Career Training in Emerging Adult Treatment Research

描述（由申请人提供）：虽然新兴的成年人（EA，18-25岁）约占所有公共资助的治疗事件的五分之一，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%的酒精使用障碍（AUD）新兴成年人在大学。改变社交网络的治疗可能对新生的成年人特别有希望，因为在这个发育时期，没有酒精和毒品的社交机会可能特别稀缺。为了解决这些问题，史密斯博士将开发和试点测试同侪增强社区强化方法（PE-CRA）干预，其中接受公共资助的AUD治疗的新兴成年人的亲密朋友将参加治疗会议。该申请要求提供资金，为经验丰富的临床医生Smith博士提供所需的指导，以开发和研究拟议的PE-CRA干预措施的有效性。史密斯博士将接受两位高级卫生服务研究人员迈克尔·丹尼斯博士（主要）和马克·戈德利博士（共同导师）的指导，他们的重点是卫生服务研究高级数据分析技能的知识增益（即，倾向评分匹配、处理缺失数据的方法、调节剂和中介物的分析）、临床研究设计和研究实施、关于EA发展时期的知识。来自K23机制的支持将使史密斯博士从教学职责中解脱出来，并使他能够将75%的精力投入到这一研究领域。他另外25%的努力将致力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。 公共卫生相关性：由于酒精使用障碍（AUD）的患病率在成年期达到峰值，因此针对这一人群的特定需求制定的发育适当的治疗方法可能具有很高的公共卫生相关性。该提案研究了在公共资助的环境中接受治疗的新兴成年人的治疗方法，这是一个庞大且未得到充分研究的人群。

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.