Quik Fix: A randomised controlled trial of an enhanced brief motivational interviewing (BMI) intervention for alcohol/cannabis and psychological distress in young people

Alcohol and cannabis are the most commonly used licit and illicit drugs worldwide, and frequently co-occur with depression and anxiety disorders. While there is mounting evidence for the impact of brief motivational interviewing (BMI) interventions for reducing alcohol and cannabis use in young people compared to no/delayed treatment controls over 3 months, their effects appear to decrease over time. The results of studies comparing BMI interventions with other ‘active’ types of brief interventions (BIs; assessment feedback/information [AF/I]) have also been mixed. Nevertheless, BMI interventions targeting adult alcohol use among psychiatric inpatients (with predominantly mood disorders) have demonstrated significantly better outcomes than control conditions (AF/I).