This study will use a pilot test format to examine the efficacy of a brief Motivational Interviewing (MI) intervention developed by the investigator Dr. Douglas Smith called CHOICE (Compassionate Helpers Openly Inviting Client Empowerment)with youth referred for substance abuse assessments to substance abuse treatment agencies in Chicago and Urbana, IL.

This study will use a pilot test format to examine the efficacy of a brief Motivational Interviewing (MI) intervention developed by the investigator Dr. Douglas Smith called CHOICE (Compassionate Helpers Openly Inviting Client Empowerment)with youth referred for substance abuse assessments to substance abuse treatment agencies in Chicago and Urbana, IL. The study will have two arms: one group will receive the standard CHOICE Motivational Interview (MI) while the second group will receive the CHOICE Motivational Interview with a Normative Feedback component, called CHOICE+ (CHOICE Plus). The hypothesis is that there will be no difference in outcomes between those that receive the standard CHOICE and those that receive the CHOICE+ MI.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Youth 13-19 years of age (and their parents or legal guardians if their youth has been referred for an assessment with the Prairie Center counseling staff.)
• referred for an assessment to see if they need substance use disorder treatment
• have used substances on 13 or more days out of the past 90 days or scored higher than 2 on the CRAFT assessment. -

Exclusion Criteria:

• Low cognitive functioning