Testing Brief Personalized Feedback Integrating Lab-based Alcohol Cue Information

Development and Preliminary Examination of Two Brief Personalized Feedback Interventions Focused on Lab-based and EMA Alcohol Cues to Reduce Hazardous Young Adult Alcohol Use

This study aims to develop a brief intervention that uses information from a lab-based cue reactivity protocol to create personalized feedback targeting high-risk alcohol use among young adults who drink alcohol. The intervention provides feedback on individuals' drinking desire, mood, willingness to drink, and alcohol demand by comparing scores before and after viewing and smelling an alcoholic beverage in the lab session. Other psycho-educational alcohol-related content is also provided in the intervention including strategies for decreasing exposure to cues that increase drinking desires and how to cope with increased desire to drink. This brief intervention is used in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing young adults who receive the brief, online intervention to those who did not receive the brief, online intervention. Participants in both groups complete baseline, lab-based cue reactivity protocol, 2-week follow-up and 3-month follow-up.

The purpose of this study is to develop and test a brief intervention that provides personalized feedback to young adults using participants' responses from a baseline survey and from a lab-based cue reactivity protocol. The aim of the intervention is to increase young adults' awareness of how alcohol cues may affect their desire to drink, mood, willingness to drink, and alcohol demand both in relation to lab-based exposure to an alcohol beverage of their choice and also more broadly in everyday life. The intervention also aims to equip young adults with strategies for reducing exposure to factors that increase their desire to drink, how to cope with an increased desire to drink, and how to reduce potential harms from drinking.

This brief personalized feedback intervention is used in a randomized controlled trial comparing young adults who receive the intervention with those who complete the assessments and lab protocol but do not receive any personalized feedback. Online assessments include an eligibility survey, baseline assessment, and follow-up assessments occurring 2-weeks and 3-months post-intervention. Everyone has one in-person session to complete the lab-based cue reactivity protocol after the baseline assessment has been completed online. The intervention will be examined for its feasibility, acceptability, and its effects in reducing alcohol-related outcomes at the follow-up assessments.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Between ages 18-24
• Lives in Washington state
• Reports drinking at least two days per week in the last six months
• Reports at least one heavy drinking episode (4+/5+ drinks for women/men) in the past month
• Open to changing drinking behavior
• Must be willing to come to our Seattle study office for session visit
• Provide an email address and phone number for study communication

Exclusion Criteria:

• Actively seeking treatment for alcohol use
• Currently participating in another study in our research center regarding young adult drinking behavior