Impact of Personalized Feedback Alone on Substance Use Behaviors

The investigators seek to develop a more efficient and effective approach to providing brief behavioral health interventions for risky substance use behaviors by comparing a brief coach directed intervention to a tailored report only group.

Screening and brief intervention (SBIRT) generally involves universal screening for risky substance use behaviors in medical settings and the immediate provision of a 3-15 minute intervention to those found to be at risk. In this pilot study, the investigators seek to develop a more efficient and effective approach to providing brief behavioral health interventions in the field by comparing a brief coach directed intervention to a tailored report only group. The goal is to create a cost-effective and sustainable system that provides consumers with tailored information that will help them both initiate and sustain the lifestyle changes necessary for improving their overall health. Hypothesis 1: In a medical setting, personalized feedback alone will be associated with a reduction in risky substance use behaviors. Hypothesis 2: In a medical setting, personalized feedback alone will have the same impact on behavior as that information plus a brief coach education session on risky substance use behaviors..

Participants receive the personalized feedback report plus education. This is the currently implemented service approach.Treatment as usual with participants receiving a personalized feedback report about the risks associated with their current substance use behaviors and a brief (5-15 minute) motivational interviewing based education session provided by a trained health coach.

Participants receive the personalized feedback report plus education. This is the currently implemented service approach.

Interview questionnaire includes items concerning substance use behaviors (e.g., the number of drinks in the last 7 days) and consequences {e.g., ''During the past month, how often have you failed to do what was normally expected of you because of your use of alcohol?'

Interview questionnaire that asks participants about their memory of the materials provided in the intervention, their motivation toward change, and their self-reported change efforts.

Inclusion Criteria: Low level risky substance use Exclusion Criteria: high substance use risk levels potential alcohol or drug addiction or dependence