Testing A Couple-based Program for Alcohol Risk Reduction in the National Guard

Specific Aim 1: To modify the existing, efficacious Alcohol Behavioral Couple Therapy (ABCT)
manual into a 6-session prevention protocol, called Alcohol Behavioral Couple Prevention
(ABCP) that will be developed for delivery via in-person and telehealth platforms. The goal
of the new ABCP is for individuals or family dyads to learn to work together to minimize
hazardous drinking in order to effectively address other problems often present among
returning service members.

Specific Aim 2: To field test feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a prevention protocol
using a successive cohort design. First, an in-person protocol will be tested with 4 National
Guard (NG) members and then adapt and test the protocol for 4 NG members via an analog
telehealth design. Again, the manual and accompanied materials will be revised.

Specific Aim 3: To conduct a small Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to compare 2 conditions
with 22 NG Members in each: (1) In person (ABCP_P; 11 individual, 11 dyad), and (2)
Telehealth (ABCP_T; 11 individual, 11 dyad).

Inclusion Criteria for NG member:

- Age 18 and older and a member of the MANG.

- Have a SO or trusted friend who is 18 or older

- Service member endorsed one item on the 10-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification
Test within their lifetime

Exclusion Criteria:

- unable to give consent

- Prisoners

- Principal Investigators determined the participant requires a higher level of care
(based on unstabilized psychiatric disorder, and/or high drinking or drug use
severity, and/or inability to attend to adl's and/or agitated behavior

- Service Member is unable to read or comprehend English at the 7th grade education
level