Brief Counseling to Reduce Injuries Among Emergency Department Patients Who Report Alcohol and Substance Use

Phase 2

• Conditions: Alcohol Drinking; Marijuana Smoking
• Interventions: Behavioral: brief counseling

• Registration Number: NCT00547963
• Lead Sponsor: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of two brief counseling sessions delivered to emergency department (ED) patients who report conjoint alcohol and marijuana use, in reducing injuries and other negative consequences, in comparison to an assessment only group.

Detailed Description

Alcohol and substance use remain a significant predictor of injuries, health and psychosocial consequences.

ED patients who were not being treated for critical conditions were asked about their use of alcohol and marijuana. Patients who self-reported the use of both substances were asked to participate in the study.

Recruited participants were given a baseline assessment and then randomized a treatment or a control condition. The treatment condition consisted of two 40 minute sessions of brief counseling. The first session took place in the ED the second session occurred within two weeks of being seen in the ED.

Participants completed assessments three and twelve months after being recruited in the ED. The primary dependent variables for this study are 12 month injuries and self-reported levels of negative life consequences associated with alcohol and marijuana use.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2003-12
• Study First Submitted: 2007-10-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2007-10-19
• Study First Posted: 2007-10-23
• Status Verified: 2008-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2008-10-07
• Last Update Posted: 2008-10-08
• Primary Completion: 2008-12
• Study Completion: 2008-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 554

Inclusion Criteria

• Male and female outpatients 18 years of age or older.
• Participants will have a current DSM-IV diagnosis of alcohol dependence.
• Participants will have signed a witnessed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

• Participants who meet current DSM-IV criteria for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, or a psychological disorder requiring medication.
• Participants who have had more than seven days of inpatient treatment for substance use disorders in the 30 days previous to randomization.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
1	brief counseling	two brief counseling sessions delivered to ED patients who report conjoint alcohol and marijuana use

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Substance use; injuries, alcohol and marijuana negative consequences	3 and 12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mediators and moderators of treatment efficacy	3 and 12 months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Injury Prevention Center, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University; 🇺🇸 Providence, Rhode Island, United States