Career Training in Emerging Adult Treatment Research

描述(由申请人提供)：虽然新兴成人(EA，18-25岁)约占所有公共资助治疗方案的五分之一，但我们对现有酒精治疗是否适合发育知之甚少。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中的研究，但根据全国药物使用与健康调查，患有酒精使用障碍(AUD)的新兴成年人中只有53%在大学。对于初出茅庐的成年人来说，改变社交网络的治疗方法可能特别有希望，因为在这个发育时期，不喝酒和不吸毒的社交机会可能特别稀少。为了解决这些问题，史密斯博士将开发并试点测试一种同行增强的社区强化方法(PE-CRA)干预措施，在该干预措施中，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课程。这项申请申请资金，以提供史密斯博士所需的指导，他是一名经验丰富的临床医生，以开发和调查拟议的PE-CRA干预的有效性。史密斯博士将接受两位高级卫生服务研究员Michael Dennis(主要)和Mark Godley(共同导师)的指导，重点是卫生服务研究的高级数据分析技能(即倾向分数匹配、缺失数据处理方法、主持人和中介的分析)、临床研究设计和研究实施以及EA发展阶段的知识。K23机制的支持将解除史密斯博士的教学职责，使他能够将75%的精力投入到这一领域的研究中。他的另外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，以提高我们对电针的哪些特征调节治疗效果的理解。 公共卫生相关性：由于酒精使用障碍(AUD)的流行率在成年初期达到顶峰，针对这一人群的特定需求而量身定做的适合发展的治疗可能具有很高的公共卫生相关性。这项提案研究了在公共资助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群体。

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.