Novel Approaches to Engaging Emerging Adults with Risky Alcohol Use and Enhancing the Efficacy of Alcohol Brief Motivational Interventions

 Dr. James G. Murphy, PhD, University of Memphis

Emerging Adults (EAs; ages 18–25) report greater alcohol use than any other age group (roughly 35% report recent heavy episodic or binge drinking) (Hingson et al., 2017), yet very few voluntarily participate in existing brief intervention programs (Helle et al., 2021). Although most young people gradually reduce their drinking without any treatment as they assume more adult responsibilities in their mid to late 20s, many show a developmentally persistent pattern of alcohol use disorder, and even those who eventually reduce their drinking experience substantial alcohol-related harm prior to “maturing out” (Liguori & Lonbaken, 2015).

Brief Motivational Interventions (BMIs) that include personalized drinking feedback delivered in a motivational interviewing style are a promising approach to reaching young people who demonstrate risk drinking in educational or healthcare settings and have demonstrated reductions in drinking across numerous clinical trials with emerging adults (Cronce et al., 2022; Tanner-Smith & Lipsey, 2015)). However, there are three key limitations to the potential public health impact of BMIs as an alcohol risk reduction approach (Murphy et al., 2022).

The ATTC Network recognizes May as Mental Health Awareness Month. We've compiled links and resources from partners and from around our network.

• Read the official proclamation from the White House. 
• Explore this resource from Mid-America ATTC - Facilitating Trauma-Informed Culture Change in Recovery-Oriented Systems: A Consultant’s Guide
  

  • • SAMHSA has included Trauma-Informed Care among its designated best practices for many reasons. Trauma-Informed Care can bring about transformation that takes place on many levels of an organization.

    • This ongoing system-wide approach that is grounded in a scientific understanding of trauma can make service relationships much safer for both clients and staff, not only in SUD treatment facilities, but in all mental health settings.

• Self-Care and Wellness for ALL - Webinar (Northeast & Caribbean ATTC)  
  • Behavioral health and healthcare settings offer a spectrum of programs including substance use, mental health, and medical and recovery services. Professionals providing these supports use an array of competencies to empathize and assist persons with substance use and other psychosocial problems. Always focused on helping others, professionals can experience challenges in practicing self-care for themselves.
  • This interactive workshop provides an opportunity for providers to review wellness practices and experience the benefits of intentional, micro-structured, self-care interventions.
• New product: Reframing Language Guide
  

  • Words are influential and have power. They can heal, or they can harm. People often identify with roles and words that help them find meaning. Compassionate, stigma-free, person-first words play a role in helping everyone on their road to improved health and functioning.

  • When we choose person-first language, we support their pursuit of healing, progress, and goals.

  • The guide was created in collaboration with the National Family Support Technical Assistance Center, the National Federation of Families, the African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities on Aging, the Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity, Severe Mental Illness Advisor, the National Alliance on Mental Health, and SAMHSA.

Using Performance Data and Quality Improvement to Enhance Project ECHO Interventions

Rising rates of deaths from opioid overdoses in the U.S. underscore the importance of expanding access to medications to treat opioid use disorder (MOUD), like methadone, buprenorphine, and naloxone.

Barriers to accessing methadone, however, disproportionately impact rural areas, where clinics can be few and far between, and naltrexone use has been limited, due to challenges with getting patients successfully started on the medication. Buprenorphine, on the other hand, has fewer barriers and can be prescribed in the kinds of general medical settings common in rural areas.

Learning Collaboratives for Quality Improvement and Implementation in Behavioral Health

Learning collaboratives are increasingly used in behavioral health to improve the quality and effectiveness of care. They generally involve bringing together teams from different organizations and using experts to educate and coach those teams in quality improvement, use of evidence-based practices, and evaluation. 

Technical assistance (TA) providers may be unclear about which components are the most important, how long a learning collaborative should last, and when a learning collaborative is the right approach in the first place.

The ATTC Network is partnering with the National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders on a free webinar from 12 to 1 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 10:

Shared Co-Factors for Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders and Eating Disorders.

• There is a strong connection between eating disorders and substance use disorders. This can be explained in part by common etiologic factors, including trauma, attachment, insecurity, and adverse childhood experiences. Nationwide, approximately 20-30% of all individuals with anorexia nervosa and 40-70% of those with bulimia and binge eating disorder have co-occurring substance use disorders. Understanding the shared factors helps reduce the stigma of these disorders and improves screening and treatment.
• This webinar addresses how SUD practitioners and treatment facilities can identify eating disorder symptoms. You learn how to provide minimal nutrition support and recognize when and at what level eating disorder-specific care is necessary. In this workshop, we also provide resources for clinicians to better diagnose and treat SUD and ED. 
• Register here. 

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