Strategies for Preventing Alcoholism

Overseen By ANDREW SUBICA, Ph.D.

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, Riverside

Must not be taking: Alcohol treatment medications

Disqualifiers: Non-Pacific Islander, Outside community, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 30 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a program called SPEAR (Strategies for Pacific Empowerment and Alcohol Reduction), designed to prevent alcohol use disorders (AUD) and related harms specifically for young Pacific Islander adults. The researchers aim to determine if SPEAR can effectively reduce drinking and prevent alcohol-related problems. Participants will either receive the SPEAR intervention or join a control group for comparison. Ideal candidates are Pacific Islander young adults who currently drink alcohol and are at high risk for AUD but are not in any alcohol treatment programs. As an unphased trial, participants can contribute to innovative research that may lead to new prevention strategies for alcohol use disorders.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, you cannot be currently in alcohol treatment, which includes medication or therapy for alcohol use.

What prior data suggests that the SPEAR intervention is safe for preventing alcohol use disorders?

Research has shown that the SPEAR (Strategies for Pacific Empowerment and Alcohol Reduction) program is generally well-received by participants. While specific information on negative effects is lacking, the program reportedly has manageable side effects, particularly for those addressing alcohol issues. This suggests the treatment is unlikely to cause major discomfort or harm. The program aims to prevent alcohol problems in young Pacific Islanders, and its cultural focus may help participants feel comfortable and engaged throughout. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the SPEAR program because it offers a culturally tailored approach specifically designed for Pacific Islander young adults. Unlike standard treatments for alcoholism, which often include medication and generic behavioral therapies, SPEAR focuses on empowering this unique community by incorporating cultural values and practices into its strategy. This personalized method not only addresses alcohol use disorders but also aims to reduce alcohol-related harms by fostering a sense of community and empowerment, which could lead to more effective and sustainable outcomes.

What evidence suggests that the SPEAR intervention is effective for preventing alcohol use disorders?

Research has shown that treatment programs like SPEAR, designed specifically for Pacific Islander young adults, can help prevent alcohol use disorders (AUD). SPEAR, which participants in this trial may receive, addresses cultural and community needs, enhancing the treatment's relevance and effectiveness. Early results suggest that programs involving culture and community can reduce alcohol-related problems. A study with focus groups highlighted the unique challenges Pacific Islanders face, supporting the need for specialized programs like SPEAR. Although more research is needed, early signs indicate that SPEAR could be a promising way to prevent AUD in this community. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

ANDREW SUBICA

Principal Investigator

UC Riverside

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Pacific Islander young adults who are at risk of developing alcohol use disorders or experiencing alcohol-related harms. Specific eligibility criteria have not been provided, but typically participants would need to meet certain age and health requirements.

Inclusion Criteria

Of full or part self-reported Pacific Islander heritage

Fluent in English (oral and reading)

Current drinking (1+ drink in past 30 days)

Exclusion Criteria

Do not meet inclusion criteria

Fail to provide or retracts consent

Reside outside the target Pacific Islander communities

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive the SPEAR intervention to reduce alcohol use disorders and related harms

30 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• SPEAR (Strategies for Pacific Empowerment and Alcohol Reduction)

Trial Overview The study is testing the SPEAR program, aimed at preventing alcohol misuse among Pacific Islander young adults. It involves refining a manual and then evaluating its effectiveness through a pretest-posttest randomized controlled trial.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: SPEAR Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This arm will consist of the SPEAR (Strategies for Pacific Empowerment and Alcohol Reduction) behavioral group intervention to reduce AUDs and alcohol-related harms in Pacific Islander young adults.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

This control group arm will be compared to the SPEAR intervention.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, Riverside

Lead Sponsor

Trials

33

Recruited

14,400+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A new culturally tailored substance abuse treatment program on Molokai, Hawaii, targets root causes of substance abuse such as low self-esteem and lack of identity, using activities like cultural events and counseling.

The evaluation plan developed aims to measure changes in behaviors and attitudes, laying the groundwork for assessing the program's effectiveness in addressing substance abuse in the community.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A practical framework for evaluating a culturally tailored adolescent substance abuse treatment programme in Molokai, Hawaii. Withy, KM., Lee, W., Renger, RF.[2021]

Citations

1. reporter.nih.gov reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11172262

Project Details - NIH RePORTER ... SPEAR: a culturally grounded alcohol use disorder prevention intervention for NPI young adults. Using innovative community engaged research methods, this ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-alcoholism-8-2024-10c24

Strategies for Preventing Alcoholism · Info for Participants Research suggests that culturally tailored approaches to substance abuse treatment, like SPEAR, can be effective. A study on Pacific Islander young adults ...

3. trial.medpath.com trial.medpath.com/clinical-trial/19cee190065bcbe5/nct06337721-preventing-alcohol-disorders-pacific-islander-adults

Preventing Alcohol Use Disorders and Alcohol-Related Harms ... This study will: (1) refine and finalize the SPEAR intervention manual for preventing alcohol use disorders (AUD) and associated harms for Pacific Islander ...

4. news.ucr.edu news.ucr.edu/articles/2023/09/19/grant-supports-research-extreme-risk-alcohol-abuse-among-pacific-islander-young

Grant supports research on extreme risk of alcohol abuse ... “The ultimate product of this study will be the demonstrated effectiveness of SPEAR: a culturally tailored group-based intervention to prevent ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9048749/

Alcohol Use Disorder Risk and Protective Factors ... This large qualitative study presents data from 8 focus groups with 69 PIs (51 young adults, 18 informal providers) to explore the major risk factors, ...

6. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40429-024-00544-4

Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander ... This study aimed to describe the current state of the science on Asian American (AA) and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NH/PI) substance use.

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12276704/

Alcohol reduction strategies among persons with hiv This study describes the previous strategies PWH had used, their perceived effectiveness, among people who ever drank, and the strategies PWH ...