WHEN TO DO A BRIEF INTERVENTION

BI is appropriate any time a patient you are seeing is drinking excessively

Clearly if you have only 10-15 minutes for a patient visit, taking an extra 5 minutes to do a brief intervention is a significant commitment.

However
Considering the fact that 5 minutes can be so effective, simplify your future care, and profoundly impact your patient's health, this is an important 5 minutes.

And
Given the prevalence of heavy/problem drinking the odds are you will only encounter about one such new heavy drinker a day.

Patients who respond the best are harmful or hazardous drinkers. This includes those with

• elevated consumption
• drinking related problems
• a history of alcohol-related hazardous behavior.

Evidence differs regarding a safe level of consumption. The most conservative guideline is no more than 1 drink a day for non-pregnant women and 2 drinks a day for men. There is evidence that these low levels of alcohol use may have beneficial health effects. Pregnant women should be advised not to drink at all.