HIV and Alcohol Research Center Focused on Polypharmacy (HARP) Pilot 1

HIV and Alcohol Research Center Focused on Polypharmacy (HARP) Pilot 1

This pilot intervention will consist of a brief intervention for patients with HIV who take 5 or more medications and currently (within the past month) consume alcohol. The focus of this pilot will be on bothersome symptoms and the impact of alcohol use and medications on these symptoms. The rationale is that any alcohol use may interact with medications in serious ways leading to adverse outcomes, including bothersome symptoms.

Additional outcomes were added at results entry.

Inclusion Criteria:

• participants in both Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) and Medications, Alcohol, and Substance use in HIV (MASH) studies
• prescribed 5 or more medications AND who either have a positive PEth value (8+) or a self-reported AUDIT-C value consistent with current alcohol use (score >0)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnosis in the past 12 months or who test positive for AUD on the Alcohol Symptom Checklist for moderate or severe AUD (score of 4 or more)