development and effectiveness of an alcohol intervention program for adults under probation

Conditions: Alcohol Use Disorder; Problem Drinking; Psychosocial Intervention

Summary: the aim of this study is to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of an alcohol-specific intervention program for adult individuals on probation who have problems related to alcohol use. the study was designed as a single-blind randomized controlled trial and was conducted at the izmir probation directorate with a total of 115 participants, 58 in the intervention group and 57 in the control group. when comparing the results between the intervention and control groups, the alcohol intervention program-which consisted of six structured sessions-was found to be effective in reducing participants' alcohol consumption and related problems, while also increasing their motivation for change. this research is significant as it represents the first intervention program developed specifically for alcohol use within the probation system. while existing interventions in both turkey and abroad often focus on individuals who use illicit substances, alcohol-related problems are frequently overlooked. the results of this study aim to meet that systemic need. the alcohol intervention program developed here can be integrated into routine practices within the scope of educational improvement programs in the probation system.

this study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a structured alcohol intervention program (aip) for adults under probation who experience alcohol-related problems. the research was designed as a single-blind randomized controlled trial and was conducted at the izmir probation directorate in turkey between june and november 2023. a total of 115 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 58) and a control group (n = 57). the intervention group received a structured program consisting of six bi-weekly sessions based on motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioral strategies. no intervention program was administered to the control group. standardized self-report tools, including the alcohol use disorders identification test (audit), the michigan alcoholism screening test (mast), and the stages of change readiness and treatment eagerness scale (socrates), were administered as pre- and post-tests. statistical analysis included paired-samples t-tests, independent-samples t-tests, anova, chi-square, and regression analysis. the results showed that participants in the intervention group demonstrated a significant reduction in alcohol use and related problems, as well as a significant increase in motivation to change, compared to the control group. the study demonstrates that the aip is effective in supporting rehabilitation within the probation system and highlights the need for structured, alcohol-specific programs in this context. this research is significant in that it represents the first intervention program developed specifically for alcohol use within the probation system in turkey. the findings suggest that the program can be integrated into existing probation practices and adapted to other contexts with similar needs. this study helps fill an important gap in the system and provides a foundation for future large-scale implementation research.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * being over 18 years of age * willingness to participate in the study (providing informed consent) * being literate * being under probation supervision and experiencing problems related to alcohol use, such as: * problematic alcohol consumption * endangering traffic safety due to alcohol use * committing an offense under the influence of alcohol exclusion criteria: * having a psychotic disorder * use of any psychoactive or addictive substances other than alcohol * currently receiving treatment for alcohol-related problems voluntarily and outside the scope of probation supervision

Keywords: alcohol use alcohol intervention criminal justice system probation psychosocial intervention randomized controlled trial