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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2011 May;72(3):497-506.
doi: 10.15288/jsad.2011.72.497.

Motivational interviewing for incarcerated adolescents: effects of depressive symptoms on reducing alcohol and marijuana use after release

L A R Stein  1 , Rebecca Lebeau, Suzanne M Colby, Nancy P Barnett, Charles Golembeske, Peter M Monti
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Motivational interviewing for incarcerated adolescents: effects of depressive symptoms on reducing alcohol and marijuana use after release

L A R Stein et al. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2011 May.

Abstract

Objective: Motivational interviewing to reduce alcohol and marijuana use among incarcerated adolescents was evaluated.

Method: Adolescents (N = 162, 84% male; M = 17.10 years old) were randomly assigned to receive motivational interviewing or relaxation training, with follow-up assessment 3 months after release.

Results: Compared with those who received relaxation training, adolescents who received motivational interviewing had lower rates of alcohol and marijuana use at follow-up, with some evidence for moderating effects of depression. At low levels of depression, adolescents who received motivational interviewing had lower rates of use. Adolescents who received relaxation training and who had high levels of depressive symptoms early in incarceration showed less use at follow-up than those low in depressive symptoms who received relaxation training.

Conclusions: This brief motivational interviewing intervention during incarceration reduces alcohol and marijuana use after release. In addition, depressive symptoms early in incarceration should be considered in treating these adolescents, but more work is needed to extend follow-up period and account for the impact of depression on outcomes.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Recruitment and retention
Figure 2
Figure 2
Impact of treatment on substance use by depressive symptoms: Drinks per drinking day (top panel) and percentage of days used marijuana (bottom panel). Bars with common letters are significantly different. See Table 3.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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