Acceptability of the use of motivational interviewing to reduce underage drinking in a Native American community.

Thirty-six Native American tribal leaders and members living on contiguous rural southwest California reservations were surveyed concerning their view of the acceptability of a motivational interviewing (MI) intervention with youth (aged 8-18 years) who are drinking and their families. The results suggest the following: (1) a substantial proportion of reservation youth would be willing to accept MI for behavior change; (2) relatively few are actually ready to change; (3) most reservation youth are in the precontemplation stage of change; and (4) MI may be well suited as an intervention to prevent underage drinking in that population. The study's limitations are noted.