Motivational enhancement and other brief interventions for adolescent substance abuse: foundations, applications and evaluations

• Published in: Addiction (Abingdon, England) Vol. 99; no. s2; pp. 63 - 75
• Main Authors: Tevyaw, Tracy O'Leary, Monti, Peter M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-11-2004; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescence; Adolescent; brief intervention; Brief interventions; Clinical trials; Humans; Intervention; Motivation; motivational enhancement; Motivational interviewing; Psychotherapy - methods; Substance abuse; Substance abuse treatment; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; Substance-Related Disorders - therapy; Teenagers; USA; Young people
• ISSN: 0965-2140; 1360-0443
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00855.x

ABSTRACT
Aims  To present a comprehensive review of the use of motivational enhancement and other brief interventions for substance use in adolescents.
Methods  In this paper, we review the major theoretical foundations and influences of brief interventions (including motivational interviewing), consider developmental issues in its application for adolescents, discuss methodological issues in the design and implementation of brief interventions, including the assessment of treatment fidelity, evaluate and interpret the latest findings on brief interventions for adolescents and young people and discuss the issue of translating and exporting effective research into practice.
Findings  Results from recent clinical trials using motivational interventions indicate that these approaches result in decreases in substance‐related negative consequences and problems, decrements in substance use and increased treatment engagement, with results particularly strong for those with heavier substance use patterns and/or less motivation to change.
Conclusion  While results are promising, more research is needed to examine the essential elements of motivational interventions, for whom they work best, and their impact on developmental transitions during adolescence.