OBJECTIVE: As many as one in four adults in North America experiences some problems due to alcohol consumption. Although most of these problem drinkers do not have concerns that are severe enough to merit formal treatment, such drinking has large economic costs and can place the drinker at risk for long-term negative health and social consequences. The present study evaluated a minimal intervention that used normative feedback about population drinking to motivate changes in alcohol use. METHOD: An intervention pamphlet was mailed to over 6,000 households in Toronto, randomized by block from a region containing almost 10,000 households. In the month after the mailing, a general population survey was conducted in the region to assess alcohol use. RESULTS: Respondents from households receiving normative feedback (n = 472) reported significantly lower alcohol use than controls (n = 225), but this effect occurred only among respondents who met an objective criterion for problem drinking and who perceived some risk associated with their drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Viewed from a public health perspective, normative feedback interventions have the potential for a significant payoff because they can be provided at low cost and to problem drinkers who might ordinarily never access any treatment services.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: As many as one in four adults in North America experiences some problems due to alcohol consumption. Although most of these problem drinkers do not have concerns that are severe enough to merit formal treatment, such drinking has large economic costs and can place the drinker at risk for long-term negative health and social consequences. The present study evaluated a minimal intervention that used normative feedback about population drinking to motivate changes in alcohol use. METHOD: An intervention pamphlet was mailed to over 6,000 households in Toronto, randomized by block from a region containing almost 10,000 households. In the month after the mailing, a general population survey was conducted in the region to assess alcohol use. RESULTS: Respondents from households receiving normative feedback (n = 472) reported significantly lower alcohol use than controls (n = 225), but this effect occurred only among respondents who met an objective criterion for problem drinking and who perceived some risk associated with their drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Viewed from a public health perspective, normative feedback interventions have the potential for a significant payoff because they can be provided at low cost and to problem drinkers who might ordinarily never access any treatment services.
Authors: Brian Borsari; Molly Magill; Nadine R Mastroleo; John T P Hustad; Tracy O'Leary Tevyaw; Nancy P Barnett; Christopher W Kahler; Erica Eaton; Peter M Monti Journal: J Consult Clin Psychol Date: 2015-10-12
Authors: Clayton Neighbors; Denise D Walker; Lyungai F Mbilinyi; Allison O'Rourke; Jeffrey L Edleson; Joan Zegree; Roger A Roffman Journal: Violence Against Women Date: 2010-03-03
Authors: Ali M Yurasek; Brian Borsari; Molly Magill; Nadine R Mastroleo; John T P Hustad; Tracy O'Leary Tevyaw; Nancy P Barnett; Christopher W Kahler; Peter M Monti Journal: Psychol Addict Behav Date: 2015-06-22
Authors: Brian Borsari; John T P Hustad; Nadine R Mastroleo; Tracy O'Leary Tevyaw; Nancy P Barnett; Christopher W Kahler; Erica Eaton Short; Peter M Monti Journal: J Consult Clin Psychol Date: 2012-08-27
Authors: Brian Borsari; Erica Eaton Short; Nadine R Mastroleo; John T P Hustad; Tracy O'Leary Tevyaw; Nancy P Barnett; Christopher W Kahler; Peter M Monti Journal: J Subst Abuse Treat Date: 2014-01-13
Authors: Ali M Yurasek; Jennifer E Merrill; Jane Metrik; Mary Beth Miller; Anne C Fernandez; Brian Borsari Journal: J Subst Abuse Treat Date: 2017-05-31
Authors: Brian Borsari; Jennifer E Merrill; Ali Yurasek; Mary Beth Miller; Kate B Carey Journal: Subst Use Misuse Date: 2016-04-12 Impact factor: 2.164