Transcript realize it - Infodrogy

“realize it!” –
A brief intervention program for cannabis users
Dr. Peter Tossmann, Berlin.
REITOX-Academy
Prevention and Therapy of Cannabis Disturbances in Europe:
Status, Projects, and Need for development
29 March – 30 March 2007 ● Berlin
The initial situation
 Increasing prevalence of cannabis use in Switzerland and in Germany
 10-15% of all current users show addictive problems (DSM-IV)
 Increasing numbers of cannabis users in drug counselling centres
 No specific programs for cannabis users are available
„realize it“ - drug counselling centres
Switzerland
Basel
Bern
Langenthal
Reinach
Rheinfelden
Thun
Winterthur
Germany
Bruchsal
Moosbach
Rheinfelden
Tuttlingen
Villingen
Waldshut
Funds
Federal Office of Public Health (Switzerland)
Ministry of Health (Germany)
Cantons of Basel-Stadt, Basel-Land and Aargau
Badischer Landesverband für Prävention & Rehabilitation
Target group of „realize it“
Inclusion criteria:
 age 15-30 years
 volunteers or referred users
 cannabis abuse or cannabis addiction
 desire to change drug taking behaviour
Exclusion criteria:
 failure to meet the inclusion criteria
 serious mental health problems
 alcohol, or drug dependence (other than cannabis)
 people in need of special treatment
Aims of the programme
On the individual level it is the aim of „realize it“
to reduce the use of cannabis significantly“
quit
take a break
take less
Methodological program basics
Motivational Interviewing
(Miller & Rollnik, 1999)
Solution focused brief intervention
(Berg & Miller, 2000, Berg & Gallagher, 1991).
Program elements
 five single sessions of councelling
 one group session
 diary of consumption
 information material
Profile of single sessions
 define and review objectives
 what are your high-risk situations?
 what are your coping strategies?
 what kind of drug-free activities can support your plan?
Program evaluation
Evaluation (outcome): University of Fribourg (Switzerland)
Evaluation (process): delphi-company, Berlin
Duration of the evaluation: 10/2004 – 9/2007
Participants: N>290
Design: single group analysis including assessment (t0) and 2 follow-ups
Research measures:
 socioeconomics
 substance use (cannabis, alcohol, other)
 mental health (self esteem, depressiveness, anxiety)
Study Population (N=290)
gender (male)
80%
age
M=24; MD=21
mental health problems*
43%
frequency of cannabis use
M=23 days/month
age of first use
M=15
complete the program regularely
52%
* depression (Hautziger& Bailer, 1983) or anxiety (Laux et al., 1981), or low self esteem (Harter, 1982)
„realize it“ – interim results
frequency of cannabis use (M no of days)
Frequency of cannabis use
25
20
15
10
5
0
baseline (N=290)

3 month (n=141)
6 month (n=90)
participants reduce their cannabis consumption significantly
„realize it“ – interim results
Depression (Hautziger & Bailer, 1993)
25
with symptoms (baseline)
20
without symptoms (baseline)
15
10
5
0
baseline (N=290)

3 month (n=141)
6 month (n=90)
participants improve their state of mental health
significantly
Perspectives
 to value the final results of the „realize it“-project
 to disseminate the program
Thank you!
Dr. Peter Tossmann