Review of studies of interventions for heavy drinkers identified among general hospital inpatients concluded that multi-session brief interventions could reduce drinking. “Could” is an important qualifier: yet to be pinned down is why though sometimes they work, brief interventions often fail to produce significant effects

Key points from summary and commentary
• Analysts reviewed studies of interventions for heavy drinkers identified among adult general hospital inpatients admitted for reasons other than the treatment of their drinking problems.
• They found that multi-session brief interventions might reduce drinking, while single sessions did not, but did boost motivation or readiness to moderate drinking.
• Along with another review and detailed analysis of UK studies, the findings show that while brief interventions can work, often they fail to produce significant effects on the drinking and related problems of hospital inpatients