Screening and Brief Interventions for Illicit Drug Use and Alcohol Use in Methadone Maintained Opiate-Dependent Patients: Results of a Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial Feasibility Study. (28th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Darker, Catherine D.; Sweeney, Brion; Keenan, Eamon; Whiston, Lucy; Anderson, Rolande; Barry, Joseph
• Is Part Of: Substance use & misuse. Volume 51:Number 9(2016)
• Page Start: 1104
• Page End: 1115
• Publication Date: 2016-07-28
• Subjects: Substance abuse -- illicit drugs -- alcohol -- motivational interviewing -- methadone -- randomized controlled trial; Narcotic habit -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Behavior, Addictive -- Periodicals; Sustance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; 362.2905
• DOI: 10.3109/10826084.2016.1160118
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1082-6084

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background and Objectives : The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a single clinician delivered brief intervention (BI) to reduce problem alcohol use and illicit substance use in an opiate-dependent methadone maintained cohort of patients attending for treatment. Methods : Four addiction treatment centers were randomly assigned to either treatment as usual (TAU; control group) or BI (intervention group). Clinicians screened patients using the alcohol, smoking, and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST) screening tool at baseline and again at three-month follow up. Fidelity checks were performed to ensure that training was delivered effectively and uniformly across all study sites. Feasibility of administering a BI within daily practice was assessed through intervention fidelity checks, patient satisfaction questionnaires and process evaluation. Results : A total of 465 patients were screened (66% of the overall eligible population) with a total of 433 (93%) ASSIST positive cases. Randomization was effective, with no differences in the control versus the intervention arms at baseline for key demographic or clinical indicators including substance us. There was a statistically significant difference between global risk score for the intervention (x = 39.36, sd = 25.91) group and the control group ( x = 45.27, SD = 27.52) at 3-month follow-up (t(341) = −2.07, p < .05). Conclusions : This trial provides the first evidence that a single clinician delivered BI can result in a reduction in substance use within a methadone maintained opiate-dependent cohort, and this effect is sustained at three month follow up.