The Drinking Dashboard Study

This study aims to develop and pilot test the efficacy of a "Drinking Dashboard" providing participants weekly feedback on the risk factors and consequences of blackout.

Approximately 50% of young adults who drink alcohol experience alcohol-induced "blackouts," defined as permanent (en bloc) or temporary (fragmentary) memory loss for events that occurred while they are drinking. This experience of alcohol-induced blackout is associated prospectively with alcohol-related harm, including emergency room visits and sexual coercion, with medical care costs exceeding $469,000 per year. While young adults who have recently experienced a blackout report less favorable evaluations of drinking events and increased motivation to decrease their drinking, they do not actually change their drinking behavior as a result of the blackout alone. Collectively, these data suggest that blackouts may serve as an opportunity for intervention, after which young adults are more likely to respond to alcohol feedback. This R34 aims to develop an intervention tailored to individuals who experience blackouts. In the trial phase, 162 young adults (50% female, ≥50% non-college) who report a history of blackout will be randomly assigned to receive the intervention (n=81) or assessment only (n=81). Outcomes will be assessed immediately post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up.

Measured using the 8-item Client Satisfaction Questionnaire. Scored from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction with treatment.

Measured using the Daily Drinking Questionnaire, which asks participants to indicate how many standard drinks they consumed on each day of a typical week in the past month.

Measured using the Daily Drinking Questionnaire, which asks participants to indicate the maximum number of drinks consumed on one occasion in the past month.

Measured using the 8-item Alcohol-Induced Blackout Measure-2 (ABOM-2). Items are scored from 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating more frequent blackout experiences.

Measured using the 24-item Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire (BYAACQ). Items scores yes/no, with higher scores indicating a greater number of consequences in the past month.

% of people indicating they (a) were coerced into sexual activity or (b) coerced someone else into sexual activity in the past 3 months

How likely is it that you will lose memory of drinking events as a result of alcohol use in the next 30 days? Scored on a Likert scale, with higher scores indicating more susceptibility.

If I were to have a blackout, bad things would happen. Scored on a Likert scale, with higher scores indicating more negative attitudes.

Measured using the Cunningham et al. (1997) scale of 16 benefits and 16 costs of decreasing alcohol use. Responses range 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).

Measured using the Insomnia Severity Index. Items scored 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating more severe insomnia.

Measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Scores range 1 (very slightly or not at all) to 5 (extremely), with higher scores indicating more positive/negative mood.

Inclusion Criteria: 18-30 years of age Binge drinking in a typical week Any form of alcohol-induced memory impairment in the past month at baseline Exclusion Criteria: Psychiatric disorder requiring immediate clinical attention (e.g., psychosis, suicidal ideation with intent and plan)

De-identified, individual-level data will be deposited online via the NIAAA Data Archive (NIAAADA). De-identified data, the survey protocol and instrument, and analysis code will also be made available to other qualified investigators upon request.