Self Management and Recovery Training (SMART) Recovery Study (SMART)

This study identifies whether and how online support groups may work to confer therapeutic benefits onto its participants.

Online support groups (e.g., SMART Recovery) are an increasingly common non-professional intervention for people who engage in problematic alcohol use, but it is unclear how they help participants reduce their use. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether alcohol use decreases more after attending online SMART Recovery psychoeducational support group meetings, as compared to receiving psychoeducational content alone. The secondary objectives are to identify whether variables such as quality of life and recovery capital (i.e., resources to support recovery from addiction) relate to treatment outcomes.

Participants receive a weekly email with a Qualtrics survey link containing psychoeducational content.

Support Group condition, meetings will be held online via HIPAA-compliant Zoom and run by a trained SMART Recovery meeting facilitator

Participants receive a weekly email with a Qualtrics survey link containing psychoeducational content.

Timeline Follow-back (TLFB) will be used via survey to characterize changes in alcohol and other drug use for study participants. Percent Drinking Days will be derived from self-report on TLFB.

Timeline Follow-back (TLFB) will be used via survey to characterize changes in alcohol and other drug use for study participants. Percent Heavy Drinking Days will be derived from self-report on TLFB.

Quality of life will be assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF via survey; a 26-item self-report measure of quality of life in four domains. Scores range from 1-5. Each domain score is averaged. Higher scores indicate higher quality of life. .

Recovery capital will be assessed using the Assessment of Recovery Capital via survey; A 50-item self-report measure of recovery capital with ten domains; each item is rated in binary, score ranges from 0-50; higher scores indicate higher recovery capital.

Inclusion Criteria: Is fluent in English and have a 6th grade reading level or higher AUDIT score of ≥8 Has some desire to cut down or quit their alcohol use Has access to a phone or computer with reliable internet connection, a functional microphone and camera Is willing to consent to being audio and video recorded during the meetings Exclusion Criteria: Is not able to commit to the 6 weeks of intervention and the one- and three-month follow-up. Has vulnerable population status (e.g., pregnant people, prisoners)