Tailored intervention aims to help injured young adults reduce substance use

This pilot study describes the development and testing of a Brief Negotiation Interview (BNI) adapted specifically for assault-injured emerging adults who misuse alcohol and/or cannabis. The research addresses a critical public health gap: young adults injured in assault and struggling with substance misuse face significantly higher risks of morbidity and mortality, yet existing interventions aren't tailored to their unique circumstances. The study combines a mixed-methods approach to first identify the shared psychosocial risk factors linking substance misuse and assault injury, then uses these insights to customize an evidence-based behavioral intervention for delivery in emergency department settings.

The pilot trial (N = 50) will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of this adapted BNI intervention in real-world emergency care conditions. By testing this intervention at the intersection of trauma and substance use, researchers aim to develop a practical tool that emergency departments can use to reduce both alcohol and cannabis misuse among this vulnerable population. The study recognizes that assault-injured young adults with dual substance use needs require targeted interventions beyond standard brief interventions, particularly given their elevated health risks and frequent ED visits.

This work represents an important step toward evidence-based harm reduction in emergency medicine. Rather than simply counseling against substance use, the adapted BNI approach acknowledges the complex relationship between trauma, injury, and substance misuse in emerging adults, offering a more compassionate and potentially more effective pathway to reducing harmful cannabis and alcohol use patterns in this high-risk group.