Reducing Alcohol Use with a telehealth couples approach for sexual and gender minority couples living with HIV
Official title: Reducing Alcohol Consumption for Health Together: Pilot testing a brief couples intervention via telehealth
Funded at Brown University · NIH-11241818 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A telehealth program tests a short couples-based approach to help sexual and gender minority couples, where one partner has HIV, reduce unhealthy drinking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | June 16, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $283,325 |
| NIH project number | 1R34AA032417-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11241818 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) who identify as sexual and gender minorities, where at least one partner is living with HIV, and who are open to remote, couples-based intervention.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to or interest in telehealth or couples-based approaches for alcohol reduction may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project adapts a proven couples-based alcohol reduction program to meet the needs of sexual and gender minority couples affected by HIV care. It builds on prior work showing that partner influence can support drinking reduction and uses videoconferencing to deliver three sessions with flexible goals. The study will pilot the adapted intervention to see if it is feasible, acceptable, and capable of shifting alcohol-use patterns and relationship mechanisms of change. Community input from a diverse advisory board will guide content to address unique stressors and safety needs of this population. Findings will inform larger trials and potential improvements in health and HIV care outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help reduce unhealthy drinking and improve health and well-being for sexual and gender minority couples affected by HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work in heterosexual couples showed feasibility and meaningful changes in alcohol use and relationship processes, guiding this adaptation.
Where this research is happening
-
Brown University
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kahler, Christopher W. — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Kahler, Christopher W.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Nicotine's effect on drinking sweetened alcoholic drinks
This project looks at whether nicotine makes people drink more sweetened alcoholic drinks, especially among people who smoke or drink heavily.
-
Discounted rideshares, alcohol use, and driving behavior
This trial gives some adults discounted rideshare trips to find out whether easier access to rides changes how often they drive after drinking, how much they drink, and how they get around.
-
Alcohol use patterns around the legal drinking age in young adults
This project follows 20-year-olds as they approach and reach legal drinking age to learn how drinking contexts and consequences change over time.
-
Technology-based tools to boost HIV viral suppression for people who drink alcohol in Florida
A Florida team is testing digital tools and an alcohol biosensor to help people with HIV who drink reduce alcohol use and achieve better HIV control.
-
Tracking how stress affects brain dynamics and drinking behavior
A study at Yale will use brain imaging and computer models to see how stress-related brain activity relates to risky drinking in adults.
-
ASPIRE to Change: text-message peer support to reduce risky drinking among non-college young adults
A texting program called ASPIRE helps non-college young adults, aged 18–25, cut back on hazardous drinking by using peer support and environmental tips.
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.