To determine the effectiveness of brief motivational intervention (BMI) for teens with risky drug and alcohol use, researchers conducted a pilot study of BMI among 42 at-risk youth aged 12–18 in an urban primary care setting. Participants completed baseline surveys on peer influence, alcohol and marijuana use, intent to use, and adverse consequences and were randomly assigned to either usual care or BMI. Follow-up surveys were administered at 3 months.

• Compared with the usual care group, teens in the BMI group were significantly more likely to report
  
• less marijuana use,
• lower perceived prevalence of marijuana use in their environment,
• having fewer friends who used marijuana, and
• using marijuana fewer times on the days they used.
  
  
• Although small improvements in alcohol outcomes were seen in the BMI group compared with usual care, they were not significant.

Comments by James Harrison, MHS, CADC
The effectiveness of BMI for alcohol use among adults is well demonstrated, but limited data are available on its effectiveness for other drugs or in youth. Since people tend not to seek help until adulthood, these results suggest that BMI for risky marijuana use in youth might reduce the likelihood of marijuana-related substance use disorders in adulthood.