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Alcohol Intervention for Adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Project Step Up, a Treatment Development Study
Author(s) -
O'Connor Mary J.,
Quattlebaum Justin,
Castañeda Marleen,
Dipple Katrina M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/acer.13111
Subject(s) - fetal alcohol , intervention (counseling) , fetal alcohol spectrum disorder , alcohol , fetal alcohol syndrome , prenatal alcohol exposure , medicine , psychology , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , psychiatry , pregnancy , biology , biochemistry , genetics
Background Project Step Up proposed to reduce alcohol consumption and alcohol‐related negative outcomes in adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders ( FASD ). Methods The 54 participants (30 females, 24 males) were assigned to either Project Step Up Intervention ( SUI ) or Control conditions and were assessed prior to intervention, immediately following intervention, and at 3‐month follow‐up. Adolescents in the SUI condition participated in a 6‐week, 60‐minute group intervention that provided alcohol education and promoted adaptive responses to alcohol‐related social pressures. Caregivers attended concurrent but separate sessions on the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the brain and how to handle parenting challenges associated with alcohol use in teens with FASD . Results Thirty‐three percent ( n = 18) of adolescents were classified as light/moderate drinkers, and 67% ( n = 36) were abstinent/infrequent drinkers based on their lifetime drinking histories. Results revealed a significant decrease in self‐reported alcohol risk and in alcohol‐related negative behaviors (Cohen's d = 1.08 and 0.99) in light/moderate drinkers in the SUI compared to the Control group. These results were partially sustained at 3‐month follow‐up. Furthermore, adolescents in the abstinent/infrequent group exhibited no increase in alcohol‐related outcomes suggesting that the group intervention used in this study was not iatrogenic. Conclusions The success of this treatment development study provides preliminary support for effective treatment of adolescents with FASD to prevent or reduce alcohol use and its negative consequences in this high risk population.