Effectiveness of Brief Alcohol Interventions in Primary Care

摘要

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 5 percent of the U.S. population drinks heavily, whereas up to 15 percent engage in binge drinking.2 Most of the harm from alcohol comes from those who are not alcohol dependent, but who engage in excessive or hazardous drinking. 3 Therefore, interventions to reduce alcohol use have the potential to save lives and reduce alcohol-related morbidity. Brief alcohol-reduction interventions are one way family physicians can help patients identify and begin to change a significant health-risk behavior. Because benefit has been demonstrated from interventions as short as one hour or less, it is not unreasonable to incorporate alcohol screening and intervention into routine clinical practice.