Back to the basics and fast forward to multiculturalism.

Abstract

Objective: This article reviews and comments on the contributions to the special issue, Brief Alcohol Interventions for Young Adults: Strengthening Effects and Disentangling Mechanisms to Build Personalized Interventions for Widespread Uptake, and proposes next steps to strengthen effects and promote widespread uptake. Method: The articles of the special issue were reviewed simultaneously through the lenses of addiction and multicultural sciences to provide further insight into subsequent research that may help to advance the field. Results: The needs of early adults seem to have changed significantly in 30 years. Although significant advances have occurred, many important research questions remain unanswered and many subpopulations continue to be understudied. Common themes discussed in this article emerged from the special issue for potentially improving effects and promoting greater uptake of efficacious interventions. Conclusion:Researchers must pivot to advance understandings concerning early adult substance use interventions among minoritized populations and in the context of intersectionality in order to promote broader uptake. Multicultural psychology may offer novel conceptualizations that would help to diversify early adult interventions as well as help to address gaps in understanding the intervention needs of minoritized early adults. Public Health Significance StatementThis commentary advances public health significance by challenging researchers to use culturally inclusive methods from multicultural psychology to diversify study samples and study methods that will advance understanding of substance use interventions for all early adult demographic and identity groups, including those traditionally understudied and underserved.