Digital program to help 18–28-year-olds cut back on risky drinking
Digital Motivational Behavioral Economic Intervention to Reduce Risky Drinking Among Community-Dwelling Emerging Adults
A mobile-friendly motivational program that pairs goal-setting with fun, substance-free activities to help young adults (18–28) in disadvantaged communities reduce heavy drinking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11170607 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you would be invited by a friend or peer and complete a short online session that combines motivational coaching with planning for substance-free activities and future goals. The program builds on brief motivational approaches and a Substance-Free Activity Session to increase future focus and encourage prosocial alternatives to drinking. About 500 young adults living in the community (not full-time college students) will be enrolled through peer referrals and randomly assigned to the digital intervention or an educational control. The study will track drinking patterns, related problems, activity engagement, and social network influences over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are community-dwelling young adults aged about 18–28 who drink heavily, are not full-time college students, and can use a smartphone or internet-based program.
Not a fit: People under 18, full-time college students (the program targets non-college emerging adults), or those with severe alcohol dependence needing medical detox are less likely to benefit from this brief digital intervention alone.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could give young adults an easy, digital way to reduce heavy drinking and increase healthier activities and goals.
How similar studies have performed: Brief motivational interventions and the Substance-Free Activity Session have reduced drinking in college samples, but this digital, peer-recruited approach for non-college young adults is newer.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scaglione, Nichole M. — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Scaglione, Nichole M.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.