Alcohol Use or Abuse?

Answering this one question can tell researchers a lot about alcohol abuse:

How many times in the past year have you had 4 or more drinks in a day? (Make that 5 or more drinks a day for men.)

Just answering this question about alcohol use can help raise the warning flag to primary physicians that a spectrum of potential unhealthy alcohol use behaviors may be at play.

Photo: Kyle Flood

Unhealthy alcohol use - the spectrum from risky consumption to alcohol use disorders, alcohol abuse, and dependence - is "prevalent, but under-diagnosed, in primary care settings" according to Boston Medical Center researchers based on results from their study that appears in the March 12 online issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine. "Screening and brief intervention by primary care physicians for those with unhealthy alcohol use reduces risky consumption, " according to Peter C. Smith, MD, MSc, from Boston University School of Medicine and colleagues.

The researchers recently tested the use of this one question about alcohol behavior in a sample of primary care patients. Of the 286 participants in the study, unhealthy alcohol use was reported by 31% of participants. Further review of this subgroup found that (of the 286 participants):

• 6% consumed risky amounts but did not have alcohol-related problems or a disorder


• 13% consumed risky amounts and had problems but no current disorder


• 12% had a current alcohol use disorder

It doesn't hurt to ask yourself this question:

How many times in the past year have you had 4 or more drinks in a day? (5 or more drinks a day for men.)

Then honestly reflect on your answer, because your doctor might be asking you the same question in the years to come.

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Source: J Gen Intern Med. Published online March 12, 2009.

Related Topics:

• WebMD Alcohol Abuse Health Center
• Addiction and Substance Abuse Support Group
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