Summary
This is the third stage of a three-stage, NIH-funded study to develop and test a multi-modal intervention concerning blood/breath alcohol concentration for young adults who drink heavily. The multimodal intervention will be made up of brief telehealth counseling and psychoeducation and use of three existing mobile technologies. The brief counseling/psychoeducation and mobile technologies provide personalized feedback regarding blood or breath alcohol content. The long-term goal of use of these mobile technologies will be to facilitate moderate drinking. However, the main goals of the proposed research are to learn more about feasibility of our procedures, perceived value of the technologies and ease of use from the research participants' points of view. In this third stage of the study, the investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial building on the formative research conducted in Stages 1 and 2.
Eligibility Criteria
Age Range: 18 years to 25 years
1. Be between the ages of 18-25
2. Be able to read English and complete study evaluations
3. Report at least four days with heavy episodic drinking (i.e., 4 or more drinks for women and 5 or more drinks for men) out of the prior 30 days
4. Report having consumed at least one alcoholic drink during a minimum of 12 days out of the prior 30 so that subjects will have multiple opportunities to use the moderate drinking technologies during the intervention period.
5. Meet, at minimum, DSM-5 criteria for a mild alcohol use disorder (i.e., meet at least 2 diagnostic criteria)
6. Self-report interest in using a smartphone app to help reduce drinking with a score of at least 3 on a 0-10 scale indicating at least a degree of openness to using technology to moderate drinking.
Exclusion Criteria
No subject may:
1. Have been in inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment within the past 12 months
2. Have used a smartphone application to facilitate moderate drinking more than 1 time within the past 12 months
3. Meet DSM-5 criteria for current substance use disorder with the exception of tobacco use disorder, mild or moderate alcohol use disorder or mild cannabis use disorder.
4. History of alcohol withdrawal or medically-assisted detoxification as individuals with this history will likely be in need of more intensive treatment than is offered in this study.
5. Be psychotic or otherwise severely psychiatrically disabled
6. Report a history of a medical condition that would contraindicate the consumption of alcohol (e.g., liver disease, cardiac abnormality, pancreatitis, diabetes, neurological problems, and gastrointestinal disorders).
Interventions
DEVICE
Alcohol-related mobile health technologies
BEHAVIORAL
Motivational interview and psychoeducation on blood/breath alcohol concentration
BEHAVIORAL
Lower tech facilitation
BEHAVIORAL
Higher tech facilitation
BEHAVIORAL
Alcohol Education
DEVICE
Alcohol Education Technology