Assessing the feasibility of SMART Recovery for sexual and gender minority individuals: Results from a feasibility and preliminary outcomes trial

AbstractSexual and gender minority individuals (SGMI; e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people) experience increased rates of alcohol use disorder and additional barriers to participating in alcohol use interventions compared to their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts. This suggests a need for accessible, evidence-based alcohol use interventions for these populations. Through conducting a feasibility and preliminary effectiveness trial of SMART Recovery, a cognitive-behavioral mutual help group for addictive behaviors, with a sample of SGMI (N = 32), this study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of SMART Recovery for reducing alcohol use and related problems for SGMI. Primary feasibility metrics included average number of sessions attended per participant and average number of participants per session; preliminary outcomes were evaluated by comparing alcohol use symptoms at pre- and post-test through a t-test. Results suggest that SMART Recovery is potentially a feasible and effective intervention for SGMI experiencing challenges with alcohol use. On average, participants attended 5.36 sessions (target: 4–6 sessions). The average session was attended by 3.63 participants (tentative target: 5 participants). A comparison of pre and post-tests (n = 13) suggested significantly lower alcohol use among participants at the end of the intervention relative to the beginning (t = 1.92; p < 0.05).Keywords: SMART Recoverymutual help groupsLGBTQLGBTalcohol use disorder Additional informationFundingThis work was supported by New Faculty General Research Fund at the University of Kansas.