MI/SN is 20-minute preventive intervention for substance use and associated risk behaviours among female adolescents. MI/SN integrates an evidenced-based motivational interviewing (MI) approach with a social network component. The MI/SN intervention comprises four component parts: a) rapport building, b) presentation of substance use feedback from baseline assessment, c) introduction of social network information and presentation of feedback from baseline assessment, and d) summary and plans.
MI/SN has only been evaluated in the USA. A randomized control trial (Mason et al. 2011) was conducted with 28 people (14 in the control group and 14 in the intervention group). MI/SN is designed for 14–18-year-old females. Study participants were an average of 16 years old, and the majority (82%) were African American. Less than half (32%) of the sample lived below the poverty line.
MI/SN has not been evaluated in Australia or with Aboriginal Australians.
Overall, MI/SN had mixed effects on client outcomes.
Mixed research evidence (with no adverse effects):
MI/SN is a single session intervention lasting 20 minutes. MI/SN comprises 4 component parts, each lasting for 5 minutes.
The social network component begins by introducing the concept of social network and its influence on health. Next, the teen's network is assessed and reviewed. The number of substance users, risky and prosocial activities, influence to use substances, support, and encouragement associated with each person named in a teen's network were assessed.
Teens reflect on their current network configuration and are asked to consider making modifications to the amount of time spent with whom and where to support their stated desire for network adjustment. Information was delivered in a motivational interviewing-consistent fashion.
The costs for MI/SN were not reported in the study.
1 RCT conducted in the USA with a sample of 28 people (Mason et al., 2011).
Mason, M, Pate, P, Drapkin, M, & Sozinho, K 2011, ‘Motivational interviewing integrated with social network counseling for female adolescents: A randomized pilot study in urban primary care’, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, vol. 41, pp. 148-155, DOI 10.1016/j.jsat.2011.02.009
09 Dec 2022
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