Context

Emergency department (ED) patients have a high prevalence of alcohol use problems making it potentially an opportune setting to intervene. Brief interventions for alcohol misuse have demonstrated efficacy in other medical settings, but within the ED it has been less clear.1 ,2 The study by D'Onofrio and colleagues provides additional insights into this question. This randomised controlled trial at a single urban academic ED evaluated whether a brief intervention for alcohol, with or without a booster intervention, decreases 7-day alcohol use and 28-day binge use (ie, greater than four drinks per occasion for men and three drinks for women) 12 months later.