Effectiveness of ASSIST Linked Brief Intervention for Substance Use among Commercial Bus Drivers in a suburb of Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Substance use is prevalent and increasing among commercial bus drivers in Nigeria. Nonetheless, opportunity abound for the delivery of brief interventions for those at risk of substance use-related health problems. This study examined the influence of an ASSIST-Linked Brief Intervention (ALBI) on the reduction of substance use consumption among commercial bus drivers in Lagos, Nigeria. A within-subject research design was adopted in the current research wherein participants' use of alcohol and other substances were assessed before and after the intervention. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique by selecting 20 participants from a pool of 30 commercial bus drivers in a selected motor park. Participants were assessed using the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Subsequently, the data obtained from the participants was used to administer immediate brief interventions based on their risk level to the assessed substances. Findings revealed that 50% of the participants had evidence of moderate risk of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use. However, after one month, the ASSIST result revealed that there
was a significant effect of the brief intervention on tobacco (mean difference = 9.00, p<.005), alcohol (mean difference = 7.15, p<.005), and cannabis use (mean difference = 11.00, p<.005). Study findings imply that ALBI significantly reduced substance use involvement among commercial bus drivers in Lagos.