
• Be at least 18 years old,
• Speak English or Spanish fluently, and
• Be receiving primary care at one of the clinics listed below.

How do I sign up?

If you are interested in participating, fill out this form and someone from the research team will contact you. You can also send an email to CLAROProject@rand.org or call the project director at 833-634-1532.

Do I need to be a current patient at one of the participating clinics to join?

No, you do not have to be a current patient to participate. You just need to make an appointment with a participating clinic for primary care if you are interested in signing up. The clinic will let us know, and we will contact you to ask some questions and see if you are eligible to join CLARO.

Can I sign up for a family member or a friend?

No, but you can refer them! You can ask a friend or family member to sign up if they are interested or make an appointment for them, but each person must sign up for themselves.

What to Expect

What will I have to do after I sign up?

Half of the patients in CLARO will be assigned a care manager at the clinic who will work to help them with things like getting treatments and services and reminding them about appointments. The other half of participants will continue to get their usual treatment at the clinic. Either way, you can continue to get all services you normally would at the clinic. You will have a 50/50 chance (like a coin toss) of being randomly picked to work with a CLARO care manager.

You may be offered treatment such as taking medications like buprenorphine, a medication that reduces cravings for opioids like heroin or pain pills, as well as individual appointments with a doctor and a mental health provider. All mental health providers seeing CLARO patients will receive special training in two types of therapy that have been shown to help patients with depression and PTSD. It is your choice whether or not to agree to any of these treatments.

You will also be interviewed three times: once before you start treatment, again after three months, and then again after six months. During these interviews, we will ask you about your experience with treatment, your use of heroin or pain pills, your general health, and your mental health. These interviews may be in person, over the phone, or by video call, depending on what is most convenient.

Where should I go to participate?

We are working with clinics in two health care systems in the Albuquerque area. The two health care systems are the University of New Mexico and First Choice Community Healthcare. We are also working with clinics in two health care systems in Los Angeles County. These two health care systems are Hubert H. Humphrey Comprehensive Health Center and Providence Saint John’s Health Center. There is a full list of participating clinics at the bottom of this page.

Please note that as of November 2021, the CLARO project will no longer be recruiting new patients from Hidalgo Medical System.

How long will I need to participate?

If you sign up, we ask that you continue the treatment plan for six months. However, if for some reason that does not work for you, you are free to drop out at any time.

Do I have to pay for my treatments?

The study won’t impact how you usually pay for treatment. You’ll still be covered by your regular insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare. There aren’t any additional charges for signing up, but the study will not be providing free medical care.

Will my privacy be protected?

Yes. We will never use your name or information that identifies you outside of the project. If you are interested in signing up for the study or want more information, we can tell you more about the additional ways we will keep your health information safe.

I still have questions. Who can I ask?

If you are a patient, you can ask your doctor at the clinic. Or you can contact the study team at CLAROProject@rand.org or call us at 833-634-1532.

Participating Clinics

California

Hubert H. Humphrey Comprehensive Health Center

5850 South Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90003

Note: Patients at Bell Health Center are also eligible (6901 Atlantic Ave, Bell, CA 90201)

Providence Saint John’s Health Center

New Mexico

First Choice Community Health Care

South Valley Center, 2001 North Centro Familiar SW Albuquerque, NM 87105-4592

South Broadway Center, 1401 William Street SE Albuquerque, NM 87102-4661

Alamosa Center, 6900 Gonzales Road SW Albuquerque, NM 87121-2401

North Valley Center, 1231 Candelaria Road NW Albuquerque, NM 87107-2767

Los Lunas Center, 145 Don Pasqual Road NW Los Lunas, NM 87031-8841

Belen Center, 120 South Ninth Street Belen, NM 87002-3102

Edgewood Center, 7 Municipal Way, Edgewood, NM; 87015-7086

UNM Health Sciences Center

Southeast Heights Clinic, 8200 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108

Southwest Mesa Clinic, 301 Unser Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87121

North Valley Clinic, 3401 4th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107

Please note: The CLARO project is no longer recruiting new patients from Hidalgo Medical Services or First Choice Community Health Care.

Maps of Clinic Locations

California

New Mexico