Brief interventions for alcohol and other drug use

Abstract

Brief interventions essentially include screening and assessment of all patients about their alcohol or other drug use. This then allows the clinician to provide information and advice to reduce the harms associated with risky use. These interventions are generally opportunistic and are offered to people who have not sought assistance but have been identified through routine screening. Brief interventions are more effective in people who are ‘at risk’ of developing dependence rather than those who are already dependent or experiencing severe drug-related harms. The effectiveness of brief interventions in the real-world setting has been questioned in recent years. Brief interventions should be repeated whenever possible rather than focusing on a single session.