Brief intervention for harm reduction with alcohol-positive older adolescents in a hospital emergency department

This study evaluated the use of a brief motivational interview (MI) to redu ce alcohol-related consequences and use among adolescents treated:in an eme rgency room (ER) following an alcohol-related event. Patients aged 18 to 19 years (N = 94); were randomly assigned to receive either MI or standard ca re (SC). Assessment and intervention were conducted in the ER during or aft er the patient's treatment. Follow-up assessments showed that patients who received the MI had a significantly lower incidence of drinking and driving , traffic violations, alcohol-related injuries, and alcohol-related problem s than patients who received SC. Both conditions showed reduced alcohol con sumption. The harm-reduction focus of the MI was evident in that MI reduced negative outcomes related to drinking, beyond what was produced by the pre cipitating event plus SC alone.