Screening and brief intervention for underage drinkers

Abstract

In a 2007 report, the US Surgeon General called for health care professionals to renew efforts to reduce underage drinking. Focusing on the adolescent patient, this review provides health care professionals with recommendations for alcohol-related screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment. MEDLINE and published reviews were used to identify relevant literature. Several brief screening methods have been shown to effectively identify underage drinkers likely to have alcohol use disorders. After diagnostic assessment when germane, the initial intervention typically focuses on education, motivation for change, and consideration of treatment options. Internet-accessible resources providing effective brief interventions are available, along with supplemental suggestions for parents. Recent changes in federal and commercial insurance reimbursement policies provide some fiscal support for these services, although rate increases and expanded applicability may be required to prompt the participation of many practitioners. Nevertheless, advances in clinical methods and progress on reimbursement policies have made screening and brief intervention for underage drinking more feasible in general health care practice.

FIGURE 1.

Alcohol and drug use screening questions from CRAFFT (Care, Relax, Alone, Family, Friends, Trouble). From the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research, Children's Hospital Boston, with permission.

FIGURE 2.

Suggested steps for screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment. AUDIT = Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test; AUDIT–C = Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Consumption; CRAFFT = Care, Relax, Alone, Family, Friends, Trouble.