My research interest is in assessing new interventions for reducing or deterring alcohol consumption in alcohol abusing and dependent populations. I have two active lines of research. My basic research includes a laboratory alcohol administration and field self-administration study with social drinkers. In the controlled laboratory setting, subjects are administered alcohol following pre-treatment with a single dose of active medication or placebo that is thought to change drinking behaviors. In the field setting, subjects are allowed to self-administer alcohol in a bar setting after chronic administration of active medication or placebo that is thought to change drinking behaviors. In both paradigms, the effect of the medication on the individual's experience of intoxication is assessed with a variety of behavioral assessment tools including:
- self-report rating scales of pleasure and craving,
- speech production
- activity levels, and in the field setting, amount and pattern of alcohol drinking.
My applied research involves clinical trials of innovative psychotherapies and new medications for treating alcohol dependence. I am currently conducting a clinical trial designed to examine the effects of two different dosing schedules of the opiate antagonist, naltrexone, on reducing hazardous levels of alcohol consumption in non-alcohol dependent alcohol abusers at the Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center.
I am also conducting a clinical trial designed to examine the effects of two different dosing schedules of the opiate antagonist, naltrexone combined with a moderate intensity broad spectrum therapy or a low intensity motivational enhancement therapy for reducing and deterring alcohol consumption in alcohol dependent patients at Fairbanks Hospital.
Community Advocate for the treatment of alcoholism.
Clinical outcome trials testing behavioral and pharmacological interventions for the treatment of alcoholism.
Human laboratory studies assessing behavioral and pharmacological interventions for detering drinking and/or attenuating craving for alcohol in alcohol abusers.
Alcoholism, Treatment
