Brief interventions fill the gap between primary prevention efforts and more intensive treatment for persons with more serious alcohol use disorders. They can serve as treatment for hazardous and harmful drinkers and a way to facilitate referral of patients with more serious alcohol dependence for more intensive specialized treatment.
Elements of Brief Interventions
_ Present screening results
_ Identify risks and discuss consequences
_ Provide medical advice
_ Solicit patient commitment
_ Identify goal—reduced drinking or
abstinence
_ Give advice and encouragement
What does a treatment program include?
Treatment programs usually include counseling, such as:
- Individual and group therapy, where you talk about your recovery with a counselor or with other people who are trying to quit. You can get support from others who have struggled with alcohol.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), where you learn to change thoughts and actions that make you more likely to use alcohol. A counselor teaches you ways to deal with cravings and avoid going back to alcohol.
- Motivational interviewing (MI), where you resolve mixed feelings about quitting and getting treatment. A counselor helps you find personal motivation to change.
- Motivational enhancement therapy (MET), which uses motivational interviewing to help you find motivation to quit. It usually lasts for two to four sessions.
- Brief intervention therapy, which provides feedback, advice, and goal-setting.
- Couples and family therapy, which can help you become and stay sober and keep good relationships within your family.
The Stages of Change and Associated Brief Intervention Elements
Stage
Precontemplation: The hazardous or harmful drinker is not considering change in the near future, and may not be aware of the actual or potential health consequences of continued drinking at this level. Interventions include Feedback about the results of the screen and information about the hazards of drinking.
Contemplation: The drinker may be aware of alcohol-related consequences but is ambivalent about changing. Interventions include emphasizing the benefits of changing, giveing information about alcohol problems, and the risks of delaying and discuss how to choose a goal.
Preparation: The drinker has already decided to change in plans to take action. Intervention involves help in choosing a goal and giving advice and encouragement.
Action: The drinker has begun to cut down or stop drinking, but the changes have not become permanent. Interventions include giving advice and encouragement.
Maintenance: The drinker has achieved moderate drinking or abstinence on a relatively permanent basis. Intervention involves giving encouragement.
