NIH-DoD Initiative to Prevent Substance Use and Promote Behavioral Health Among Military Personnel, Veterans and Families: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities

In recognition of numerous challenges that U.S. military personnel and their Families have endured since September 11, 2001, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Defense (DoD) collaborated on a joint Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) in 2013 to accelerate research on interventions and health promotion strategies to prevent substance use and associated mental health and physical health problems among active duty or recently separated military personnel, Veterans, and their families. The FOA sought to build on existing knowledge and evidence from the prevention field by seeking research focused on testing existing prevention programs, development or adaptation of existing substance use prevention and health promotion programs, and dissemination of efficacious and effective interventions through existing military systems or those systems that serve military personnel and families. This initiative encouraged research that focused on all branches of the military, with particular interest in Veterans and National Guard and Reserve personnel and their families, who for the most part are residing in civilian communities, are not attached to military installations, have less access to military support systems, and less connection to other military families. This roundtable brings together NIH and DoD staff and grantees and will provide a brief overview of three studies funded under this initiative.  First is a study that will apply an adapted PROSPER intervention delivery model for an evidence-based, family-focused intervention, also adapted for National Guard and Reserve and Active Duty military families.  The primary intervention goals are to improve family functioning and reduce youth problem behaviors.  Second is a comparative effectiveness study testing web, group and telehealth formats of a military parenting program and examination of links between parenting, PTSD, and youth substance use and related problems. And, third is a study testing a web-based motivational alcohol and prescription drug brief intervention for National Guard members with either web boosters or peer boosters.  The panelists will discuss the extent of substance use and behavioral health related problems in military populations; unique stressors and conditions that contribute to substance use  and reporting of use and  behavioral health problems as well as factors that contribute to resiliency; and, progress to date, challenges encountered,  strategies and solutions to address challenges, and lessons learned.  This roundtable will allow for interactive discussion among panelists and the audience  on priorities, opportunities and future directions for substance use prevention and health promotion research with military personnel, veterans and their children and families.