CAHSS Faculty Articles

Interview as Intervention: The Case of Young Adult Multidrug Users in the Club Scene

ORCID ID

0000-0003-4027-7840, 0000-0002-5001-7391, 0000-0002-1247-8752

ResearcherID

H-3010-2014, K-3072-2014

Publication Title

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment

ISSN

0740-5472

Publication Date

3-2013

Abstract

This paper reports on changes in substance use and substance dependence symptoms-without intervention-among young adult multidrug users in the club scene, ages 18-29, (N = 444) who participated in a natural history study. Computer-assisted personal interviews at baseline and 6-, 12-, and 18-month follow-ups included well-tested measures of substance use and dependence. Changes in substance dependence symptoms and drug use frequencies were calculated using Cohen's d statistic. Mean age was 22; 40% were female; 58% were Hispanic, 17% White, and 21% Black. At 18-month follow-up assessment, participants reported significantly fewer days of cocaine (d = -.85 at 18 months), ecstasy (d = -.93), benzodiazepine (d = -.82), and prescription opioid (d = -.81) use, as well as reduced substance dependence symptoms (d = -.42). These results, together with data from focus groups with completers, suggest that comprehensive health and social risk assessments may have quite strong intervention effects among young adult multidrug users.

DOI

10.1016/j.jsat.2012.08.004

Volume

44

Issue

3

First Page

301

Last Page

308

Peer Reviewed

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