Citation

Osilla KC, Zellmer SP, Larimer ME, Neighbors C, Marlatt GA. J. Stud. Alcohol 2008; 69(1): 14-20.

Affiliation

RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

18080060

Abstract

Objective: The current pilot study examined the preliminary efficacy of a brief intervention (BI) for at-risk drinking in an employee assistance program. Method: Clients (N = 107) entering the employee assistance program (EAP) for mental health services were screened and met criteria for at-risk drinking. EAP therapists were randomly assigned to deliver either the BI plus EAP services as usual (SAU) or SAU only. Participants in the final analyses consisted of 44 BI + SAU (30 women, 14 men) and 30 SAU (21 women, 9 men) EAP clients who completed a 3-month follow-up. Results: Results suggested that participants in the BI + SAU group had significant reductions in peak blood alcohol concentration, peak quantity, and alcohol-related consequences compared with the SAU group. Men in the BI + SAU group had greater reductions in alcohol-related problems compared with men in the SAU group. Groups did not differ by number of total EAP sessions attended or rates of presenting problem resolution. Conclusions: Results provide preliminary evidence to support the integration of alcohol screening and BI as a low-cost method of intervening with clients with at-risk drinking in the context of co-occurring presenting problems.

Language: en