Peer MI in FQHCs for Substance-using Emerging Adults

The main purpose of this study is to test whether a Peer-Enhanced Motivational Interviewing (PMI) intervention, which has been successful with college students, results in superior alcohol and marijuana use outcomes for emerging adults (EA), ages 18-29, who are clients of Federally-qualified Health Centers, and their peers. In the first phase of the study, seventy-five peer dyads (total n = 150, ntarget client = 75, npeer = 75) will be randomized to receive either Peer-Enhanced Motivational Interviewing (PMI), Motivational Interviewing only (MI) or Waitlist Control (WC.) In the second, expanded phase of the study, an additional 325 peer dyads (total n = 650, ntarget client = 325, npeer = 325) will be randomized to receive either Peer-Enhanced Motivational Interviewing, Motivational Interviewing only (MI) or Waitlist Control.

This project randomizes peer dyads, consisting of one Emerging Adult (EA), 18-29 years old, who both has a substance use problem and attends a Federally-qualified Health Center (i.e. target client), and one peer, to one of three conditions. In the Peer-Enhanced Motivational Interviewing (PMI) condition, target clients and peers will receive separate one-hour sessions of Motivational Interviewing (MI), an empirically-supported treatment that helps individuals work through ambivalence about making changes in substance use. MI is thought to work because it is a non-confrontational intervention where a therapist empathetically reviews substance use behaviors, listens empathetically, and reinforces any client statements indicating a desire to change. With the "peer" of each PMI dyad, the therapist presents peer with data about the extent of the target client's substance use, builds the peer's motivation to help their friend, and teaches the peer communication skills they can use to influence the target client's substance use. In the Motivational Interviewing only (MI) condition, the target client alone will receive the MI intervention with no peer participation. In the Waitlist (WC) condition, target clients and peers can receive the intervention at 2 months into the follow-up period for the PMI group.

The main purpose of this study is to test whether a Peer-Enhanced Motivational Interviewing (PMI) intervention, which has been successful with college students, results in superior alcohol and marijuana use outcomes for emerging adults (EA), ages 18-29, who are clients of Federally-qualified Health Centers, and their peers. Seventy-five peer dyads (total n = 150, ntarget client = 75, npeer = 75) will be randomized to receive either Peer-Enhanced Motivational Interviewing (PMI), Motivational Interviewing only (MI) or Waitlist Control (WC.)

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* For the Target Client

  1. Score 5 or higher on the AUDIT-C measure and/or use alcohol or marijuana 13 days or more out of the past 90 days,
  2. Have a friend that they are willing to refer to the study to be their 'peer' (support) and that peer agrees to participate,
  3. Are able to complete baseline and follow-up assessments and have a valid email,
  4. Are willing to be video recorded, and
  5. Are fluent in English
* For the Peer

  1. Have weekly contact with the participating Target Client who referred them,
  2. Are will to attend all study procedures (i.e. baseline assessment, intervention, follow up),
  3. Are willing to be video record,
  4. Are fluent in English

Exclusion Criteria:

* For the Target Client

  1. Are current students in the lead Investigator's classes,
  2. Are seeking residential treatment at the time of the screening call,
  3. Are incarcerated or court-ordered to receive treatment at the time of the screening call,
  4. Use drugs besides marijuana or alcohol over 45 of the past 90 days.
* For the Peer

  1. Are current students in the lead Investigator's classes,
  2. Are seeking residential treatment at the time of the screening call,
  3. Are incarcerated or court-ordered to receive treatment at the time of the screening call,
  4. Use drugs besides marijuana or alcohol over 45 of the past 90 days,
  5. Are romantic partners of the Target Client