Addictive and psychiatric disorders are a significant barrier to retention in medical care leading to worse outcomes. As part of an HIV care expansion project, the H-STAR intervention was designed to treat substance use and psychiatric disorders for minority patients receiving co-located HIV medical care.

The intervention aim was to increase access to treatment for substance abuse and psychiatric disorders in minority HIV+ patients and reduce substance use.

The H-STAR primary objective was to offer substance and psychiatric evaluation and treatment with an integrated treatment model.

All participants in H-STAR underwent substance abuse screening and evaluation, using DSM-IV-TR criteria. Substance use was measured on the Government Performance Reports Act (GPRA) form at baseline and 6 months. Intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) using the Matrix Model as the behavioral intervention was available to all patients. All patients were offered and scheduled psychiatric evaluation and treatment with an onsite psychiatrist.

Of 123 enrolled persons with both baseline and 6 month GPRAs, the prevalence of substance abuse/dependence disorders were as follows: Alcohol: 32 (24.2%); Opiate: 54 (43.9%); Cocaine: 47(38.2%); and Marijuana: 26(21.1%). Thirty (22.1%) completed IOP. At 6 month follow-up there was statistically significant reduced use of alcohol, heroin and cocaine. Of 136 enrolled participants, seventy-five (55.1%) had psychiatric evaluations; 53 (70.7%) received medication management.

There was a significant reduction in all substance use; cocaine use remained the most prevalent. Despite open access to psychiatric evaluation, not all patients completed evaluation in spite of multiple attempts to reschedule.