GoalsPaper28 Oct 2026

A short motivational talk at a clinic may help people stop cocaine and heroin

HelpedThe short version

People who had the talk were more likely to be off cocaine six months later than those given a handout.

The study

Who took part
1,175 adults who used cocaine or heroin and were not in treatment, from walk-in clinics in Boston, USA. They were about 38 on average, 7 in 10 were men, and 46 in 100 were homeless.
What they did
The talk group had a 20-minute chat with a trained peer educator who had recovered from drug use. They also got help finding treatment and a phone call ten days later. The handout group got only a list of treatment options, and both groups were checked at three and six months.
What happened
After six months, 22 in 100 people in the talk group were off cocaine, against 17 in 100 in the handout group. Heroin: 40 in 100 against 31 in 100. Both drugs: 17 in 100 against 13 in 100, not a clear gap. The hair tests covered 778 people, and the gaps were small.

Helped
People who had the talk were more likely to be off cocaine six months later than those given a handout.
Large randomised trial of 1,175 adults who use cocaine or heroin · vs people who got only a handout · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ only counted people who finished
Helped
People who had the talk were more likely to be off heroin six months later than those given a handout.
Large randomised trial of 1,175 adults who use cocaine or heroin · vs people who got only a handout · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ only counted people who finished
No difference
Being off both drugs six months later did not clearly differ between the talk and handout groups.
Large randomised trial of 1,175 adults who use cocaine or heroin · vs people who got only a handout · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ only counted people who finished