UCLA

Background and objectives

The study examined the effects of an alcohol challenge on naturalistic drinking among alcohol-dependent individuals and explored brief motivational interviewing (MI) as a potential intervention for these participants.

Method

Alcohol-dependent individuals (n = 32, eight females) completed the intake assessment, alcohol challenge, one MI session, and 1-month follow-up (87.5% retention) where they completed measures of drinking and motivation for change.

Results

As expected, multilevel mixed models revealed that drinking did not increase post-alcohol challenge. Participants reported a reduction in ambivalence, drinking days, and a trend towards fewer total drinks between the MI and 1-month follow-up.

Conclusions

Consistent with other studies, the alcohol challenge did not worsen alcohol use. Results support further investigation of brief MI for alcohol-dependent participants in alcohol challenges.

Scientific significance

Alcohol administration to alcohol-dependent participants appears to not exacerbate naturalistic drinking. MI may be a feasible intervention for non-treatment seeking alcohol-dependent participants in alcohol challenge studies.