About this resource:
Source: The Cochrane Collaborative
Last Reviewed: August 2011
Workgroups: Substance Use Workgroup
In this Cochrane systematic review, the Cochrane Collaborative found that brief interventions can reduce drinking for up to 9 months in people who drink heavily and were admitted to the hospital. These interventions range from 1 session where participants get information and advice to as many as 3 sessions of motivational interviewing or skills‐based counseling. Researchers found that reduced drinking was not maintained at 1 year, though there were fewer deaths at 1 year in people who got a brief intervention than people in control groups. The review included studies mostly in men.
Objectives related to this resource (1)
Little or no detectable change
Suggested Citation
McQueen, J., Howe, T.E., Allan, L., Mains, D. & Hardy, V. (2011). Brief interventions for heavy alcohol users admitted to general hospital wards. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2011 (8). DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005191.pub3.
