Project RAP: Reaching Adolescents for Prevention

Summary

The purpose of the study is to determine if a brief motivational interview in the context of an emergency health care visit will reduce high-risk drinking and drug-taking and associated health consequences among adolescents ages 14-21 years old.

Conditions

• Alcohol Related Morbidity
• Alcohol Dependence

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Brief Motivational Intervention

One-third of the enrollees will receive an assessment, a brief motivational interview performed by a trained peer counselor, direct referrals to community-based resources for adolescents, and a 10-day follow-up phone call. All participants will be followed over time and re-screened to measure the impact of the initial brief intervention on their drinking and drug-taking. The key hypothesis is that individuals who receive the brief motivational interview in the emergency department setting will have lower rates of alcohol and illicit drug use and fewer health consequences over time.

BEHAVIORAL

Assessment and list of resources

One-third will receive only the assessment and a list of community resources. All participants will be followed over time and re-screened to measure the impact of the initial brief intervention on their drinking and drug-taking. The key hypothesis is that individuals who receive the brief motivational interview in the emergency department setting will have lower rates of alcohol and illicit drug use and fewer health consequences over time.

BEHAVIORAL

Referral to Community Resources

All patients aged 14 to 21 get a brief alcohol and drug screen, and those whose scores indicate they drink or use marijuana are invited to participate in the study. One-third of the enrollees will receive only a list of resources. All participants will be followed over time and re-screened to measure the impact of the initial brief intervention on their drinking and drug-taking. The key hypothesis is that individuals who receive the brief motivational interview in the emergency department setting will have lower rates of alcohol and illicit drug use and fewer health consequences over time.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

  lead NIH

Principal Investigators

• Edward Bernstein, MD · Boston University School of Public Health - Youth Alcohol Prevention Center

• Judith Bernstein, RNC, PhD · Boston University School of Public Health - Youth Alcohol Prevention Center

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

14 Years

Max Age

21 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2004-10-31

Primary Completion

2009-12-31

Completion

2009-12-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations