Alcohol screening and brief interventions in health and criminal justice settings: new evidence from the SIPS trials

Oakfield House, Room OS6

Speaker: Professor Colin Drummond, King's College London

Synopsis

There is already a considerable evidence base for the efficacy of alcohol screening and brief interventions (ASBI) mainly in the primary care setting. However the optimal methods of screening and the optimal intensity of brief intervention are unclear. Further there has been limited research on effectiveness and cost effectiveness of ASBI in typical clinical practice, and virtually no systematic research in criminal justice settings. The SIPS ASBI research programme funded by the Department of Health as part of its national alcohol strategy aimed to address these gaps in knowledge. The SIPS programme included 3 pragmatic randomised controlled trials in primary care, emergency departments and probation services across 3 regions in England, involving 2,500 participants. The implementation and 12 month outcome results of the programme will be presented and implications for clinical practice discussed.

All welcome