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Brief Intervention for Illicit Drug Users

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Textbook of Addiction Treatment: International Perspectives

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Abstract

Screening and brief intervention is an effective public health measure for the early detection and management of substance use disorders. There is a range of validated screening tools designed for use in various settings and contexts. This chapter provides an overview of the process that is a fundamental next step following screening, namely, the provision of an effective and targeted brief intervention for illicit drug users.

It includes an overview of the evidence related to brief interventions for people using cannabis, amphetamines, cocaine, or opiates. Although research in this area is somewhat limited, the chapter will draw on the empirical evidence for effective brief intervention in a range of areas and suggest practical approaches to engage illicit drug users. There are many possible settings (primary care, emergency department, and mental health) and various ways of presenting brief interventions, such as via a computer. As illicit drug use is rarely limited to one substance, implications for polydrug users are addressed. Practical steps and examples are provided, based on the principles of motivational interviewing, to demonstrate how effective brief interventions can be implemented.

Some of the common barriers to implementing brief interventions in practice will be explored. Practical solutions will be offered as a guide to overcoming both real and perceived barriers to conducting targeted and effective brief interventions in practice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DASSA-WHO Collaborating Centre for Research in the Treatment of Drug and Alcohol Problems, Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia

    Jennifer Harland, Linda Gowing & Robert Ali

Authors
  1. Jennifer Harland
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  2. Linda Gowing
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  3. Robert Ali
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer Harland .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Alberta Gambling Research Institute University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Nady el-Guebaly

  2. Faculty of Brain Sciences UCL Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, United Kingdom

    Giuseppe Carrà

  3. Division of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA

    Marc Galanter

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Harland, J., Gowing, L., Ali, R. (2015). Brief Intervention for Illicit Drug Users. In: el-Guebaly, N., Carrà, G., Galanter, M. (eds) Textbook of Addiction Treatment: International Perspectives. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5322-9_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5322-9_11

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