Risk Awareness Training for Alcoholism

Overseen By Study Coordinator

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Mark Fillmore

Disqualifiers: Physical disease, Psychiatric disease, Pregnancy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

120 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study aims to test the efficacy of experiential-based training to increase DUI offenders' perceptions or risk associated with alcohol use.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Risk Awareness Training for Alcoholism?

Research shows that training people to estimate their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can make them more cautious about their behavior while drinking, which may help in reducing alcohol-related risks. Additionally, providing information to help drinkers know their BAC limits has potential importance for preventing driving under the influence. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Risk Awareness Training for Alcoholism safe for humans?

The research does not provide specific safety data for Risk Awareness Training for Alcoholism, but it suggests that training to estimate blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is generally used to help moderate drinkers avoid excessive alcohol consumption and improve awareness of impairment, which may imply a focus on safety. ^{3 5 6 7 8}

How is the Risk Awareness Training for Alcoholism treatment different from other treatments?

This treatment is unique because it focuses on training individuals to accurately estimate their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and recognize their level of impairment, which can help prevent excessive drinking and related negative consequences. Unlike other treatments that may focus on abstinence or medication, this approach uses experiential learning and feedback to enhance self-awareness and decision-making during drinking episodes. ^{2 5 7 8 9}

Research Team

Mark Fillmore, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Kentucky

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals who drive on a weekly basis and have had a valid driver's license for at least five years. It specifically targets DUI offenders to help them understand the risks of alcohol use. Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, those with substance use disorders (excluding nicotine or caffeine), or with physical or psychiatric diseases cannot participate.

Inclusion Criteria

I have had a valid driver's license for at least 5 years.

I drive on a weekly basis.

Exclusion Criteria

Breastfeeding

I have a history of physical or mental health conditions.

Pregnancy

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Pre-training Assessment

Participants undergo a pre-training assessment of their responses to a controlled dose of alcohol versus a placebo on key indicators of risk awareness

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Training

Participants attend two training sessions where they receive a controlled alcohol dose and structured feedback to appraise the impairing effects of alcohol and estimate BAC

2 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

Post-training Assessment

Participants are re-tested on the indicators of risk awareness in response to alcohol at 1-week and 3-months post-training

3 months

2 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants' alcohol consumption and cravings are monitored monthly to evaluate training efficacy

3 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) discrimination training
• Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) discrimination training for controls
• Performance feedback training

Trial Overview The study is testing two types of training: performance feedback training and blood alcohol concentration discrimination training. The goal is to see if these methods can improve DUI offenders' awareness of the risks associated with drinking and driving.

Participant Groups

Group I: Intoxicated risk awareness training session Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants will complete an intoxicated risk awareness training session in which they receive a controlled alcohol dose with structured feedback and training to accurately appraise the impairing effects of alcohol and estimate their blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

Group II: Alcohol exposure only Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants assigned to the alcohol-exposure-only condition undergo the same alcohol dose exposures over the session but receive a general body scan and do not receive feedback concerning BAC or performance.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mark Fillmore

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3

Recruited

250+

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Collaborator

Trials

865

Recruited

1,091,000+

Findings from Research

In a study involving 99 bar patrons, participants struggled to accurately estimate their blood alcohol level (BAL), often overestimating their level of intoxication, highlighting a common issue among social drinkers.

Factors such as the drinking environment and the individual's drinking experience influenced their ability to estimate intoxication, with males showing poorer estimation skills compared to females.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Experience with alcohol and ability to discriminate legal intoxication status: a field study. Williams, JG.[2019]

Social drinkers trained to recognize their blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) were more likely to predict their performance impairment while drinking compared to untrained individuals.

Despite their heightened awareness of potential impairment, the actual performance on coding tasks did not differ between the trained and untrained groups, suggesting that training may increase caution without affecting task performance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-evaluation of performance and the ability to discriminate blood alcohol concentrations. Vogel-Sprott, M.[2019]

Providing warnings about the risks of drunk driving significantly lowered blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) among participants who planned to drive home, indicating that awareness of risks can effectively reduce drinking behavior.

The 'Know Your Limit' (KYL) BAC estimation cards did not reduce BACs and may have even undermined the effectiveness of the warnings, suggesting that this method is not a reliable tool for preventing drinking and driving.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of providing drinkers with "know your limit" information on drinking and driving: a field experiment. Johnson, MB., Clapp, JD.[2021]

Alcohol counselors did not consistently outperform mental health counselors in recognizing intoxication levels, indicating that specialized training may not guarantee better recognition of alcohol impairment.

Both less-experienced and more-experienced alcohol counselors struggled to accurately estimate blood alcohol levels, although they were able to identify moderate intoxication at higher levels (BAL of .15%).

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Recognition of intoxication by alcohol counselors. Carroll, N., Rosenberg, H., Funke, S.[2019]

A study involving 225 college students found that underestimating one's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was linked to a higher likelihood of experiencing negative consequences related to alcohol consumption.

The results suggest that improving education about BAC could help reduce alcohol-related harms among college students, as underestimation was a significant predictor of negative outcomes beyond just the amount of alcohol consumed.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Underestimations of blood alcohol concentration predict event-specific negative consequences. Grant, SP., LaBrie, JW., Hummer, JF., et al.[2015]

Despite receiving feedback about their blood alcohol level (BAL), 83% of college-aged patrons who were legally intoxicated still chose to drive after leaving a drinking establishment, highlighting a concerning disregard for safety.

The study found a strong correlation (0.82) between self-reported alcohol consumption and Breathalyzer measurements, indicating that individuals were generally accurate in estimating their BAL based on their drinking habits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of feedback on legally intoxicated drivers. Meier, SE., Brigham, TA., Handel, G.[2019]

A study involving 33 adults showed that providing feedback on blood alcohol concentration (BAC) significantly improved participants' accuracy in estimating their BAC after consuming alcohol.

Mindfulness training combined with BAC feedback further enhanced this accuracy, suggesting that awareness of bodily cues related to intoxication can be beneficial in understanding one's level of impairment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Use of mindfulness training to improve BAC self-estimation during a drinking episode. Kelly, AR., Fillmore, MT.[2023]

BAC estimation training helps moderate drinkers learn to recognize their blood alcohol concentration levels, which can prevent excessive drinking and reduce the risk of drunk driving.

While dependent drinkers struggle with BAC estimation due to high tolerance, moderate drinkers benefit from this training, making it a valuable tool in drunk driving prevention programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-estimation of blood alcohol concentration: a review. Aston, ER., Liguori, A.[2021]

BrAC estimation training significantly improved the accuracy of breath alcohol concentration estimates among social drinkers with a recent binge history, indicating its effectiveness in a controlled laboratory setting.

Despite the training's success in improving estimation accuracy, it did not lead to significant changes in actual alcohol consumption or risky behaviors in real-world situations, suggesting limitations in its practical application.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Breath alcohol estimation training: behavioral effects and predictors of success. Aston, ER., Neiberg, RH., Liguori, A.[2021]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Experience with alcohol and ability to discriminate legal intoxication status: a field study. [2019]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-evaluation of performance and the ability to discriminate blood alcohol concentrations. [2019]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of providing drinkers with "know your limit" information on drinking and driving: a field experiment. [2021]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Recognition of intoxication by alcohol counselors. [2019]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Underestimations of blood alcohol concentration predict event-specific negative consequences. [2015]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of feedback on legally intoxicated drivers. [2019]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Use of mindfulness training to improve BAC self-estimation during a drinking episode. [2023]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-estimation of blood alcohol concentration: a review. [2021]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Breath alcohol estimation training: behavioral effects and predictors of success. [2021]