Substance Use (Drugs, Alcohol)NCT07452926
Research and Evaluation of Link-Up, DCR in Brussels
A study testing Self-reported questionnaire to monitor the consumption behaviors and sociodemographic characteristics in people with Substance Use (Drugs, Alcohol), run by Université Catholique de Louvain.
Trial summary
Link-Up is the second Safer Consumption Room (SCMR) to open in the Brussels-Capital Region. SCMRs are public health facilities designed for people who use drugs mainly in public places. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Substance Use (Drugs, Alcohol)
- What is being tested?
- Self-reported questionnaire to monitor the consumption behaviors and sociodemographic characteristics
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 250 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Mar 2026to Sep 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- user of the DCR Link-Up in Bruxelles
- agree to participate
- sufficient command of either French or Dutch
Who cannot join
- Refusal to participate
About this study
Official title: Research and Evaluation of Link-Up, Drug Consumption Room in Brussels
Link-Up is the second Safer Consumption Room (SCMR) to open in the Brussels-Capital Region. SCMRs are public health facilities designed for people who use drugs mainly in public places. They are hygienically safe spaces where users can safely consume the products they have acquired elsewhere without moral judgment, under the supervision of specially trained professional staff. It is a risk reduction facility. Before Link-Up, two other SCMRs were opened in Belgium, including one, GATE, in the Brussels region. These first two SCMRs are currently undergoing scientific evaluation as part of the REVE-DROOM project (approved by the CEHF (2024/28MAI/276, on 06/18/2024) of the "Drugs" research program funded by BELSPO (Federal Science Policy). The present project aims to replicate the study of the effects associated with the use of SCMRs on users, as implemented in the evaluation system currently underway at GATE in the new SCMR, Link-Up, with a view to also evaluating its effects. The RELINK study is being conducted at the request of Iriscare, the bicommunal social protection OIP (Public Interests Organization) of the Brussels-Capital Region.
It is a study based on a natural experiment (i.e., all Link-Up users who agree to participate in the study will be included) and measures various indicators concerning them. The measured indicators primarily concern risky consumption practices (injection, consumption in public spaces, reuse and/or sharing of consumption equipment, and other practices that endanger the health of people who use drugs). As secondary effects, the measures concern the sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the user population, drug-use profiles, level of social integration, quality of life, level of personal recovery, and care needs.
Read more
The analysis of these various indicators will make it possible to describe the profile of Link-up SCS users and to compare it with that of GATE users. In addition, the study design allows for an extension to conduct a cohort follow-up and, therefore, to measure changes associated with the use of the SCS service.
The current study aims for a sample of at least 250 people recruited within the service. Indicator measurement is carried out using a questionnaire administered with the assistance of the research team and supported by SCS staff. The questionnaire consists of various scales validated in the scientific literature and already used in the REVE-DROOM study.
Given the similarity of the proposed Link-Up system with the one implemented at GATE, the results of the two Brussels SCSs will be the subject of a comparative analysis.
- Conditions
- Substance Use (Drugs, Alcohol)
- Being tested
- Self-reported questionnaire to monitor the consumption behaviors and sociodemographic characteristics
- Medical subject headings
- Substance-Related Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Self-reported questionnaire to monitor the consumption behaviors and sociodemographic characteristicsOther
Participants will complete a unique questionnaire covering different aspects:
- risky consumption practices: injection, consumption in public spaces, reuse and/or sharing of consumption equipment, and other practices that endanger the health of people who use drugs
- sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics
- drug-use profiles
- level of social integration
- quality of life
- level of personal recovery
- care needs
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| DCR users | Experimental | There is only one arm in this study and it gathers DCR users who are going to be followed up. Receives: Other: Self-reported questionnaire to monitor the consumption behaviors and sociodemographic characteristics |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Risky consumption behaviours
The questionnaire concerns different aspects of consumption behaviors (consumption mode, in public spaces, reuse and/or sharing of consumption equipment,...) and also sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the user population, level of social integration, quality of life, level of personal recovery, and care needs
Measured: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Mar 2026
- Study startMar 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionSep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionSep 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Substance Use (Drugs, Alcohol)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Université Catholique de LouvainThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 250 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Université Catholique de Louvain
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07452926
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RELINK
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 16 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 5 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Research and Evaluation of Link-Up, Drug Consumption Room in Brussels
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07452926
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RELINK
- Conditions
- Substance Use (Drugs, Alcohol)
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 250 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Université Catholique de LouvainUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Sep 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 5 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Link-Up is the second Safer Consumption Room (SCMR) to open in the Brussels-Capital Region. SCMRs are public health facilities designed for people who use drugs mainly in public places. They are hygienically safe spaces where users can safely consume the products they have acquired elsewhere without moral judgment, under the supervision of specially trained professional staff. It is a risk reduction facility. Before Link-Up, two other SCMRs were opened in Belgium, including one, GATE, in the Brussels region. These first two SCMRs are currently undergoing scientific evaluation as part of the REVE-DROOM project (approved by the CEHF (2024/28MAI/276, on 06/18/2024) of the "Drugs" research program funded by BELSPO (Federal Science Policy). The present project aims to replicate the study of the effects associated with the use of SCMRs on users, as implemented in the evaluation system currently underway at GATE in the new SCMR, Link-Up, with a view to also evaluating its effects. The RELINK study is being conducted at the request of Iriscare, the bicommunal social protection OIP (Public Interests Organization) of the Brussels-Capital Region.
It is a study based on a natural experiment (i.e., all Link-Up users who agree to participate in the study will be included) and measures various indicators concerning them. The measured indicators primarily concern risky consumption practices (injection, consumption in public spaces, reuse and/or sharing of consumption equipment, and other practices that endanger the health of people who use drugs). As secondary effects, the measures concern the sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the user population, drug-use profiles, level of social integration, quality of life, level of personal recovery, and care needs.
The analysis of these various indicators will make it possible to describe the profile of Link-up SCS users and to compare it with that of GATE users. In addition, the study design allows for an extension to conduct a cohort follow-up and, therefore, to measure changes associated with the use of the SCS service.
The current study aims for a sample of at least 250 people recruited within the service. Indicator measurement is carried out using a questionnaire administered with the assistance of the research team and supported by SCS staff. The questionnaire consists of various scales validated in the scientific literature and already used in the REVE-DROOM study.
Given the similarity of the proposed Link-Up system with the one implemented at GATE, the results of the two Brussels SCSs will be the subject of a comparative analysis.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| DCR users | Experimental | Other: Self-reported questionnaire to monitor the consumption behaviors and sociodemographic characteristicsThere is only one arm in this study and it gathers DCR users who are going to be followed up. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- user of the DCR Link-Up in Bruxelles
- agree to participate
- sufficient command of either French or Dutch
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Refusal to participate
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Self-reported questionnaire to monitor the consumption behaviors and sociodemographic characteristicsParticipants will complete a unique questionnaire covering different aspects: * risky consumption practices: injection, consumption in public spaces, reuse and/or sharing of consumption equipment, and other practices that endanger the health of people who use drugs * sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics * drug-use profiles * level of social integration * quality of life * level of personal recovery * care needs | Other | DCR users |
Primary outcome
Risky consumption behaviours
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 6 months
The questionnaire concerns different aspects of consumption behaviors (consumption mode, in public spaces, reuse and/or sharing of consumption equipment,...) and also sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the user population, level of social integration, quality of life, level of personal recovery, and care needs
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Substance Use (Drugs, Alcohol)
Recruiting
The Trans-Led Care Study
Substance Abuse, Substance Addiction
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) for SUD
Substance Use Disorder (SUD), Opioid Use Disorder
Not yet recruiting
VR Mindfulness for People With HIV and Substance Use
HIV, Substance Use (Drugs, Alcohol)
Active, not recruitingPhase 2
Evaluating Cannabidiol as a Novel Anticraving Medication for Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol Use Disorder
Recruiting
Developing a Novel Human Laboratory Paradigm for AUD Medication Screening
Alcohol Use Disorder
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Self-reported questionnaire to monitor the consumption behaviors and sociodemographic characteristics in people with Substance Use (Drugs, Alcohol), run by Université Catholique de Louvain.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Risky consumption behaviours (time frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Mar 2026.