Evaluating Caregiver Involvement in Primary Care-Based Brief Interventions for Adolescent Alcohol Use Problems

Intervention for mild severity alcohol use among U.S. teens is crucial, as alcohol is the most commonly used substance in this age group, yet few receive the necessary interventions. Primary care, where over 90% of youth regularly visit, is an ideal setting for identifying and addressing mild alcohol use disorder (AUD) through brief interventions like motivational interviewing (MI) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). However, for teens with mild AUD, a single brief session may not be sufficient, raising questions about the role of caregiver involvement. This study seeks to determine the most effective level of caregiver involvement-no involvement, a single live session, or an online self-paced program-in reducing alcohol use or other substance use among adolescents with mild AUD/SUD in primary care/adolescent clinic settings. The study also explores the impact of these interventions on other outcomes such as substance use, psychosocial functioning, behavioral health services engagement, as well as the factors influencing treatment response. The results will guide the selection and implementation of effective, scalable interventions in primary care to address youth alcohol use and other substance use disorders.

Inclusion Criteria: * 12-18 years old; * Mild to moderate severity for substance use (based on screeners such as AUDIT, CUDIT, BSTAD, KCAT SUD, S2BI, CRAFFT, etc.) * English language fluency Exclusion Criteria: * N/A