Career Training in Emerging Adult Treatment Research

描述（由申请人提供）：虽然初生成人（EA， 18-25岁）约占所有公共资助治疗事件的五分之一，但我们对现有的酒精治疗是否适合发展知之甚少。我们对这个年龄段的酒精干预的大部分知识来自大学环境的研究，但根据全国药物使用和健康调查，只有53%的新出现的酒精使用障碍（AUD）的成年人在大学。改变社交网络的治疗方法对初出期的成年人来说尤其有希望，因为在这个发育阶段，没有酒精和毒品的社交机会可能特别少。为了解决这些问题，史密斯博士将开发和试点测试一种同伴增强社区强化方法（PE-CRA）干预措施，在这种干预措施中，接受公共资助的AUD治疗的新兴成年人的亲密朋友将参加治疗会议。该申请要求资金为史密斯博士（一位经验丰富的临床医生）提供所需的指导，以开发和调查拟议的PE-CRA干预的有效性。Smith博士将接受两位高级卫生服务研究人员Michael Dennis博士（主要）和Mark Godley博士（共同导师）的指导，重点关注卫生服务研究的高级数据分析技能（即倾向得分匹配，处理缺失数据的方法，调节因子和中介因子的分析），临床研究设计和研究实施，关于EA发展时期的知识。K23机制的支持将减轻史密斯博士的教学职责，并允许他将75%的精力投入到发展这一研究领域。他另外25%的努力将用于向社会工作者教授成瘾课程。预计史密斯博士将获得独立的研究资金，用于进一步的研究，以提高我们对EA介导治疗效果的特征的理解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Although emerging adults (EA, aged 18-25) account for approximately one-fifth of all publicly funded treatment episodes, we know very little about whether existing alcohol treatments are developmentally appropriate. Most of our knowledge about alcohol interventions for this age group is from studies in college settings, but according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, only 53% of emerging adults with Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) are in college. Treatments that alter social networks may be especially promising for emerging adults, because alcohol and drug-free social opportunities may be particularly scarce during this developmental period. To address these problems, Dr. Smith will develop and pilot test a Peer-Enhanced Community Reinforcement Approach (PE-CRA) intervention, in which close friends of emerging adults receiving publicly funded AUD treatments will attend therapy sessions. This application requests funds to provide the mentoring needed for Dr. Smith, an experienced clinician, to develop and investigate the efficacy of the proposed PE-CRA intervention. Dr. Smith will receive mentoring from two senior health services researchers, Drs Michael Dennis (primary) and Mark Godley (co-mentor), that focuses on knowledge gains in advanced data analytic skills for health services research (i.e., propensity score matching, methods for dealing missing data, analysis of moderators and mediators), clinical research designs and study implementation, knowledge about the EA period of development. Support from the K23 mechanism will relieve Dr. Smith from teaching duties and allow him to dedicate 75% effort toward developing this line of research. His other 25% effort will be dedicated to teaching addictions coursework to social workers. It is anticipated that Dr. Smith will secure independent research funding for further studies that improve our understanding of what characteristics of EA mediate treatment effectiveness. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: As the prevalence of alcohol use disorders (AUD) peaks in emerging adulthood, developmentally appropriate treatments tailored to the specific needs of this population could have high public health relevance. This proposal studies treatments for emerging adults presenting for treatment in publicly funded settings, which is a large and understudied population.