Psychostimulant Check-Up: A Pilot Study of a Brief Intervention to Reduce Illicit Stimulant Use

• NCJ Number: 230135
• Journal: Drug and Alcohol Review Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2010 Pages: 169-176
• Author(s): Matthew F. Smout; Marie Longo; Sonia Harrison; Rinaldo Minniti; Sharon Cahill; Wendy Wickes; Jason M. White
• Date Published: March 2010
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

This study investigated the use of a single session intervention with psychostimulant users, including injecting drug users with the intent to reduce illicit stimulant use.

Abstract

This study was to test the acceptability of a single-session 'check up' intervention for psychostimulant users and document participants' subsequent progress in reducing psychostimulant use and related harms. The study design was pre-experimental single-group repeated measures. Eighty participants received the Psychostimulant Check-Up, with 62 percent completing a 3 month follow-up. Participants were predominantly young adult methamphetamine users. The majority indicated that the Check-Up answered their questions, increased their awareness of services, and they would recommend it to their friends. At follow-up, there was a significant reduction in self-reported methamphetamine use, the number of self-reported psychostimulant-related negative consequences experienced in the previous month and rates of injecting: 62 percent self-reported at least a 1 g reduction in methamphetamine use. The intervention was well accepted and the majority of those who received it subsequently made meaningful reductions in psychostimulant use and related harm. The intervention offers sufficient promise to warrant a randomized trial to establish whether improvements were specific to the intervention. Tables and references (Published Abstract)