This is the abstract of our recently published (October 2009) manuscript that report the early (3-month follow-up) outcomes of our randomized clinical trial.

Eighty four heavy drinkers who responded to a newspaper recruitment ad were randomly assigned to receive either: a) training in a moderate drinking protocol via an Internet-based program ( www.moderatedrinking.com ) and use of the online resources of Moderation Management (MM) ( www.moderation.org ) or b) use of the online resources of MM alone. Follow-ups are being conducted at 3, 6, and 12 months. Results of the recently completed 3 month follow-up (86% follow-up) indicated both groups significantly reduced their drinking based on these variables: standard drinks per week; percent days abstinent; and mean estimated Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) per drinking day. Both groups also significantly reduced their alcohol-related problems. Relative to the control group the experimental group had better outcomes on percent days abstinent and log Drinks per Drinking Day. These short-term outcome data provide evidence for the effectiveness of both the moderate drinking web application and of the resources available online at MM in helping heavy drinkers reduce their drinking and alcohol-related problems.

(Hester, Delaney, Campbell, & Handmaker, 2009. A web application for moderation training: Initial results of a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 37(3), 266-276.)

This is the abstract of our paper that we are writing and will submit shortly. It reports the full (3, 6, and 12-month follow-ups) outcomes of our randomized clinical trial.

Eighty heavy drinkers were randomly assigned to receive either: a) training in a moderate drinking (MD) protocol via an Internet-based program ( www.moderatedrinking.com ) and use of the online resources of Moderation Management (MM) ( www.moderation.org ) or b) use of the online resources of MM alone. Follow-ups were conducted at 3, 6, and 12 months. Consumption variables were transformed because of their high levels of skewness. Of the 80 participants, 59 (73%) had outcome data at all three follow-up points. Comparing baseline measures to the average outcomes at follow-ups indicated a significant reduction in both consumption variables (percent days abstinent, log mean drinks per drinking day, and log mean BAC per drinking day) and alcohol-related problems (measured by the DrInC Recent score) in both groups.

Compared to the control group, the experimental group had better outcomes on percent days abstinent and alcohol related problems. Drinking outcomes revealed an interaction between intensity of drinking and outcomes in the two groups. Binge drinkers did not differentially benefit from the MD program while non-binge drinkers had significantly better outcomes on log Mean BAC per drinking day and a trend towards better outcomes on log mean Drinks per Drinking Day. These outcome data provide evidence for the effectiveness of both the moderate drinking web application and of the effectiveness of the resources available online at MM.