Background Problematic alcohol use is a common occurrence among college students. While empirically supported interventions exist, their access is typically limited to those with greater resources. There has been an expansion of services provided via telehealth to increase client access to treatment in the health care field. However, the evidence is mixed regarding the effectiveness of face-to-face versus telehealth interventions and there is a gap in the literature regarding brief alcohol interventions delivered via telehealth. As such, the purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a well-validated brief alcohol screening and intervention for college students (BASICS) when conducted face-to-face or through a videoconferencing system. Method Participants included 51 college students who engaged in heavy episodic drinking (5+ drinks for males and 4+ drinks for females over a two hour period) over the last two weeks. They were randomly assigned to receive the face-to-face or telehealth intervention and completed a variety of questionnaires throughout. Follow up data on the participant's alcohol use and alcohol-related problems was collected at 1-, 2-, and 3-months. Multilevel modeling in SAS was utilized for analyses, which included the modeling of treatment outcome trajectories and the influence of predictors on the trajectory of change for each outcome. Results Results indicated that the intervention significantly reduced alcohol consumption and related problems regardless of condition. Both conditions saw an increase in treatment satisfaction and therapeutic alliance between the two sessions. Increased therapeutic alliance resulted in greater decreases in alcohol use and related harm across both conditions. Additionally, those with a mental health diagnosis showed greater improvement related to risk reduction for both treatment modalities. Conclusion In sum, the results of this study suggest that telehealth services should be further implemented and the BASICS intervention can be effectively delivered via telehealth for college students.

Health and social care services in the UK have been in the process of modernization since the New Labour government came to power in 1997. A central feature of modernization has been the scrutiny of existing work roles and the development and introduction of new work roles. The present article is concerned with the nature and content of work in one of these new roles, the Support, Time and Recovery worker which was introduced on the advice of service users, among others.• Findings: Qualitative data revealed that both workers and service users valued the relationship they developed. The nature of that relationship and its important component qualities are analysed using Biestek's Principles of the Casework relationship and Weiss's categories of social relationship provision. • Applications: The results provide further support to a growing literature that emphasizes the value service users place on the nature and quality of the relationship with the worker in social care practice, and the importance of positive human qualities in workers.

The present study tested the influence of co-occurring mental health diagnoses on the relationship between length of stay and treatment outcome among adolescents residing in an inpatient substance abuse treatment facility. Data were collected via record review. Follow-up information was obtained at 7 days and 3 months post-discharge. Treatment outcome was defined as abstinence and engagement in recovery activities. Hierarchical linear regression demonstrated that comorbidities differentially moderated the relationship between length of stay and treatment outcome. Results suggest that these adolescents attempt to engage in recovery activities independent of abstinence and may need supplemental aftercare assistance to maintain their efforts.

When public money is invested in research it is necessary to have in place accounting systems that demonstrate its value. By this we mean its social as much as its economic value to society. This paper traces the collective experiences of a group of service user, professional and academic researchers about the annual reporting of research activity supported by NHS R&D Support funding. The stance taken is partisan as it represents one that defines the scope of our work within a regional NHS user-centred research programme. We critique the NHS research accounting system in England and the thinking upon which it appears to be based, suggesting that it devalues less traditional forms of research. It is argued that reductionism written into the present accounting system strips it of sensitivity to the values, operational arrangements and timescales involved in a lot of service user-centred research, and marginalises the value of many of its outputs. We set down some challenges for the redesign of the annual reporting system relating to NHS Research and Development (R & D) Support Funding.

Given the difficult contexts, short time-scales and capacity constraints, the programme's lack of impact is not surprising. It may, however, represent a worthwhile investment in cultural change which might facilitate improvements in how services are delivered.