READY or Not: Findings From a School-Based MI Intervention for Adolescent Substance Use

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Substance Use Prevention
• Behavioral Interventions

Background:

• Adolescent substance use, particularly marijuana, poses significant public health challenges.
• School-based interventions are crucial for early detection and prevention.
• Motivational Interviewing (MI) shows promise in addressing adolescent behavioral changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of Project READY, a school-based MI intervention, on adolescent substance use.
• To compare immediate intervention delivery versus a waitlist control approach.
• To assess reductions in alcohol and marijuana use and related consequences.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial with 244 adolescent participants.
• Intervention group (READY First) received MI immediately.
• Waitlist control (WLC) group received MI after the initial phase.

Main Results:

• The READY First group showed initial decreases in marijuana use and substance-related consequences.
• After completing treatment, WLC participants achieved comparable marijuana use to the READY First group.
• No significant differential reductions in alcohol use were observed between groups.

Conclusions:

• School-based MI interventions are effective for adolescent marijuana use reduction.
• MI is a critical component in addressing adolescent substance use.
• Project READY demonstrates the efficacy of MI in school settings.