Study Finds Brief Intervention Helps Young AdultsDecember 10, 2004
Research Summary
Results from a randomized control trial found that brief intervention can significantly reduce overall consumption, binge drinking, and problems due to drinking among 18- to 30-year-olds.People who were enrolled in Project TrEAT (Trial of Early Alcohol Treatment) were randomly assigned to usual care or brief intervention.
Among the 226 young adults in the study who were enrolled for four years, researchers found significant differences between the two groups in the number of people drinking more than three drinks per day, average 7-day consumption, number of people drinking six or more drinks per occasion, and number of binge drinking episodes in the previous 30 days.
The analysis also found significant differences in emergency department visits, motor vehicle crashes, total motor vehicle events, and arrests for controlled substance or liquor violation.
The authors conclude that the long-term reductions in high-risk drinking behaviors and consequences support widespread implementation of brief interventions in primary care.
Reference:
Grossberg PM, Brown DD, and Fleming MF. Brief physician advice for high-risk drinking among young adults. Ann Fam Med 2(5): 474-80, Sep-Oct 2004.
Take Action: Making screening a routine part of every primary care and emergency room visit is one of Join Together's "10 Drug and Alcohol Policies That Will Save Lives."
What You Can Do: Give this summary to your physician, and ask whether he or she screens patients for alcohol and drug use and offers brief interventions to those who may have problems. Visit Hot Issues: Screening and Brief Intervention for more information on brief intervention.
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