Which factors cause and maintain addiction?
Answering this question is important for accurately identifying and understanding addiction, especially alcohol use disorder.
The Reforming Alcohol Use Disorder Assessment (RAUDA) Study, funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, seeks to improve how addiction-related processes, such as craving, are measured. Many existing measures did not include collaboration with people with lived experience during their development, which calls into question their accuracy and appropriateness. In this three-phase project, we are working with a collaborative group of people with lived experience of substance use and addiction throughout the period of the project to develop a better measure of alcohol use disorder.
Learn more about the project from RAUDA community partner, Jack Rothermich:
Phase 1
In Phase 1, we interviewed 50 individuals who drank heavily to evaluate whether they were understanding our initial set of self-report items. Items were revised, based on this feedback, alongside community partners.
Phase 2
In Phase 2, we will administer a survey to individuals who drink heavily. Using statistical techniques, we will narrow down the self-report items to develop a measure of the processes that cause and maintain alcohol use disorder as well as those that support recovery.
Phase 3
In Phase 3, we will evaluate how well the measure captures the processes that cause and maintain alcohol use disorder as well as those that support recovery through a variety of methods including daily smartphone surveys.
Want to participate?
Visit the link below to learn about opportunities to participate or contact us at bal@unm.edu.
Hear more from RAUDA community partner, Ashli Timmons, about how our team is working together to improve the assessment of alcohol use disorder:
BAL 