This study tested the effects of two types of Brief Intervention (BI) strategy on post-discharge alcohol consumption and future driving events in young adults 18 to 45 years of age. The subjects studied were non alcoholic-dependent young adults hospitalised after a motor vehicle accident. The two types of BI were the Simple Advice (SA) and Brief Counselling (BC) interventions. Patients were interviewed in three groups: a) those given the SA intervention, b) those given the BI intervention and c) a control group (CG). Preliminary findings reveal a decrease in drinking at 3 and 6 months in all three groups. At 6 months 90% of subjects with the more intensive intervention had decreased their drinking. At 3 months a greater decrease was seen in BC and CG groups than in the SA group.
Abstract