Adaptation and Evaluation of Bright Horizons

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health100 enrolled

Overview

This study will test if a program called 'Bright Horizons' is effective at reducing binge substance use among adolescents. Bright Horizons is a culturally adapted intervention developed and tested through a partnership between The White Mountain Apache Tribe and Johns Hopkins University. Bright Horizons is a brief intervention that teaches emotion regulation, coping skills, and problem solving. The intervention also uses goal setting to reduce alcohol and other substance use and to connect to individuals with treatment.

The goal of this study is to understand how Bright Horizons impacts adolescents who have a recent binge substance use event. Participants will receive a lesson on binge substance use and answer questions at three different time points: when participants enroll in the study; 4 weeks later; and 8 weeks after that visit. Evaluation questions will ask about participants' substance use, family and peer relationships, and other emotions and behaviors. Control participants will receive the Bright Horizons intervention after enrollment of all intervention participants is complete.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

100

Conditions

Alcohol Abuse Substance Use

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 10 YearsMax age: 24 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 10-24 * Confirmed binge alcohol use event reported to the surveillance system within 90 days * Self identify as Native American * Reside on or near the Fort Apache Indian Reservation * Have parental or legal guardian consent/provide youth assent Exclusion Criteria: * Unstable and severe medical, psychiatric or drug use problems that necessitates inpatient treatment * Acute suicidal or homicidal ideation requiring immediate intervention * Recent and severe stressful life events such as physical or sexual abuse, or violent crime victimization that requires specific and high intensity interventions or out of home placement * Doesn't speak English * Severally visually impaired

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Alcohol Use as assessed by Timeline Followback

Alcohol use over the past 30 days (Timeline Followback to assess number of drinking days and number of drinks per day)

Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks post-intervention

Secondary Outcomes

Coping with Stressful Life Events as assessed by the Difficulties in emotion regulation scale

Difficulties in emotion regulation scale is a 36-item instrument that asks individuals to rate their difficulties in regulating emotions including non-acceptance of emotional responses, awareness of emotions and access to regulation strategies. Scores can range from 36 to 180, with higher scores indicating more difficulties in regulating emotions.

Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks

Impulsivity as assessed by the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale

UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale is a 45-item inventory designed to measure four personality pathways to impulsive behavior: Urgency to Act, Lack of Perseverance, Lack of Premeditation, and Sensation Seeking, each rated on a 4-point scale. Scores can range from 45 to 180, with higher scores indicating more impulsivity.