Testing A Couple-based Program for Alcohol Risk Reduction in the National Guard
Testing A Couple-based Program for Alcohol Risk Reduction in the National Guard
The purpose of this project is to develop and test indicated prevention intervention to harness support and health promoting endeavors to address use of alcohol to cope with reintegration challenges in Massachusetts National Guard (MANG) service members.
Specific Aim 1: To modify the existing, efficacious Alcohol Behavioral Couple Therapy (ABCT) manual into a 6-session prevention protocol, called Alcohol Behavioral Couple Prevention (ABCP) that will be developed for delivery via in-person and telehealth platforms. The goal of the new ABCP is for individuals or family dyads to learn to work together to minimize hazardous drinking in order to effectively address other problems often present among returning service members.
Specific Aim 2: To field test feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a prevention protocol using a successive cohort design. First, an in-person protocol will be tested with 4 National Guard (NG) members and then adapt and test the protocol for 4 NG members via an analog telehealth design. Again, the manual and accompanied materials will be revised.
Specific Aim 3: To conduct a small Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to compare 2 conditions with 22 NG Members in each: (1) In person (ABCP_P; 11 individual, 11 dyad), and (2) Telehealth (ABCP_T; 11 individual, 11 dyad).
Inclusion Criteria for NG member:
Exclusion Criteria: