title: Interview as intervention: the case of young adult multidrug users in the club scene.
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.
authors.affiliation: Center for Applied Research on Substance Use and Health Disparities, Nova Southeastern University, 2121 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Suite 430, Coral Gables, FL 33134, USA. steven.kurtz@nova.edu
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kurtz
authors.forename: Hilary L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Surratt
authors.forename: Mance E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Buttram
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Levi-Minzi
authors.forename: Minxing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001569:Benzodiazepines; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine