Motivational Interventions to Reduce Alcohol Use in a Military Population

The overriding objective of this research was to reduce hazardous drinking in a military sample by implementing two motivational interventions and comparing them to a treatment-as-usual (substance abuse awareness seminar) condition. Personnel referred to the Air Force Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment (ADAPT) program as the result of an alcohol incident or who were self-referred were consented and then randomly assigned to one of three interventions: (1) group motivational interviewing (GMI), (2) individual motivational interviewing (IMI), or (3) a substance abuse awareness seminar (SAAS) group. Participants provided data regarding drinking and related problems at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months following the baseline. Analyses focused on (1) determining the effectiveness of the interventions in reducing alcohol use and alcohol-related problems, (2) testing factors that may mediate or moderate responses to the interventions, and (3) determining the cost of treatment. Results indicated that the IMI was the most effective in reducing substance use. In addition, the average implementation costs were highest for SAAS ($148 per client), followed by IMI ($84) and GMI ($70). Finally, increased heavy episodic drinking at baseline predicted a more negative outcome at 3-month follow-up.
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