Effectiveness of brief interventions in reducing substance use among at-risk primary care patients in three community-based clinics (1997)

FRANÇAIS :
Des interventions brèves (IB) pour encourager un changement de comportement ont été menées auprès de patients identifiés "à risque" d'usage de drogues. Les habitudes de consommations des patients ont été mesurées à l'aide du SUSI (Substance Use Screening Instrument). Le test réadministré à 3 mois d'intervalle a montré une efficacité des IB. La baisse de consommation observée après un mois se maintenait, même si la baisse n'était pas plus importante de 1 à 3 mois.
ENGLISH :
This project identified patients "at risk" for substance abuse and provided brief interventions (BI) to encourage behavior change. Substance use patterns of patients were determined using the Substance Use Screening Instrument (SUSI). The SUSI was administered to male and female adults, adolescents, and female adults at three community-based clinics, respectively. At each site, the SUSI was readministered to both groups at 1 and 3 months to determine the effectiveness of the BI reducing substance use across time. At two sites, the intervention groups, but not the controls, demonstrated significant reductions in substance use from baseline to 1-month follow-up. While there was no additional significant decrease from 1 to 3 months, it was encouraging that the decreased use seen at 1 month was maintained over time without a return to baseline use patterns. The results indicate that brief interventions have a positive impact on substance use behavior. (Authors'abstract)