Brief Interventions for Alcohol and Cannabis Use
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial aims to explore new methods to assist young adults struggling with heavy drinking, frequent cannabis use, and sleep problems. Researchers are testing various combinations of short therapy sessions, known as Brief Interventions, to determine their effectiveness in reducing alcohol and marijuana use while improving sleep. Suitable candidates for this trial include individuals living in Washington State who have experienced at least two heavy drinking episodes, used cannabis four or more times in the past month, and have sleep difficulties, such as trouble falling or staying asleep. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could lead to new treatment strategies.
Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?
Previous studies have shown that the components of the BASICSSLEEP program are well-received. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), a key part of the program, effectively improves sleep without major side effects. Research shows that CBT-I can enhance sleep quality and reduce insomnia symptoms, even for those with alcohol use issues.
For the BASICS+ part of the program, research indicates it has successfully reduced alcohol-related problems in college students. Participants reported fewer negative effects from drinking. The approach is friendly and non-confrontational, making it easier for people to accept.
Overall, these treatments have been used safely in various settings and are designed to help reduce alcohol and marijuana use while improving sleep.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about these interventions because they tackle alcohol and cannabis misuse alongside sleep issues in a comprehensive manner. Unlike traditional treatments, which often focus solely on substance use or sleep separately, the BASICSSLEEP intervention combines feedback and motivational strategies with behavioral therapy for insomnia. This integrated approach not only addresses substance use but also improves sleep patterns by introducing sleep hygiene and restriction strategies. The BASICS+ intervention is distinctive because it utilizes personalized feedback and motivational interviewing to explore and resolve participants' ambivalence about behavior change, making it highly individualized. Lastly, the SLEEP intervention focuses specifically on behavioral strategies to regulate sleep, which could be more effective for those whose substance use directly affects their sleep quality. This holistic approach aims to improve overall well-being, making these interventions a promising new direction in treating comorbid substance use and sleep disorders.
What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for reducing alcohol and cannabis use and improving sleep?
Research has shown that the BASICSSLEEP program, an intervention in this trial, combines feedback from the BASICS approach with sleep strategies and holds promise. Studies have found that the BASICS method, part of the BASICS+ intervention in this trial, reduces alcohol use and related problems, even for heavy drinkers, for up to a year after the program. Additionally, Brief Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (BBTI), a component of the BASICSSLEEP intervention, improves sleep by addressing insomnia symptoms. Evidence indicates that the BASICS+ program effectively reduces substance misuse by focusing on personal reasons for change and exploring different ways to change behavior. The SLEEP program, another intervention in this trial that uses only BBTI, has demonstrated medium to large improvements in insomnia symptoms, suggesting it can help people with sleep problems.34678
Who Is on the Research Team?
Mary E Larimer, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
University of Washington
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants receive integrated interventions to reduce alcohol and cannabis use and improve sleep
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Brief Interventions to Reduce Comorbid Alcohol and Cannabis Misuse and Sleep Impairment
How Is the Trial Designed?
4
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
The BASICSSLEEP intervention will integrate BASICS feedback and the Motivational Interviewing (MI) process described in the BASICS arm with Brief Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (BBTI) content and materials. The BASICS + SLEEP intervention will be implemented in 2 sessions of 45-75 minutes and 2 telephone booster sessions. The investigators will follow BBTI procedures, including provision of a physiological rationale for insomnia and the importance of behavioral strategies to regulate sleep; introduction of sleep hygiene; discussion of factors that can impede duration and quality of sleep; introduction of sleep restriction and stimulus control strategies and negotiation of an initial sleep restriction schedule; and follow-up evaluation of success and continued refinement to achieve sleep efficiency goals. Booster contacts serve as opportunities to adjust the sleep restriction schedule, problem-solve challenges, and further build motivation.
Attention Control (AC) participants complete all assessments (survey, daily, Fitbit, BAC) yoked to participants in the 3 active interventions, and attend the Zoom training to verify identity, orient to the Fitbit \& BAC monitoring, and provide rationale and instructions for daily diaries. To better control for time and attention, AC participants attend 4 weekly Zoom check-ins (\~20 minutes) in which clinically trained staff inquire about challenges encountered in monitoring, observations from monitoring, check in on mood/functioning, and provide referrals as needed. All conditions including AC receive community referrals to address substance uses, sleep, and mental health concerns. No participant is deprived of services; service use is tracked to assist with interpreting outcomes. AC participants will be offered BASICSSLEEP after completing 18-month follow-up.
The BASICS+ condition will meet for 2 sessions of 45-75 minutes. Content depends on the degree to which participants discuss the feedback, have questions, and/or explore behavior change options. Therapists review feedback components with participants, eliciting personally relevant reasons to change as domains are explored. When the participant is ambivalent about change, therapists work with them to explore and resolve that ambivalence. The method is non-confrontational and utilizes exploration of personalized graphic feedback (i.e., frequency, quantity, and peak use alongside perceived and actual norms for alcohol/MJ use) to increase motivation for change by highlighting ways alcohol and/or marijuana use could be incongruent with goals or values. Beliefs, expectations, and motives for use are discussed as are strategies to minimize risks and consequences. Booster sessions address questions and problem-solve challenges that have arisen since the session.
The SLEEP intervention will be implemented in 2 sessions of 45-75 minutes and 2 telephone booster sessions. The investigators will follow BBTI procedures, including provision of a physiological rationale for insomnia and the importance of behavioral strategies to regulate sleep; introduction of sleep hygiene; discussion of factors that can impede duration and quality of sleep; introduction of sleep restriction and stimulus control strategies and negotiation of an initial sleep restriction schedule; and follow-up evaluation of success and continued refinement to achieve sleep efficiency goals.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of Washington
Lead Sponsor
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Collaborator
Citations
Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Alcohol and Drug Use ...
Multiple meta analyses and reviews over the past 30 years have concluded that CBT is an effective treatment across a range of substance use disorders (Carroll & ...
2.
solutions.edc.org
solutions.edc.org/sites/default/files/Preventing-Substance-Misuse-18-25-Year-Olds-Programs-and-Strategies_0_0.pdfPreventing-Substance-Misuse-18-25-Year-Olds-Programs- ...
The second session stresses alcohol skills training components using the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College. Students (BASICS) program.
Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy for ...
Three previous systematic reviews have concluded that ACT has a positive effect on treatment outcomes for substance use disorders. Specifically, ...
Substance Misuse Prevention for Young Adults
data about effectiveness of alcohol ... 4-6 Those that participated in BASICS maintained improved alcohol-related outcomes up to 4 years post-intervention.
EARLY INTERVENTION, TREATMENT, AND MANAGEMENT ...
Well-supported scientific evidence shows that substance use disorders can be effectively treated, with recurrence rates no higher than those for other chronic ...
Thirty Years of BASICS: Dissemination and Implementation ...
BASICS was designed for college students engaging in alcohol use and experiencing alcohol-related consequences who may benefit from indicated intervention to ...
Peer-led BASICS intervention to reduce alcohol ...
Participants in the intervention group also significantly reduced the (vi) number of alcohol-related consequences by 5.8 (95% CI 5.67, 5.93). In addition, they ...
BASICS/CASICS - Student Wellness Center
BASICS stands for Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students. CASICS stands for Cannabis Screening and Intervention for College Students.
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