2061 Participants Needed

Parent Intervention for Binge Drinking

RR
RT
SA
Overseen BySarah Ackerman
Age: 18 - 65
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Penn State University
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

College students' alcohol use continues to be a major public health problem. Among the many consequences of this risky behavior are impaired driving and impaired passenger fatalities. Both college health administrators and parents have requested parent-based interventions (PBIs), and parents have demonstrated ample motivation to communicate with their teens. The proposed research will attempt to enhance an existing effective PBI, curb the alarming trends noted in the literature, and move the field forward by conducting a randomized controlled trial testing a modified version of the PBI that includes additional content for parents to establish clear lines of communication around the important topic of permissiveness (referred to as P-Chat).

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

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

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment PBI, P-Chat, P-Chat+ for binge drinking?

Research on similar technology-assisted parenting interventions, like Parent SMART, shows they are feasible and acceptable, with some evidence suggesting they help reduce adolescent drinking days and improve school outcomes. This suggests that engaging parents through technology can be effective in addressing substance use issues.12345

Is the Parent Intervention for Binge Drinking safe for humans?

The studies on parent-based interventions (PBIs) for reducing alcohol use in teenagers and parents suggest that these interventions are generally acceptable and feasible, with no specific safety concerns reported. However, care should be taken when discussing alcohol risk with parents in certain settings.36789

How does the Parent Intervention for Binge Drinking treatment differ from other treatments for binge drinking?

The Parent Intervention for Binge Drinking treatment is unique because it focuses on involving parents in reducing binge drinking among teenagers and young adults. It emphasizes improving parent-teen communication about alcohol and includes components like PBI, P-Chat, and P-Chat+, which are designed to encourage parents to discuss alcohol use and help their children make safer choices.67101112

Research Team

RT

Robert Turrisi, PhD

Principal Investigator

Penn State University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for parents and their college-age teens who are willing to participate together. Both must consent and complete initial assessments. It's not suitable for those outside the teen age range or if either party does not agree to join.

Inclusion Criteria

Parent and teen both consent and complete baseline (forming a dyad testing unit)

Exclusion Criteria

both parent and teen do not consent and complete baseline
I am not a teenager.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive the P-Chat intervention, PBI, or P-Chat+ intervention

15-20 minutes
1 session (virtual or in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in alcohol use and related behaviors

9 months
Assessments at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months

Long-term Follow-up

Assess the long-term effects of the interventions during the senior year of college and one year post-college

2 years
Assessments during senior year and 1-year post-college

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • PBI
  • P-Chat
  • P-Chat+
Trial Overview The study tests a parent-based intervention (PBI) aimed at reducing student drinking and its consequences, like DUIs. It compares the standard PBI with an enhanced version called P-Chat+ that includes extra communication strategies.
Participant Groups
4Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: PBIExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
The PBI is a handbook developed by the PI to guide parents in discussing underage drinking, behaviors, and consequences with their teens
Group II: P-Chat+Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
The P-Chat+ is a combination of the P-Chat and PBI described above.
Group III: P-ChatExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
The P-Chat is a brief individually delivered intervention
Group IV: ControlActive Control1 Intervention
This group will only complete assessments and will not receive any intervention.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Penn State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials
380
Recruited
131,000+

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Collaborator

Trials
2,896
Recruited
8,053,000+

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Collaborator

Trials
865
Recruited
1,091,000+

Findings from Research

The Parent SMART intervention, which combines an online parenting program with coaching and networking, was found to be acceptable and feasible for engaging parents of adolescents in residential treatment for substance-related issues.
Preliminary results suggest that adolescents in short-term residential care whose parents participated in Parent SMART had fewer days of alcohol use and fewer school problems compared to those whose parents only received traditional treatment, indicating potential effectiveness of the intervention.
Parent SMART (Substance Misuse in Adolescents in Residential Treatment): Pilot randomized trial of a technology-assisted parenting intervention.Becker, SJ., Helseth, SA., Janssen, T., et al.[2022]
The study is testing a technology-assisted intervention called Parenting Wisely+ (PW+) for parents of adolescents in residential substance use disorder treatment, aiming to improve post-discharge outcomes for these adolescents.
In a randomized pilot trial with 60 parents, the researchers will assess the feasibility and acceptability of PW+, as well as its impact on adolescent behaviors like substance use and truancy, potentially enhancing parental engagement and parenting practices that influence recovery.
Technology-assisted intervention for parents of adolescents in residential substance use treatment: protocol of an open trial and pilot randomized trial.Becker, SJ., Hernandez, L., Spirito, A., et al.[2023]
The Parent SMART intervention, which includes technology-assisted resources and telehealth coaching, aims to improve parenting skills and reduce adolescent substance use in families of adolescents undergoing residential treatment, with a total of 220 parent-adolescent dyads participating in the study.
This fully-powered randomized controlled trial will assess the effectiveness of Parent SMART compared to traditional treatment, with follow-up assessments at 6, 12, and 24 weeks post-discharge to evaluate its impact on parenting practices and adolescent behaviors.
Parent SMART (Substance Misuse in Adolescents in Residential Treatment): Protocol of a Randomized Effectiveness Trial of a Technology-Assisted Parenting Intervention.Becker, SJ., Helseth, SA., Kelly, LM., et al.[2022]

References

Parent SMART (Substance Misuse in Adolescents in Residential Treatment): Pilot randomized trial of a technology-assisted parenting intervention. [2022]
Evaluation of timing and dosage of a parent-based intervention to minimize college students' alcohol consumption. [2022]
Technology-assisted intervention for parents of adolescents in residential substance use treatment: protocol of an open trial and pilot randomized trial. [2023]
Parent SMART (Substance Misuse in Adolescents in Residential Treatment): Protocol of a Randomized Effectiveness Trial of a Technology-Assisted Parenting Intervention. [2022]
An online self-directed program combining Community Reinforcement Approach and Family Training and parenting training for concerned significant others sharing a child with a person with problematic alcohol consumption: a randomized controlled trial. [2022]
Examination of Brief Parent-Based Interventions to Reduce Drinking Outcomes on a Nationally Representative Sample of Teenagers. [2023]
A randomized trial evaluating a parent based intervention to reduce college drinking. [2021]
Promoting Alcohol Reduction in Non-Treatment Seeking parents (PAReNTS): a protocol for a pilot feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial of alcohol screening and brief interventions to reduce parental alcohol use disorders in vulnerable families. [2022]
Promoting Alcohol Reduction in Non-Treatment Seeking parents (PAReNTS): a pilot feasibility cluster randomized controlled trial of brief alcohol interventions with parents in contact with child safeguarding services. [2023]
10.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
"Let's Not Talk About It": Parents' Reasons for Not Discussing Alcohol Use With Emerging Adult Children. [2023]
Evaluating Non-response Bias in a Parent-Based College Alcohol Intervention. [2023]
12.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Feasibility and Acceptability of an Electronic Parenting Skills Intervention for Parents of Alcohol-Using Adolescent Trauma Patients. [2020]