TY - JOUR T1 - A brief intervention by emergency department providers decreased 12 month alcohol use JF - Evidence Based Medicine JO - Evid Based Med SP - e24 LP - e24 DO - 10.1136/eb-2012-101024 VL - 18 IS - 3 AU - Michael J Mello AU - Richard Longabaugh Y1 - 2013/06/01 UR - http://ebm.bmj.com/content/18/3/e24.abstract N2 - Commentary on: D'Onofrio G, Fiellin DA, Pantalon MV, et al. A brief intervention reduces hazardous and harmful drinking in emergency department patients. Ann Emerg Med 2012; 60: 181–92.OpenUrl 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. The study randomised 889 adult ED patients who screened positive for hazardous or harmful drinking to receive either (1) a brief negotiation interview (BNI), (2) … ER -