Short Chat With Doc Can Curb Problem Drinking

Reuters HealthDay reported on January 9, 2008 on a study in the February, 2008 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine which found that a ten minute chat with the primary care physician about drinking changed for the better 17% of people with problem drinking behaviors. This kind of prevention is very cheap, and in one out of five people with problem drinking problems, helpful. Here's a snippet from the Reuters article:

Ten minutes of discussion with a doctor about drinking may help at least one in six problem drinkers change their ways, but most physicians don't understand that, a new data review finds. The systematic review of 10 related studies is published in the February issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. According to the researchers, brief alcohol screening and counseling may rank among the top five most cost-effective preventive services a doctor can offer, along with Pap smears and bowel cancer screening. Screening for problem drinking, combined with a doctor's advice, reduced problem drinking by 17.4 percent over a period that varied from six months to two years, according to the particular study.

Link: MedlinePlus: Short Chat With Doc Can Curb Problem Drinking.