Prevention of Substance Use in Youth in Ukraine

The objective of this study is to explore the efficacy of brief motivational interventions (BMIs) for treatment of youth with alcohol and other drug problems after at least 3 months. The results of previous studies indicate that brief interventions for unhealthy alcohol use have been shown to be effective in primary care settings, with most studies focusing on adults and few studies focusing on youth. To date, no BMI studies have been conducted in the Ukraine among youth with alcohol or other drug use. Of particular concern are emerging adults ages 18-25 who may be at particularly high risk for alcohol problems given historical events related to the fall of the Soviet Union and the subsequent economic down turn. This study will evaluate the efficacy of BMI by comparing BMI and no BMI conditions among two samples of youth screening positive on the prescreen survey for risky drinking. The subject pool will come from the Psychoneurological Department: the first location is located in the Railway Clinical Hospital, its clinical base, and the second in classes in the department at Kiev National Medical University. The total sample of 120 will be broken down to 1.) 60 patients from Railway Clinical Hospital; and 2.) 60 students from Kiev National Medical University. Participants will be stratified by recruitment site and randomized to condition: BMI and control, with follow-up assessment at 3 months. In addition to being the first of study to evaluate the efficacy of BMI on substance use problems among youth in Ukraine, this study will examine BMI intervention processes in relation to alcohol and other drug outcomes. Findings will inform research and clinical practice to enhance early identification and prevention of problematic alcohol use trajectories among emerging adults