Addiction Information > Drug Abuse Treatment Guidelines - Brief Interventions - Part 2

BRIEF INTERVENTIONS

HOW DO I DELIVER A 'BRIEF INTERVENTION'?

There are two stages:

STAGE ONE:
IDENTIFICATION OF A PROBLEM

Problem substance users can be identified by use of the CAGE questionnaire (Section A2). This has a high sensitivity (pick-up rate); if there are two or more positive responses to the four questions, then it is advisable to proceed to the counselling intervention.

STAGE TWO:
5-10 MINUTES DISCUSSION using counselling skills

FRAMES COUNSELLING APPROACH

FEEDBACK
So,you say your difficulty getting to work on time may be related to alcohol.
RESPONSIBILITY
Well, only you can make the decision to stop drinking for the next two weeks.
ADVICE
Yes, I recommend you stop drinking for two weeks, to see if that makes a difference.
MENU OF OPTIONS
If this turns out to be too hard, we can consider other options such as AA or referral to the specialist team.
EMPATHY
I know this will be hard for you because you feel alcohol helps you relax, and I'm concerned about the amount of stress you have.
SELF-EFFICACY
Considering how difficult you find this, I'm impressed by your willingness to consider a change.

The FRAMES approach utilises best practice for the delivery of substance misuse-related brief counselling interventions. Confrontational styles tend to be ineffective (Miller W et al, 1993). Rather, the themes of effective counselling are to 'Roll with Resistance', to avoid confrontation, and to lead the patient towards making their own decisions.

For drinkers, a combination of this approach with feedback on GGT levels has been shown to be effective (Nilssen O, 1991):

FIRST APPOINTMENT:

Identify alcohol problem with the
CAGE questionnaire.
Use FRAMES counselling approach.
Take blood for GGT.
Book second appointment for one
month’s time.

SECOND APPOINTMENT:

Discuss the most common reasons for an
elevated GGT, including alcohol, within
the FRAMES approach.
Ask the patient to consider the reasons for
their raised GGT.
Take a second GGT, and mail the result
to the patient.
Plan to review in one year.

Further components may be built in such as making a list of drinking/drug using cues, keeping a drinking/ drug use diary, signing a drinking/drug using agreement, dispensing written self-help materials.

Next page .. DO BRIEF INTERVENTIONS WORK?

Drug Addiction Treatment index

Call us NOW on
0845 1300 757

News

Discover why you are better off flying to South Africa for addictions treatment and recovery.

Latest Addiction news.

Addiction Clinics

Triage Healthcare provide treatment at the following addictions clinics in South Africa:

• Johannesburg
• Cape Town
• Durban.
• Storms River