Mentorship for Alcohol Problems (MAP): a peer to peer modular intervention for outpatients

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Behavioral Health Interventions
• Community Psychiatry

Background:

• Alcohol-use disorders (AUD) represent a significant public health challenge.
• Community treatment programs require innovative interventions to support recovery.
• Mentorship models show potential in various health behavior change contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and pilot a novel mentorship intervention, Mentorship for Alcohol Problems (MAP).
• To assess the feasibility and acceptability of MAP in community treatment settings for individuals with AUD.
• To evaluate preliminary outcomes related to alcohol and substance use reduction.

Main Methods:

• A Stage I open pilot study involving 10 mentors and 30 mentees over 6 months.
• MAP intervention delivered to mentees for 12 weeks.
• Data collection included behavioral and biological measures, fidelity assessments, focus groups, and clinician feedback surveys.

Main Results:

• Feasibility and acceptance data were promising, indicating patient interest, safety, and satisfaction.
• Mentees demonstrated reductions in alcohol and substance use.
• A majority of mentors maintained abstinence, and treatment fidelity was high.

Conclusions:

• MAP is a promising intervention for integration into outpatient alcohol treatment programs.
• The intervention shows potential to aid in reducing alcohol and substance use among individuals with AUD.
• Further research is warranted to confirm efficacy in larger trials.