Acceptability and feasibility of a brief substance use intervention for adolescents in Cape Town, South Africa: A pilot study
Abstract
Substance use is prevalent among South African adolescents, but few interventions exist to reduce risk of harm. This study assesses the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of a brief intervention for reducing adolescent substance use and other risk behaviours. This single‐arm feasibility test recruited 30 substance‐using adolescents and their primary caregiver. Participants received separate interventions (2 sessions for adolescents, 1 session for caregivers), with a subsample randomly selected for post‐intervention interviews. Feasibility was measured by the proportion of eligible adolescents who were enrolled and retained in the study. Interviews explored acceptability, and changes in outcomes from baseline to 1‐month follow‐up assessed preliminary effects of the intervention. Thirty of 43 (69.8%) eligible adolescents and their caregivers were enrolled, with 29 adolescents (96.7%) and 28 caregivers (93.3%) completing the intervention. Twenty‐eight adolescents (93.3%) and 29 caregivers (96.7%) were retained at follow‐up. Frequency of alcohol, cannabis use and delinquent‐type behaviours decreased significantly from baseline to follow‐up. Participants appreciated the intervention content and delivery and felt that it facilitated behaviour change. Suggestions for improving the intervention were provided. This study found that the intervention is feasible, acceptable and had promising effects on adolescent behaviour. Efficacy must be established with a randomised controlled trial.
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Teen Intervene has been adapted and tested for use among adolescents in South Africa and found to be feasible and acceptable.
“'Teen intervene' has been adapted and tested for use among adolescents in South Africa (Carney et al., 2019) and found to be feasible and acceptable (Carney et al., 2020).”
From Adapting a substance use screening and brief intervention for peer-delivery and for youth in Kenya (2023) · cites this paper as Carney et al., 2020
SBI has been found effective in reducing low, moderate, and high-risk substance use among youth in the US, Czech Republic, and South Africa.
“It has been found to be effective in reducing low, moderate, and high-risk substance use among youth in the US (Winters et al., 2014), Czech Republic (Harris et al., 2012) and South Africa (Carney et al., 2020).”
From Adapting a substance use screening and brief intervention for peer-delivery and for youth in Kenya (2023) · cites this paper as Carney et al., 2020
In adolescents in South Africa, for those who reported current alcohol use, there was a significant reduction in self-reported frequency of alcohol use in the previous 30 days (t(14) = 2.3, p = .04, Cohen's d = 0.58) and in the number of drinks containing alcohol in one sitting (t(14) = 2.7, p = .02, Cohen's d = 0.69) from baseline to follow-up.
“For those participants who reported current use of alcohol, there was a significant reduction in the self-reported fre-quency of alcohol use in the previous 30 days (t(14) = 2.3,p = .04, Cohen’s d = 0.58) and the number of drinks containing alcohol in one sitting (t(14) = 2.7, p = .02, Cohen’s d = 0.69) from baseline to the follow-upappointment.”
From A scoping review of substance use brief interventions in Africa (2024) · cites this paper as [98]
In adolescents in South Africa, there was a significant reduction in self-reported delinquent-type behaviors from baseline to follow-up (t(27) = 2.9, p < .01, Cohen's d = 0.55).
“There was a significant reduction in self-reported delinquent-type behaviors from baseline to the follow-up appointment (t(27) = 2.9, p < .01, Cohen’s d = 0.55).”
From A scoping review of substance use brief interventions in Africa (2024) · cites this paper as [98]
In adolescents in South Africa, self-reported cannabis use frequency in the previous 30 days decreased significantly (t(19) = 2.1, p = .05, Cohen's d = 0.47), but changes in the proportion with positive biological results for cannabis did not reach statistical significance (X2(1) = 4.9, p = .06).
“Self-reported cannabis use frequency in the previous 30 days also decreased significantly, (t(19) = 2.1, p = .05, Cohen’s d = 0.47), but changes inin the proportion of adolescents with positive biological results for cannabis did not reach statistical significance (X2(1) = 4.9, p = .06).”
From A scoping review of substance use brief interventions in Africa (2024) · cites this paper as [98]
In adolescents in South Africa, participants experienced the intervention as a safe haven and as leading to behavior change, and expressed the importance of extending the reach of the program and ensuring its sustainability due to high levels of substance use among adolescents in the community.
“Participants experienced the intervention as a safe haven, and as leading to behavior change. They also expressed theimportance of extending the reach of the programand ensuring its sustainability due to high levels of substance use among adolescents in the community.”
From A scoping review of substance use brief interventions in Africa (2024) · cites this paper as [98]
In adolescents in South Africa, sexual risk behavior decreased, although the difference did not reach statistical significance (t(27) 2.0, p = .06, Cohen's d = 0.38).
“Sexual risk behavior decreased, although the difference did not reach statistical significance (t(27) 2.0, p = .06, Cohen’s d = 0.38).”
From A scoping review of substance use brief interventions in Africa (2024) · cites this paper as [98]
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- Authors
- Carney, T., Johnson, K., Carrico, A., & Myers, B.
- Affiliations
- South African Medical Research Council (ZA)
- University of Miami (US)
- Corresponding author
- Carney, Tara
- Venue
- International Journal of Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2020-04-13
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1016-1025
- ISSN
- 0020-7594 (ISSN-L)
- 1464-066X
- OpenAlex
- W3015939315
- Cited by
- 25
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 2.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Research Foundation (CSUR160412161974‐105919)
- South African Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Demography › Youth, Drugs, and Violence
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- adolescent substance use, brief intervention, feasibility, acceptability, alcohol consumption, cannabis use, delinquency, risk-taking, caregiver involvement, intervention retention, behavior change, Cape Town
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Crisis Intervention, Feasibility Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Pilot Projects, Risk-Taking, South Africa, Substance-Related Disorders
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