Fostering self-change among problem drinkers: A proactive community intervention

Abstract This paper describes the rationale and design for a recently implemented study involving a community-based intervention designed to foster self-change for individuals who otherwise would be unlikely to seek formal help or treatment for their alcohol problem. The study is based on research examining natural recovery processes with alcohol abusers and on clinical trials using a Guided Self-Change model of treatment with problem drinkers. Advertisements and mailed pamphlets are used to solicit individuals who wanted to change their drinking on their own using self-help materials. Respondents are screened and, if eligible, are randomly assigned to two conditions: Guided Self-Change (GSC) or Educational Materials Control (EMC) (projected N = 788). All subjects complete and mail in several brief assessment forms. Subjects in the GSC group receive advice and personalized feedback based on their assessment answers. Subjects in the EMC group receive educational pamphlets prepared for general medical and mental health settings. Subject characteristics and drinking-related history variables for the first 10% of the sample are presented. Subjects will be followed up at 12 months following the intervention.