The effectiveness of a brief intervention for reducing adolescent alcohol consumption

Abstract

Introduction: Although alcohol consumption affects more than half of all adolescents, there are no known studies to assess the effectiveness of interventions to prevent or reduce consumption at a local level. The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to determine the effectiveness and clinical significance of a brief intervention program to reduce the consumption of alcohol and related problems in an educational setting in Argentina. Materials and methods: Systematically selected high school students (N = 167) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: two control groups (screening, screening and evaluation) and one experimental group (screening, assessment and intervention). With the approval of an Ethics Committee, we implemented a protocol based on international guidelines. The effectiveness measures used were reduction in usual quantity, in high-risk alcohol drinking or in alcohol-related problems. We performed descriptive analyses, linear and logistic regressions, estimates of relative and absolute risk reduction, and the number of patients needed to reduce an event. In the follow-up (N = 150), the quantity of consumption and high-risk consumption were higher in the control.groups. Results: The intervention effectively reduced alcohol consumption and related problems in about one out of seven adolescents, with a minimal investment in training and implementation. However, we did not find significant differences in alcohol-related problems among the groups, which decreased under all conditions. Conclusion: Long-term studies could determine whether this change primarily affects the intervention group.