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Abstract
Online interventions have potential to reach a wide range of people, including heavy drinkers unable or unwilling to seek formal treatment or support groups. This study examined a self-guided alcohol Internet intervention that provides access to several different online social networks and is based on principles of harm reduction, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and relapse prevention. Active participants in the online program (N = 57) completed a survey that retrospectively assessed prior alcohol use, current alcohol use patterns, drinking goals, involvement in online activities, and use of CBT self-help tools. Findings indicated significant reductions in drinks per week (DPW), drinks per day (DPD), and drinking days per week (DDW) from baseline to post-intervention. Longer time in the online program was associated with greater reduction in DDW, rs(57) = .31, p = .02; while use of CBT self-help tools was positively correlated with reduction in DPW, rs(57) = .37, p = .005. Engagement in multiple online activities (i.e., social networking, e-mail groups, chat room, forum discussion) was associated with greater drinking reductions in DPW, (F[1,55]) = 8.55, p < .005; and DDW, (F[1,55]) = 7.12, p < .01). Results suggest that an online program may assist heavy drinkers in decreasing alcohol use through utilization of a cyber community, social networking, and self-help tools. Conversely, 74% of participants were still engaging in high-risk drinking, raising the possibility that an online mutual-help group with personalized goals intended to reduce harm, may inadvertently normalize heavy alcohol use.
Data availability
Data and analyses can be obtained from the corresponding author.
Disclosure statement
No financial interest or benefit to the authors has arisen from this research.