(30 lines)Black men experience a disproportionate amount of stress from high exposure to social, environmental, and economicdeterminants of health. As a result, Black men face tremendous stress on a daily basis. In response, some Black men turnto substance use to cope with the psychological pain and emotional distress of chronic unemployment, financial insecurity, and racial discrimination. The purpose of this Phase I study is to test the feasibility of a teletherapy approach to treatingSUD in 20 Black/African American men over a three-month period. Treatment is delivered using a cloud-based mobilehealth platform available via web desktop and "smart" mobile phones. The study emphasizes culturally informedappropriate content designed to address the particular needs of Black men with SUD. The treatment approach is guided bythe Continuum of Broaching Behavior, a clinical framework that enhances therapists' ability to engage race, ethnicity,culture, and gender as integral parts of the treatment process. The aims are to: (1) Train and assess therapists in the use ofthe Continuum of Broaching Behavior Model with Black men; (2) Adapt the Continuum of Broaching Behavior Modelfor use in an online platform for Black men with SUD; (3) Implement a within-subjects, repeated-measures design toassess the impact of the Continuum of Broaching Behavior Model on change in SUD and related symptoms of depressionand anxiety in 20 Black men over three months. This Phase I feasibility study positions Hurdle for a subsequent Phase IIbetween-subjects clinical trial. Together, Phases I and II of this research program will deliver a digitally-mediatedtreatment approach that employs culturally informed teletherapy to promote positive coping strategies, increase clientsatisfaction, and reduce premature termination in Black men with SUD.
Public Health Relevance Statement: Project Narrative
Exposure to the stress of financial insecurity and racial discrimination lead some adult Black men to use substances to
cope. Black men with substance use disorders (SUD) demonstrate low utilization of SUD therapy. One solution is to build
and deliver culturally grounded targeted treatment models that are accessible and effective.
Project Terms: <21+ years old>
