Key finding
Brief interventions for hazardous and harmful alcohol use are effective in reducing alcohol consumption, mortality, morbidity, alcohol-related injuries, alcohol-related social consequences, healthcare resource use and laboratory indicators.

Commentary
Six systematic reviews demonstrated that interventions delivered in primary care are effective in reducing alcohol consumption, mortality, morbidity, alcohol-related injuries, alcohol-related social consequences, healthcare resource use and laboratory indicators (1-6). Two systematic reviews specifically focusing on the use of brief interventions in emergency care found limited evidence for the effectiveness of brief interventions in emergency care settings (7, 8). A further review presented inconclusive evidence of the effectiveness of brief interventions in inpatient and outpatient settings (9).

Supporting evidence

(1) Ashenden, R., Silagy, C., & Weller, D. (1997). A systematic review of the effectiveness of promoting lifestyle change in general practice. Family Practice, 14(2): 160-175.

(2) Ballesteros, J., Duffy, J. C., Querejeta, I., Arino, J., & Gonzalez-Pinto, A. (2004). Efficacy of brief interventions for hazardous drinkers in primary care: systematic review and meta-analyses. Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 28 (4): 608-618.

(3) Bertholet, N., Daeppen, J. B., Wietlisbach, V., Fleming, M., & Burnand, B. (2005). Reduction of alcohol consumption by brief alcohol intervention in primary care: systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Internal Medicine, 165 (9): 986-995.

(4) Kaner, E. F. S., Beyer, F., Dickinson, H. O., Pienaar, E., Campbell, F., Schlesinger, C., Heather, N., Saunders, J., & Burnand, B. (2007). Effectiveness of brief alcohol interventions in primary care populations. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 18;(2):CD004148.

(5) Poikolainen, K. (1999). Effectiveness of brief interventions to reduce alcohol intake in primary health care populations: a meta-analysis. Preventive Medicine, 28(5): 503-9.

(6) Whitlock, E. P., Polen, M. R., Green, C. A., Orleans, T., Klein, J., & U.S.Preventive Services Task Force (2004). Behavioral counseling interventions in primary care to reduce risky/harmful alcohol use by adults: a summary of the evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Annals of Internal Medicine, 140 (7): 557-568. 

(7) D'Onofrio, G. & Degutis, L. C. (2002). Preventive care in the emergency department: screening and brief intervention for alcohol problems in the emergency department: a systematic review. Academic Emergency Medicine, 9(6): 627-38.

(8) Havard, A., Shakeshaft, A., & Sanson-Fisher, R. (2008). Systematic review and meta-analyses of strategies targeting alcohol problems in emergency departments: interventions reduce alcohol-related injuries. Addiction, 103(3): 368-76; discussion 377-8.

(9) Emmen, M. J., Schippers, G. M., Bleijenberg, G., & Wollersheim, H. (2004). Effectiveness of opportunistic brief interventions for problem drinking in a general hospital setting: systematic review. BMJ, 328 (7435): 318.