Efficacy Trial of Warrior Check-Up

The health and well-being of military personnel, and consequently the capacity for optimal
functioning of military units, are compromised by the abuse of alcohol and/or other drugs.
Rates of heavy drinking are higher among military personnel than in the general population
and are even higher among recently deployed personnel.

While counseling can be effective, most substance abusers do not tend to voluntarily seek
treatment. Moreover, military personnel encounter more real and perceived barriers to
seeking treatment.

The substance abuse field is increasingly focusing on developing interventions for those at
early stages of readiness to change, i.e., those contemplating but not yet committed to
change. A brief, telephone-delivered motivational enhancement intervention (MET) called a
"check-up," has shown promise in promoting self-initiated behavior change as well as
voluntary treatment entry, enhanced retention, and more successful outcomes for substance
abuse.

Adapting the "check-up" for application with military personnel is warranted for three key
reasons: (1) it has the potential of overcoming barriers to treatment-seeking, i.e., stigma
and apprehension of a negative impact on one's military career; (2) it has the potential of
attracting voluntary participation; and (3) protocols for disseminating this low cost
intervention for use with deployed military can readily be developed and evaluated.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. current abuse or dependence on one or more substances

2. not currently enrolled in a counseling program focusing on substance abuse

3. currently serving in the Army or other branch of the military.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. non-fluency in English

2. evidence of psychosis