The Spanish language version of the TAPS tool: protocol for a validation and implementation study in primary care.

Background: The TAPS Tool ("Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription drug, and illicit Substance use") is a screening and brief assessment for detecting unhealthy substance use in healthcare settings that was developed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network and validated in a multisite study. Our team developed a Spanish language version of the TAPS Tool that supports provider- and self-administration screening using a mobile/web-based platform, the TAPS Electronic Spanish Platform (TAPS-ESP).

Methods: This article describes the protocol and rationale for a study to validate the TAPS-ESP in a sample of Spanish-speaking primary care patients recruited from a network of community-based clinics in Texas (target N = 1,000).

Continuing Care App for Probationers and Parolees with Substance use Disorders.

This pilot proof-of-concept study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a Continuing Care mobile application (app) designed to meet the recovery and personal support needs of individuals under justice supervision who were receiving outpatient substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. The study included adults on probation or parole who were enrolled in an outpatient SUD treatment program ( = 15; 86.7% males).

Development and Feasibility of a Spanish Language Version of the Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription Drug, and Illicit Substance Use (TAPS) Tool.

Objectives: The Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription drug, and illicit Substance use (TAPS) Tool is a validated two-stage screening and brief assessment in primary care for unhealthy substance use. We developed a Spanish language version of the TAPS Tool and conducted a small study of its feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary validity.

Methods: Participants were adult primary care patients ages 18 or older with Spanish as their primary language (N = 10 for development/refinement using qualitative congnitive interviewing; N = 100 for the preliminary validation study).

Computerizing NIAAA's Best Practices for Youth Screening and Brief Intervention: A Proof-of-Concept Pilot Study of an Automated Alcohol Screening and Intervention Resource Tool.

This article reports findings from formative research on translating key elements of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and American Academy of Pediatrics Practitioner's Guide for pediatric alcohol misuse to a computerized web- and mobile-compatible format with patient risk screening and tailored decision support content. Five practitioners at an urban primary care center used a prototype computerized version of the NIAAA/American Academy of Pediatrics Practitioner's Guide with 80 adolescent patients during routine health-care visits. Practitioners reported a high level of practitioner and adolescent patient engagement and satisfaction with the prototype.

A novel telehealth platform for alcohol use disorder treatment: preliminary evidence of reductions in drinking.

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment remains greatly underutilized. Innovative strategies are needed to improve AUD treatment access and patient engagement. The Ria Treatment Platform (RTP) is a patient-centered telemedicine AUD treatment program accessed through a smartphone application (app) that includes a package of physician visits (with AUD prescriptions as appropriate), text- and phone-based support from a recovery coach, video monitoring of medication adherence, and Bluetooth-linked breathalyzer tracking of alcohol intake.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Intensive Case Management (Project Bridge) for HIV-Infected Probationers and Parolees.

Individuals on probation and parole are disproportionately at high risk for HIV infection and experience significant barriers to accessing health care. This study was a two-group randomized controlled trial conducted at a community corrections office and was designed to link HIV positive probationers/parolees to HIV treatment in the community. HIV positive participants were assigned to one of the two treatment conditions: (1) Project Bridge (PB), an intensive case-management intervention; or (2) treatment as usual (TAU), involving standard referral to treatment.

Gender and ethnic differences in primary care patients' response to computerized vs. in-person brief intervention for illicit drug misuse.

This study is a secondary analysis from a randomized clinical trial of computerized vs. in-person brief intervention (BI) for illicit drug misuse among adult primary care patients (N=359; 45% Female; 47% Hispanic) with moderate-risk illicit drug misuse as measured by the World Health Organization's Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). This study examined differences in response to the two brief intervention strategies (both based on motivational interviewing) on the basis of gender and ethnicity, comparing non-Hispanic males, non-Hispanic females, Hispanic males, and Hispanic females.

Avatar-assisted therapy: a proof-of-concept pilot study of a novel technology-based intervention to treat substance use disorders.

Background: Avatar-assisted therapy (AAT) is a novel and emerging technology that uses the Internet to enable clinicians and clients in substance abuse treatment to participate in group counseling sessions from separate and remote locations in real time through the use of avatars and virtual environments.

Objectives: The current study is a pilot proof-of-concept feasibility study involving individuals in outpatient substance abuse treatment. This report addresses two questions: (1) are individuals who present for substance abuse treatment interested in receiving AAT and (2) what factors are associated with better treatment success.

Factors Associated With Receiving Rapid HIV Testing Among Individuals on Probation or Parole.

Despite the strong correlation between HIV and corrections, testing and prevention efforts have largely been ignored among community corrections populations. The current study is a secondary analysis to compare characteristics of individuals under community corrections supervision who completed rapid HIV testing with those who refused such testing (N = 2,382) in Baltimore, Maryland, and Providence, Rhode Island. Results indicate that the following variables were significantly associated with the receipt of rapid HIV testing: being female (p = .

The Effectiveness of an After-school Program Targeting Urban African American Youth.

The present study reports on the effectiveness at one-year follow-up of an after-school prevention program targeting 6(th) grade African American youth residing in high-risk urban areas. The program, conducted on-site over the school-year period, involved a group mentoring approach emphasizing remedial education and an appreciation of African American cultural heritage in promoting school bonding, social skills development, and greater academic achievement. Behavioral and adjustment outcome data were obtained from two participating middle-school sites (intervention and comparison, involving 237 and 241 students, respectively) serving essentially equivalent urban communities.

A Preventive Intervention Program for Urban African American Youth Attending an Alternative Education Program: Background, Implementation, and Feasibility.

This paper presents background, implementation, and feasibility findings associated with planning and conducting an after-school intervention program in an alternative education setting designed to prevent the initiation and escalation of violence and substance abuse among urban African American youth at high risk for life-long problem behaviors. Evolving from earlier preventive interventions implemented in clinic and school settings, the program, entitled The Village Model of Care, consisted of structured group mentoring, parental support, and community outreach services administered to alternative education students and their primary caregiver(s) during the school year. Over a two-year intake period, 109 youth participated in the present process evaluation study.

Research on the Caretaking of Children of Incarcerated Parents: Findings and Their Service Delivery Implications.

This paper reviews research findings on caretaking-related problems associated with the absence of parents from the home following incarceration. It focuses on the impact of incarceration on the welfare and adjustment of urban African American children and on the assumption of caretaking responsibilities by other caretakers, principally maternal grandmothers. Noting the complex situational difficulties involved and the potential burdens associated with surrogate parenting in general, and with this population in particular, the service-provider implications of this parenting arrangement are considered in this review.