Combat Stress and Substance Use Intervention

The objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of two Web-based brief interventions (BIs) for reducing stress and substance use among post-deployment active duty and National Guard military personnel. The interventions are designed to (1) educate personnel about the use of substances as a poor coping mechanism for combat and operational stress reactions (COSRs) and (2) boost resilience to COSRs, thereby reducing the tendency to self-medicate through substance use. These data are vital to understanding additional steps the military might take in addressing issues of behavioral health, such as developing new, more broadly focused treatment interventions, and starting additional prevention approaches and programs. Volunteers will complete a brief Web assessment for alcohol use and current stress reactions. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three intervention conditions: Wait-list control, Stress BI, or Stress plus Substance Use BI. A Web-based intervention provides a private and convenient approach and should facilitate access to care by reducing the stigma and common barriers associated with seeking treatment.
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