Background/Objectives
To determine the initial efficacy of a mailed screening and brief intervention to reduce at-risk drinking among persons aged 50 years and older.
Design
Pilot randomized controlled trial.
Setting
UCLA Department of Medicine Community Offices and Primary Care Network. Participants: 86 adults aged 50 years and above who were identified as at-risk drinkers by the Comorbidity Alcohol Risk Evaluation Tool (CARET).
Intervention
Participants were assigned randomly to receive personalized mailed feedback outlining their specific risks associated with alcohol use, an educational booklet on alcohol and aging, and the NIH Rethinking Drinking: Alcohol and Your Health booklet (intervention group) or nothing (control group).
Measurements
Alcohol-related assessments at baseline and at 3 months. CARET assessed at-risk drinking, number of risks, and types of risks.
Results
At 3 months, relative to controls, fewer intervention group participants were: at-risk drinkers (66% versus 88%), binge drinking (45% versus 68%), used alcohol with a medical or psychiatric condition (3% versus 17%) or with symptoms of such a condition (29% versus 49%).
Conclusion
A mailed brief intervention may be an effective approach to intervening with at-risk drinkers aged 50 and older.
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