QuikFix: enhanced motivational interviewing interventions for youth substance use

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the background principles, theories and components of the QuikFix intervention for primary and comorbid substance use in young people. Design/methodology/approach – QuikFix is a brief motivational interviewing (MI) intervention utilising cognitive-behavioural coping skills training to reduce vulnerability to substance use and comorbid mental health problems in young people. It is delivered in two to three brief sessions including an assessment. A new version, QuikFix personality intervention (PI) which incorporates coping skills training targeting sensation seeking, impulsive, depressive and anxious personality styles that may underlie primary and comorbid substance use problems is presented. Findings – The original QuikFix intervention has demonstrated efficacy in young alcohol and cannabis users with comorbid depression and anxiety symptoms. The efficacy of the new personality targeted version of QuikFix is currently being tested in a large randomized controlled trial among young people with alcohol related injuries/illnesses. Future research is required to determine the efficacy of QuikFix PI in comorbid populations including those with behavioural disorders. Practical implications – QuikFix interventions can be delivered via telephone or face-to-face in clinical settings for clients with primary substance use and comorbid depression and anxiety symptoms. Originality/value – This paper describes a novel two to three session manualised personality targeted substance use intervention. The full original QuikFix treatment manual is available online (Hides and Carroll, 2010).