  |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the research study involve?
Do I have to pay for this treatment?
Do I have to quit drinking to participate in the program?
How do I figure out how much drinking is right for me?
Do I have to talk in front of a group?
Do I have to go to AA?
Can I participate in other alcohol or drug treatment while in the study?
What if I am already in alcohol or drug treatment?
Is this study confidential?
Will I be paid?
How long does the study last?
Where is the study located?
How do I qualify for the study?
What do I need to do to participate?
What if I feel I need more treatment after the study?
Q: What does the research study involve?
A: The study involves several steps. First, you will call and speak with the Research Coordinator to find out if you meet the basic criteria for our program. At that time, we will schedule you for an initial appointment.
During the initial appointment, you will complete an interview with our staff and complete some questionnaires to determine if you are eligible for the study. If you are eligible, you will be instructed on how to use our self-monitoring system over the phone, which we will ask you to use for the week between this appointment and your next appointment.
The following week, you will come back for your second assessment. Additionally, you will find out of you will start counseling that day or in 8 weeks. This will be determined randomly, much like the flip of a coin. Regardless of when your counseling begins, you will be calling into our phone-based self-monitoring system each day. It has been found that people who monitor their emotions and behavior are able to make positive changes more readily. You will also be meeting with our staff one month following your first visit and again a month after that. Overall, your participation in the program will span from 3 to 5 months.
back to top
Q: Do I have to pay for this treatment?
A: No, this treatment is offered to you free of charge. In addition, we will pay you for your participation in this study.
Q: Do I have to quit drinking to participate in the program?
A: You do not have to quit drinking. Your counselor will assist you in setting moderate drinking goals that are right for you. You may choose to quit drinking altogether, but this is not a necessary requirement for this study.
Q: How do I figure out how much drinking is right for me?
A: According to the United States’ Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization’s guidelines for low-risk drinking, men should limit their drinking to no more than 14 drinks per week with no more than 5 on any one single occasion. Women should limit to 7 drinks per week, and no more than 3 on a single occasion. Drinking in excess of these recommended levels can put you at risk for a number of serious health and psychosocial problems.
Each person needs to decide for themselves whether to cut down (or quit) drinking, and how much drinking makes sense for them. At Project Motion, our goal is to help you figure out what level of drinking is right for you, while also considering how much alcohol is safe to drink. The program is specifically designed for people who enjoy drinking and who don’t necessarily want to give it up altogether. It’s also for people who want to make healthier choices when it comes to when, where, how much, and how often to drink. The combination of psychotherapy and self-monitoring we offer is tailored to help our clients devise and then stick to their own individualized goals, not to force them into a “one size fits all” mold that might not make sense for them in their own lives.
back to top
Q: Do I have to talk in front of a group?
A: No. All sessions and evaluations will be one-on-one.
Q: Do I have to go to AA?
A: No. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is in no way affiliated to this research study. While we respect and encourage participation in all approaches to reducing or stopping drinking, for the purposes of our study we ask that for the 8 weeks you will be in treatment that you not attend AA. Because we are trying to determine what helps people change their alcohol intake, we want to be as clear as possible about what is causing change. Any involvement in AA or another self help alcohol treatment may unduly influence our results.
Q: Can I participate in other alcohol or drug treatment while in the study?
A: We ask participants not to participate in any other treatment while in our study, including both formal treatment and self-help groups. If while in the study you would like to participate in other formal treatment, we would be happy to refer you to treatment programs best suited for you. In addition, if you express an interest in immediate participation in a self- help group, such as AA, we are happy to refer you to locally based groups. However, in either case, you would be excluded from our study.
back to top
Q: What if I am already in alcohol or drug treatment?
A: If you are currently in alcohol or drug treatment, you will not be eligible to participate in our study. This includes AA or another self-help group.
Q: Is this study confidential?
A: Yes. This study is entirely confidential and no judgments will be made.
Q: Will I be paid?
A: You will be reimbursed for your time each time you complete a research assessment, however you will not be paid to come in to meet with your counselor. If you complete all of the research assessments, you can earn up to $180 for participating in the study. Additionally, you will earn $1 for each time you call into the self-monitoring phone system, if you call in all 7 days of the week you will earn a $3 bonus ($10 per week). If you call into the self-monitoring system each day you can earn $90.
Q: How long does the study last?
A: The duration of your treatment will depend on whether or not you are assigned to begin therapy right away. If you are in the group which receives immediate therapy, the treatment will last for 8 weeks. We will call you about one month after you have finished with us to see how you are doing. If you are in the group that does not start therapy immediately, you will still be in enrolled in our program for the first two months and then you will complete your therapy sessions in the following two months.
back to top
Q: Where is the study located?
A: The study offices are located in midtown at the Columbia Addiction Services and Psychotherapy Interventions Research (CASPIR), which is conveniently located near Columbus Circle and the Time Warner Center.
Q: How do I qualify for the study?
A: The most important qualification for the study is that you want to cut down on your drinking, or that you think you might need to cut down. There are other, more specific requirements for participation that our research staff will determine when you come in for your initial assessment.
Q: What do I need to do to participate?
A: Simply call us at 212-974-0494 or email us at ProjectMotion@gmail.com to schedule an initial phone screening.
Q: What if I feel I need more treatment after the study?
A: While our brief interventions have already proven to be effective for helping people reduce their drinking, it is possible that you may feel you need more treatment or more intensive treatment once the study is over. Our study staff is happy to refer you to other treatment programs that best suit your needs and your ability to pay.
back to top |
|
 |
