• Catherine L Ward, Jennifer R Mertens, Graham F Bresick, Francesca Little, and Constance M Weisner.
• Department of Psychology and Safety and Violence Initiative, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa catherine.ward@uct.ac.za.
• Alcohol Alcohol. 2015 May 1; 50 (3): 302-9.

PurposeTo explore whether reducing substance misuse through a brief motivational intervention also reduces aggression and HIV risk behaviours.MethodsParticipants were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial in primary care if they screened positive for substance misuse. Substance misuse was assessed using the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test; aggression, using a modified version of the Explicit Aggression Scale; and HIV risk, through a count of common risk behaviours. The intervention was received on the day of the baseline interview, with a 3-month follow-up.ResultsParticipants who received the intervention were significantly more likely to reduce their alcohol use than those who did not; no effect was identified for other substances. In addition, participants who reduced substance misuse (whether as an effect of the intervention or not) also reduced aggression but not HIV risk behaviours.ConclusionsReducing substance misuse through any means reduces aggression; other interventions are needed for HIV risk reduction.© The Author 2015. Medical Council on Alcohol and Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.

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