Background and Aims Recent meta‐analyses of motivational interviewing (MI) for reducing risky alcohol use in young people have reported modest effects. Few studies have targeted individual patient factors to increase MI effectiveness. This study determined if MI enhanced with individualised personality‐specific coping skills training (QuikFix) was more efficacious than standard MI or an assessment feedback/information (AF/I) control among young people with alcohol‐related injuries or illnesses. Design and Setting Single‐centre, single‐blind, three‐group superiority randomized controlled trial with 1‐, 3‐, 6‐ and 12‐months follow‐ups. Telephone intervention, Brisbane, Australia. Participants A total of 398 young people (16–25 years; M age = 20.30 years, SD = 2.12; 54% female) with alcohol‐related injuries and/or illnesses were recruited from an emergency department (ED) or rest/recovery service (RRS). Measures The primary outcome was total standard (10 g ethanol) drinks in the past month (Timeline Follow back [TLFB]) at 12 months (primary time point). Secondary outcomes were total drinking days and standard drinks per drinking day (TLFB) in the past month and the frequency of alcohol‐related problems in the past 3 months (Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index). Interventions Young people were randomized to two sessions of QuikFix enhanced with individualised personality‐specific coping skills training (n = 132), two sessions of MI (n = 136) or one session of AF/I (n = 130), all delivered by telehealth. Findings QuikFix resulted in greater reductions (all P < 0.0017) in the primary outcome of total standard drinks (M = 19.50, CI 99.75% = [11.31, 27.68]) than both MI (M = 32.61, CI 99.75% = [24.82, 40.40]; Cohen's D = 0.40) and AF/I (M = 34.12, CI 99.75% = [26.59, 41.65]; D = 0.45) at 12 months (retention n = 324/398, 81%). QuikFix had greater reductions on drinking days (M = 3.16, CI 99.75% = [2.37, 3.96]) than both MI (M = 4.53, CI 99.75% = [3.57, 5.48];D = 0.38) and AF/I (M = 4.69, CI 99.75% = [3.73, 5.65];D = 0.42) and fewer drinks per drinking day (M = 5.02, CI 99.75% = [3.71, 6.33]) than AF/I (M = 7.15, CI 99.75% = [5.93, 8.38;D = 0.47) at 12 months. Conclusions Young people with alcohol‐related injuries and/or illnesses who attended ED and rest/recovery services and received an individualised personality‐specific coping skills training intervention (QuikFix) had greater reductions in the amount of alcohol consumed at 12 months compared with those who received motivational interviewing or an assessment feedback/information intervention.

Early adolescent drinking has been identified as an important risk factor for the development of alcohol dependence. Both perceived peer drinking and personality profiles have been implicated as risk factors for early adolescent drinking. However, research is yet to determine how these 2 factors may interact to increase such risk. This study aimed to determine whether personality profiles moderated the relationship between perceived peer drinking and early adolescent drinking. Baseline data were utilized in the analyses, from 3,287 adolescents (M = 13.51 years, SD = .58; 54% female; 78% born in Australia) participating in the Climate Schools Combined Study (a cluster randomized controlled trial with 75 schools located across Queensland, New South Wales, and Western Australia, Australia). Lifetime consumption of alcohol, perceived peer drinking, and personality profiles (Substance Use Risk Profile Scale) were measured. A moderated binary logistic regression found the personality profiles of impulsivity, sensation seeking, and hopelessness were positively related to early adolescent drinking, whereas anxiety sensitivity had a negative association. A significant interaction revealed that adolescents with higher levels of sensation seeking and who perceived their peers to be drinking were significantly more likely to report early adolescent drinking (consumption of a full standard drink; OR = 1.043; 95% CI [1.018-1.069]). These results indicate that perception of peer drinking is more strongly associated with early adolescent drinking, when adolescents are also high on sensation seeking. Prevention and intervention programs could consider targeting both sensation seeking and perceived peer drinking in adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record

Objective: Prospective research is needed to better-understand changes in substance use from before to during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, among emerging adults (18–25 years), a high-risk group for substance use. Method: N = 1,096 (weighted sample N = 1,080; 54% female) participants enrolled in the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, who completed prepandemic (2019; 21 years) and COVID-19 (mid-March to mid-June 2020) surveys. COVID-19-related and preexisting factors were examined as moderators of change in substance use. Results: Full sample analyses revealed decreased binge drinking (p < .001, Bayes factor [BF] = 22, Cohen’s f2 = 0.02), but no changes in alcohol and cannabis use. Stratified analyses revealed emerging adults who reported 150, f2 = 0.05) and binge drinking (p < .001, BF = 27, f2 = 0.01), but not their cannabis use. Conversely, emerging adults who reported >monthly use prepandemic decreased their binge drinking (p < .001, BF > 150, f2 = .12) and cannabis use (p < .001, BF > 150, f2 = .06), but did not change their alcohol use frequency. Several factors moderated change in substance use, including employment loss (p = .005, BF > 39, f2 = .03) and loneliness (p = .018, BF > 150, f2 = .10) during COVID-19. Conclusions: Changes in alcohol and cannabis use frequency among emerging adults in the first 3 months of COVID-19 largely differed according to prepandemic substance use, COVID-19-related factors, and preexisting factors. While some youth with preexisting vulnerabilities (e.g., more frequent substance use prepandemic) remained stable or decreased their substance use during COVID-19, emerging adults who experienced employment loss, loneliness, and financial concerns during COVID-19 increased their substance use, highlighting the need for increased supports for vulnerable populations.

Problem gambling causes significant harm to individuals and society. Financial losses from gambling in Australia exceed those anywhere else in the world. Problem gamblers are overrepresented among substance users and rural and remote Australians. Limited research exists on the impact of gambling advertising on problem gambling among those seeking substance use treatment, in rural/remote areas, and protective factors that may guard against these impacts. This study examined whether self-efficacy to control gambling moderated the relationship between the perceived impact of gambling advertising and problem gambling in people seeking treatment for substance use. Participants (N ϭ 198, 60% female) who had recently sought treatment for substance use from services in rural/remote areas of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia, completed an anonymous online survey. Problem gambling severity was measured by the Problem Gambling Severity Index, with 30% of participants showing at least moderate-risk problem gambling behaviors (12% moderate-risk gambling, 18% high-risk gambling). Moderated regression analyses found self-efficacy to control gambling significantly moderated the relationship between the perceived impacts of gambling advertising and the severity of problem gambling. At low levels of self-efficacy to control gambling, higher perceived impacts of advertising on gambling involvement and awareness were associated with higher levels of problem gambling behavior. However, at high levels of self-efficacy to control gambling, the association between problem gambling and impact of gambling advertising was weaker for involvement and not significant for awareness. Findings suggest that self-efficacy could be targeted as a treatment option to protect vulnerable groups from the effects of gambling advertising.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorders persist in the era of antiretroviral therapy (ART). One factor that is elevated among persons with HIV (PWH) and independently associated with neurocognitive impairment is methamphetamine dependence (METH+). Such dependence may further increase cognitive impairment among PWH, by delaying HIV diagnosis (and thus, ART initiation), which has been posited to account for persistent cognitive impairment among PWH, despite subsequent treatment-related viral load suppression (VLS; <50 copies of the virus per milliliter in plasma or cerebrospinal fluid). This study examined the independent and combined (additive versus synergistic) effects of HIV and history of METH+ on the sustained attention and vigilance cognitive domain, while controlling for VLS. Methods: Participants included 205 (median age=44 years; 77% males; HIV-/METH-n=67; HIV+/METH -n=49; HIV-/METH+ n=36; HIV+/METH+ n=53) individuals enrolled in the Translational Methamphetamine AIDS Research Center, who completed Conners' and the 5-Choice continuous performance tests (CPTs). Results: METH+ participants exhibited deficits in sustained attention and vigilance; however, these effects were not significant after excluding participants who had a positive urine toxicology screen for methamphetamine. Controlling for VLS, PWH did not have worse sustained attention and vigilance, but consistently displayed slower reaction times across blocks, relative to HIV-participants. There was no HIV x METH interaction on sustained attention and vigilance. Conclusions: Recent methamphetamine use among METH+ people and detectable viral loads are detrimental to sustained attention and vigilance. These findings highlight the need for prompt diagnosis of HIV and initiation of ART, and METH use interventions.