Preventing HIV/AIDS: A Brief Intervention for Adolescent Substance Abusers

ABSTRACT

HIV/AIDS infection has become a serious threat to many adolescents, as reflected by the increase in the number of AIDS cases among adolescents and young adults. Substance abusing adolescents, in particular, tend to engage in high risk HIV behaviors despite their knowledge of HIV/AIDS. To determine the effectiveness of a brief educational motivation intervention, 60 treatment-seeking male and female substance abusing adolescents were randomly assigned to an experimental intervention or to a control group. The results did not demonstrate any group differences at either 3 or 6 months follow-up after hospital discharge. Risky sexual behaviors decreased from baseline in both groups. A longer follow-up period may be required to unmask any treatment impact.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV/AIDS
• adolescents
• substance abusers