# Understanding Race-Related Stress as a Mechanism Associated with Alcohol Craving to Inform Culturally-Adapting Alcohol Treatment for Black Adults

> **NIH NIH K23** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $193,860

## Abstract

Abstract
Black people (BP) who use alcohol experience among the highest rate of alcohol-related consequences, yet only
a small percentage of BP with alcohol use disorder (AUD) receive treatment. This disparity in treatment unmet
need among BP highlights the necessity of efficacious alcohol treatments for this group. Among BP who receive
alcohol treatment, they tend report lower satisfaction with treatment and have higher dropout rates. Culturally
tailoring treatment has been proposed as one approach that might increase treatment satisfaction and retention
among BP. Given that extensive research links stress to alcohol craving and relapse, and Minority Stress Models
indicate that BP experiences stressors specific to being Black, incorporating race-related stress (RRS) is a
reasonable target for adapted alcohol treatments for this group. Although prior research shows RRS such as
discrimination predict alcohol misuse among BP, prior research has not investigated alcohol craving as a
potential mechanism that links RRS to alcohol misuse among BP. In addition, knowledge of cues associated
with drinking may be important for informing alcohol treatment adaptations for BP. Further, knowledge of
neutral/relaxing events could inform coping strategies to include in alcohol treatment for BP. The proposed
research will: [1) identify specifically which stressors and types of alcohol cues trigger alcohol craving and
strategies for coping among BP; 2) provide an in-depth understanding of the impact of race-related stress (RRS)
on alcohol craving; 3) identify other factors associated with the Black experience that contribute to AUD and
should be included in AUD treatment for this group; and 4) provide evidence of the feasibility and acceptability
of culturally-adapting an early CBT session based on these factors.] Completing this research will support my
development as an independent alcohol treatment researcher with a focus on priority populations (e.g., Black
people) and my career goals to [1) conduct meaningful research with hard to reach populations; 2) investigate
coping strategies and mechanisms that maintain AUD among BP, and 3) lead rigorous clinical trials research to
develop and test culturally-informed treatments for Black adults with AUD.] I will achieve my research and career
goals through training and mentorship by experts in: alcohol treatment research (Dr. Stephanie O’Malley),
personalized imagery procedures and stress and craving research (Dr. Rajita Sinha), RRS and treatment
adaptations for BP (Dr. Monnica Williams), treatment development and adaptations (Dr. Kathleen Carroll), and
community-based participatory and qualitative research methods (Dr. Larry Davidson), and collaboration with a
biostatistician with expertise in clinical trials research (Dr. Ralitza Gueorguieva). My research and training will be
completed at Yale School of Medicine, which has an abundance of physical and intellectual resources. Receiving
this training and completing th...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10857161
- **Project number:** 5K23AA028515-04
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Angela Maria Haeny
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $193,860
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-06-20 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10857161

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10857161, Understanding Race-Related Stress as a Mechanism Associated with Alcohol Craving to Inform Culturally-Adapting Alcohol Treatment for Black Adults (5K23AA028515-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10857161. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*