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Abstract: Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of an Internet-based screening and brief intervention (SBI) site for problematic alcohol and drug use among illicit drug users. Method: Individuals searching for information about alcohol or drugs online who scored over 0 on the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) and were 15 years or older were recruited for this trial and randomized into one group receiving Internet-based screening and brief intervention via eScreen.se (n =101) or one assessment-only control group (n =101). Both groups were screened at baseline and followed up at 3 and 6 months. The primary outcome measure was the DUDIT-C score and secondary outcome measures were DUDIT, AUDIT-C (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-C) and AUDIT scores. Additional outcomes included the proportion of drug abstainers and those who made a clinically significant change in their alcohol and drug use. Four statistical models of analysis were used to conservatively assess results. Results: A significant decrease in DUDIT-C scores at the 3-month follow-up occurred in both groups. Three out of four statistical models showed a larger decrease in the DUDIT score in the intervention group than in the control group (p =0.006; p =0.046; p =0.001). Two models showed a continued decrease in AUDIT-C and AUDIT scores also at the 6-month follow-up in the intervention group but not in the control group. No additional differences occurred. Conclusions: The results are inconclusive but provide some evidence that SBI sites such as eScreen.se could be effective for short-term reductions of problematic substance use. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: The problematic use of prescription drugs (PDs) and related disorders are considerably prevalent but evidence concerning brief intervention for problematic PD users is sparse. A previous analysis of the present study on the effectiveness of brief intervention for problematic PD use in a general hospital revealed a significant reduction in PD use after 3 months. The analyses presented herein provides data from the 12-month follow-up. Method: In a randomized controlled trial, 126 proactively recruited general hospital patients were analyzed. The intervention group received two brief Motivational Interviewing (MI) sessions. Two follow-ups (after 3 and 12 months) were conducted. Intervention effects at 12-month follow-up on PD cessation and reduction were analyzed using regression methods and controlling for significant group differences. Subgroups of sedative/hypnotic- and opioid-users were examined. Results: No significant intervention effects were found in the overall sample. Respecting significant differences between the intervention and control groups, we detected no effects of the intervention for the subgroups of sedative/hypnotic- or opioid-users. Conclusions: In contrast to the short-term effects after 3 months, no long-term effects of brief MI sessions on PD use were found. More intensive interventions, booster-sessions or regular aftercare might help in stabilizing intervention effects on PD use among hospital patients. However, studies using larger samples are needed to allow more powerful and specific analyses. Different samples should be examined. Problems concerning the recruitment of study participants in PD research were discussed and should be considered in further studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]