Helping Black men cut back on drinking through barbershop support
Reducing Alcohol Use among Black Men: Barbershop SBIRT
This project brings alcohol screening, brief counseling, and referrals to treatment into barbershops to help Black men reduce unhealthy drinking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11137720 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be offered a short alcohol screening during a visit to a participating barbershop, followed by a brief, friendly conversation about cutting back and options for help. Barbershop staff and health workers will be trained to deliver the screening and brief intervention and to connect men with treatment when needed. The project tests this approach in Arkansas communities, including rural areas, while also studying how to make it practical and sustainable in real-world settings. Researchers will track drinking patterns and connections to care over time to see what works best.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Black adult men—especially those who live in Arkansas or nearby rural communities and who drink heavily or binge drink—who visit participating barbershops are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who do not drink, who already receive specialized alcohol treatment elsewhere, or who do not visit participating barbershops or prefer other settings may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make it easier for Black men in rural areas to get early help for harmful drinking and reduce long-term health risks.
How similar studies have performed: SBIRT has been effective in clinical settings and barbershop-based health programs have improved outcomes for other conditions, but delivering SBIRT for alcohol in barbershops for Black men is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Little Rock, United States
- Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis — Little Rock, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haynes, Tiffany Francine — Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
- Study coordinator: Haynes, Tiffany Francine
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.