This article describes the psychometric characteristics of two major assessment instruments used in a World Health Organization (WHO) clinical trial: (a) Alcohol Timeline Followback (TLFB, which assesses daily drinking patterns), and (b) Inventory of Drinking Situations (IDS, which assesses antecedents to "heavy" drinking). Clients (N = 308) were outpatient alcohol abusers from four countries (Australia, Canada, Mexico, and Sweden). Generally, the Alcohol TLFB and IDS were shown to be reliable and valid with outpatient alcohol abusers in four countries, and in three languages. These results suggest that the Alcohol TLFB and the IDS can be used in clinical and research settings with Swedish-, Spanish-, and English-speaking alcohol abusers.

RESUMENIntroducción: en las últimas décadas, se ha observado en los adolescentes mexicanos un incremento en la cantidad y frecuencia del consumo de alcohol y drogas ilícitas; los programas de intervención breve han demostrado ser eficaces para reducir el consumo y abuso de sustancias en diversas poblaciones. Objetivo: determinar la eficacia del Programa de Intervención Breve para Adolescentes que Inician el Consumo Abusivo de Alcohol y otras Drogas (PIBA), así como el mantenimiento del cambio en los jóvenes que asistieron. Método: se utilizó un diseño de medidas repetidas, no probabilístico y sin grupo control. En el seguimiento participaron 60 usuarios consumidores de sustancias de entre 16 y 20 años de edad, de ambos sexos, habitantes de la Ciudad de México. Resultados: al comparar la preintervención vs. el seguimiento, se encontró que los adolescentes que participaron en el PIBA mantuvieron una reducción en su patrón de consumo (cantidad, frecuencia y tiempo de abstinencia) de alcohol, mariguana e inhalables; disminuyeron los problemas asociados con el consumo; e incrementaron su nivel de autoeficacia percibida. La mejoría fue mayor en quienes concluyeron la intervención breve que en quienes no terminaron todas las sesiones. Conclusiones: el PIBA fue coadyuvante en la consecución de las metas propuestas por la mayoría de los adolescentes que asistieron a este tratamiento psicológico.Palabras clave: adolescentes, consumo de sustancias, intervenciones breves. SUMMARYIntroduction: in recent decades, it has been observed an increase in the amount and frequency of alcohol intake and consume of illicit drugs in Mexican adolescents. Brief intervention programs have been effective reducing consumption and substance abuse, in diverse teens populations. Objective: to determine the effectiveness of the Brief Intervention Program for Adolescents Initiating Abusive Consumption of Alcohol and Other Drugs (PIBA), as well as, the maintenance of the change in the youngsters who were attended. Method: a repeated measures design, pre and post test, no probabilistic and without control group, was used. In the follow-up, 60 substance users participated, between 16 and 20 years of age, of both sexes, inhabitants of the Mexico City. Results: by comparing the pre-intervention versus follow-up, teens who participated in the PIBA maintained a reduction in their consumption pattern (amount, frequency and time of abstinence substances alcohol, marijuana and inhalants), decreased the problems associated with consumption, and they increased their level of perceived self-efficacy. The improvement was greater in the group that concluded the brief intervention than in the group that left it unfinished.

Background: Many young people in England do not use services associated with delivery of alcohol IBA (also called screening and brief intervention). The project tested whether IBA can be delivered to 18-30 year-old, on busy city streets, by trained workers who were not healthcare professionals, without framing it as an 'alcohol reduction' intervention. This approach may be referred to as 'IBA Direct'. Materials and methods: Numbers of participants in the intervention were recorded on a monitoring sheet, along with the individual's gender, age and AUDIT score. The evaluator asked some participants to complete a brief, anonymous feedback form about their experience of the intervention. Results: The project was delivered over 3 days, amassing a total of 24 h across 2 Saturdays and 1 Sunday in August 2015. Four workers were present on all days. In total, 402 brief interventions were completed; however, data from 379 participants were recorded. Forty-one percent were female (21 % missing data) and 42 % were aged in their teens or twenties. A participant feedback form was completed by 61 people. Ninety-three percent (n = 57) rated the service as 'Excellent' or 'Good'. All respondents who answered the question on the suitability of the setting of the service (n = 58) said it was suitable. Nine out of ten respondents (n = 55) stated they would participate in this service in a public setting again. Conclusions: The evaluation of this project has demonstrated the feasibility and high acceptability of IBA Direct being delivered by non-health workers to the public on the streets of London. There were high levels of engagement at each location and among those aged 18-30. Important facilitators were considered to be the 'branding' of the intervention and materials, for example, framed as a 'health quiz' not 'alcohol reduction' and incentives to draw people in such as free 'mocktails' (soft drinks).