A successful, community-based 75-minute intervention for reducing substance abuse

The Community Health Initiative (CHI) implemented a 75-minute intervention for preventing the onset of substance abuse, HIV, and hepatitis among adult African Americans, including minority re-entry populations in Montgomery County, OH. This educational intervention was developed by the Substance Abuse Resource and Disability Issues (SARDI) program within Wright State University's Boonshoft School of Medicine. It was designed to help persons recognize specific behaviors that put them at risk for contracting HIV. The intervention included information on HIV transmission, HIV statistics, risk behaviors, how substance abuse contributes to HIV transmission, ways to reduce the risk of HIV and substance abuse, safer sex practices, and HIV testing. Overall, 212 persons enrolled in CHI, primarily male (59%) and African American (90.6%). The average age was 40.8 years, and 75% were released from jail or prison within the past year. A repeated-measures ANOVA was performed to assess the impact of Interview Time Point (baseline, exit, and 6-month follow-up), Gender, and Release from Jail (less than 30 days, between 30 days-1 year, more than 1 year) on substance use outcomes. There were significant main effects for Interview Time Point for alcohol (F (1,108) = 5.57, p < .05), other illegal drugs (F (1, 111) = 4.08, p < .05), cocaine/crack (F (1,110) = 4.69, p < .05), methamphetamine (F (1,117) = 10.98, p < .05), and prescription drugs (F (1,117) = 12.23, p < .05), indicating reductions in use. This intervention was successful in reducing substance abuse but did not change risky sexual behavior.