The life‐enhancing alcohol‐management program: Results from a 6‐month nonrandomized controlled pilot study assessing a community based participatory research program in housing first

• Published in: Journal of community psychology Vol. 48; no. 3; pp. 763 - 776
• Main Authors: Clifasefi, Seema L., Collins, Susan E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.04.2020
• Subjects: Action research; Adult; Alcohol; Alcoholism - therapy; Community research; Community-Based Participatory Research; Female; Harm Reduction; Housing; Housing - organization & administration; Housing First; Humans; Leadership; Male; Middle Aged; Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Participatory research; Pilot Projects; Quality of Life; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers - organization & administration; alcohol; Housing First; community-based participatory research; harm reduction
• ISSN: 0090-4392; 1520-6629
• DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22291

A 2‐arm, 6‐month, nonrandomized controlled pilot trial was conducted to test the initial effectiveness of the Life Enhancing Alcohol‐management Program (LEAP) as an adjunct to Housing First (HF; e.g., permanent supportive housing) on alcohol and quality‐of‐life (QoL) outcomes. The LEAP entails resident‐driven leadership opportunities, meaningful activities, and pathways to recovery aimed at reducing alcohol‐related harm and improving QoL. Data analyses were conducted to test between‐ and within‐subjects effects of the LEAP on self‐reported alcohol and QoL outcomes among HF residents. At the 6‐month follow up, between groups analysis revealed nonsignificant findings for alcohol quantity or alcohol‐related harm (ps  >  0.06); however, LEAP participants reported significantly more engagement in meaningful activities than control participants (p  <  .001), and within‐subjects analyses indicated that high levels of LEAP programming engagement predicted significant reductions in alcohol quantity and alcohol‐related harm (ps  <  0.01). The LEAP was associated with increased engagement in meaningful activities, and greater involvement in the LEAP programming was associated with reduced alcohol use and alcohol‐related harm. Planning is underway for a future, large‐scale randomized controlled trial to establish the efficacy of this approach, its generalizability across HF programs, and potential mechanisms of action.