Ecstasy Check-Up: A multi-site trial of a brief intervention for ecstasy use

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Our long-term goal is to decrease ecstasy use in Australia by motivating ecstasy users, through brief and early information and discussion, to reduce their use through providing research based information and discussion. The objective of the proposed research is to evaluate a brief discussion based on motivational interviewing (Ecstasy Check-Up) for regular ecstasy users (1 session) compared with an educational control discussion, which involves provision of an informational booklet regarding the facts and fiction on ecstasy use. The primary hypothesis of the proposed study is that the one-session brief motivation interviewing discussion will be associated with lower levels of ecstasy use and dependence than the education only discussion. E Check Up sessions in which the specialist more strongly adheres to motivational interviewing principles are expected to have better outcomes. Additionally, our secondary hypothesis is that participants in the study will like and gain some positive aspects from both conditions, regardless if they have been assigned the research or the education discussion. The research is of benefit to participants as it offers an opportunity for them to manage their ecstasy use. This lifestyle change has many benefits including improvements in physical and mental health. This benefit, however, cannot be guaranteed; it is dependent on participants’ engagement with the discussion. At the baseline session, all participants will be assured that any information they provide will remain strictly confidential (within the limits of legal confidentiality and duty of care). After written informed consent is provided and all questions and concerns have been answered, the baseline assessment will occur. At one-, four-, and six-month follow-ups the research assistant will conduct face-to-face follow-ups with all participants using the measures collected at the baseline assessment. The outcome measures will be modified to assess the relevant durations at each visit. For example, the measures will assess the last 90 days during the baseline assessment, and the past 30-days at the one-month follow-up.