Brief intervention to reduce substance use in primary health care

This randomised controlled trial of a brief motivational intervention for substance misuse involves the screening of patients by health practitioners in the target age group (18-24) for substance misuse, and invite those who screen positive to participate in the study.

A research assistant will interview the consenting patients in depth about substance misuse, HIV-risk and aggressive behaviours. Once interviewed, patients will be randomly assigned by the research assistant to the brief motivational intervention (delivered by a trained clinical nurse practitioner) or to control.

Both groups will receive an information sheet listing places in the community where help may be obtained for substance misuse, HIV-related matters, and violent incidents. Patients in both groups will be asked to return for a follow-up interview in three months' time, to assess whether any changes have occurred in these behaviours.