Re-Frame: pilot randomised controlled trial of a diversion programme for adolescents in police custody who possess illicit substances

Re-Frame: A paralell prospective internal pilot randomised controlled trial of a brief intervention diversion programme compared with treatment as usual to reduce offending and substance use for adolescents, aged 10-17 years, identifed as being in possession of illegal class B or C substances.

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN13396729

Enrollment

Registered

2022-02-14

Start date

2022-02-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-03-17

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Reduction of offending among young people who use class B or C illicit substances Other

Interventions

Intervention Group Two sessions of Brief Intervention by skilled youth workers. In session one they will use a Drug Grid to reflect on how their actions have affected their lives, their family and wid

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Aged 10-17 years inclusive 2. Considered appropriate for diversion by police 3. In possession of class B or C illicit substances

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Arrested for a sexual or violent offence 2. History of four or more offences 3. Substance use severity that requires specialist clinical intervention such as detoxification or medication assisted maintenance 4. Inability to understand oral English sufficiently to engage in the intervention or the follow-up to the extent the participant requires an interpreter to engage with the intervention or research. Outcomes are validated for English language populations.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
All offences; including arrests, cautions and charges, in the 6-months post randomisation obtained directly from the Police National Computer.	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Self-reported delinquency assessed at baseline and month 6 using the Self-Report Delinquency Scale (SRDS; (Smith and McVie, 2003)). 2. Quantity, frequency and type of substance use will be assessed at 6-months using the Time Line Follow Back Method (TLFB; (Levy et al., 2004; Sobell and Sobell, 1995)), 3. Mental health and wellbeing will be assessed using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being scale at baseline and month 6 (WEMWBS; (Clarke et al., 2011)). 4. Health-related quality of life will be assessed at baseline and month 6 using the Child Health Utility Questionnaire (CHU-9D; (Stevens, 2012)). 5. Emotional regulation and behaviour will be assessed at baseline and month 6 using the self-completed Strength and Difficulties questionnaire (SDQ; (Goodman, 1997)). 6. Motivation to change will be assessed using the readiness to change ruler at baseline and month 6(RR; (Maisto et al., 2011)). 7. Self-efficacy will be assessed using the short Situational Confidence Questionnaire at baseline and month 6 (SCQ-8;(Breslin et al., 1998)). 8. Positive and Negative Expectancy will be assessed using a four-item expectancy measure at baseline and month 6 (SUE; (Montes et al., 2019)). 9. Family environment will be assessed at baseline using the Brief Family relationship Scale (BFRS; (Fok et al., 2014)). 10. Anxiety assessed at baseline using the General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7; (Mossman et al., 2017)). 11. Depression assessed at baseline using the Personal Health Questionnaire for adolescents (PHQ-A; (Mansour et al., 2020)). 12 Adverse child experiences assessed at baseline using the Adverse Child Experience Questionnaire (ACEQ; (Dong et al., 2004)).	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Self-reported delinquency assessed at baseline and month 6 using the Self-Report Delinquency Scale (SRDS; (Smith and McVie, 2003)). 2. Quantity, frequency and type of substance use will be assessed at 6-months using the Time Line Follow Back Method (TLFB; (Levy et al., 2004; Sobell and Sobell, 1995)), 3. Mental health and wellbeing will be assessed using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being scale at baseline and month 6 (WEMWBS; (Clarke et al., 2011)). 4. Health-related quality of life will be assessed at baseline and month 6 using the Child Health Utility Questionnaire (CHU-9D; (Stevens, 2012)). 5. Emotional regulation and behaviour will be assessed at baseline and month 6 using the self-completed Strength and Difficulties questionnaire (SDQ; (Goodman, 1997)). 6. Motivation to change will be assessed using the readiness to change ruler at baseline and month 6(RR; (Maisto et al., 2011)). 7. Self-efficacy will be assessed using the short Situational Confidence Questionnaire at baseline and month 6 (SCQ-8;(Breslin et al., 1998)). 8. Positive and Negative Expectancy will be assessed using a four-item expectancy measure at baseline and month 6 (SUE; (Montes et al., 2019)). 9. Family environment will be assessed at baseline using the Brief Family relationship Scale (BFRS; (Fok et al., 2014)). 10. Anxiety assessed at baseline using the General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7; (Mossman et al., 2017)). 11. Depression assessed at baseline using the Personal Health Questionnaire for adolescents (PHQ-A; (Mansour et al., 2020)). 12 Adverse child experiences assessed at baseline using the Adverse Child Experience Questionnaire (ACEQ; (Dong et al., 2004)).

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Countries

England, United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026