Citation

Humeniuk R, Ali R, Babor TF, Souza-Formigoni ML, de Lacerda RB, Ling W, McRee B, Newcombe D, Pal H, Poznyak V, Simon S, Vendetti J. Addiction 2012; 107(5): 957-966.

Affiliation

WHO Collaborating Centre for Research into the Treatment of Drug and Alcohol Problems, Department of Pharmacology, University of Adelaide, South Australia, and, Drug & Alcohol Services South Australia, Adelaide, Australia WHO Collaborating Centre for Research into the Treatment of Drug and Alcohol Problems, Department of Pharmacology, University of Adelaide, South Australia, and, Drug & Alcohol Services South Australia, Adelaide, Australia Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030-6325, United States of America Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil) Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Parana, Curitiba, Brazil Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Jane & Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, United States of America Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030-6325, United States of America WHO Collaborating Centre for Research into the Treatment of Drug and Alcohol Problems, Department of Pharmacology, University of Adelaide, South Australia, and, Drug & Alcohol Services South Australia, Adelaide, Australia Consultant Psychiatrist in Addictions, NEPFT, UK. Previously with National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi, India Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Jane & Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioural Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, United States of America Research Associate, Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030-6325, United States of America.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03740.x

PMID

22126102

Abstract

Aims.  This study evaluated the effectiveness of a brief intervention (BI) for illicit drugs (cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants and opioids) linked to the WHO Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). The ASSIST screens for problem or risky use of 10 psychoactive substances,producing a score for each substance that falls into either a 'low', 'moderate' or 'high' risk category. Design.  Prospective, randomized controlled trial in which participants were either assigned to a 3-month wait-list control condition or received brief motivational counseling lasting an average of 13.8 minutes for the drug receiving the highest ASSIST score. Setting.  Primary health care settings in four countries: Australia, Brazil, India and the United States of America. Participants.  731 males and females scoring within the moderate risk range of the ASSIST for cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants, or opioids. Measurements.  ASSIST Specific Substance Involvement Scores for cannabis, stimulants or opioids, and, ASSIST Total Illicit Substance Involvement Score at baseline and 3 months post randomization. Findings.  Omnibus analyses indicated that those receiving the BI had significantly reduced scores for all measures, compared with control participants. Country-specific analyses showed that, with the exception of the site in the United States, BI participants had significantly lower ASSIST Total Illicit Substance Involvement scores at follow-up compared with the control participants. The sites in India and Brazil demonstrated a very strong brief intervention effect for Cannabis Scores (p < 0.005 for both sites); as did the sites in Australia (p < 0.005) and Brazil (p < 0.05) for Stimulant Scores, and the Indian site for Opioid Scores (p < 0.01). Conclusions.  The ASSIST-linked brief intervention aimed at reducing illicit substance use and related risks is effective at least in the short-term, and the effect generalises across countries.

Language: en