Consumo de riesgo de alcohol — intervención breve (SBIRT)

Why / when / how

Brief intervention reduces alcohol consumption in people with risky use, with a real though modest effect, and it is scalable in primary care as the basis of the SBIRT-type approach. The certainty of the evidence for the critical outcomes is moderate. This is why the recommendation is conditional in favor, because the balance between benefits and risks is favorable, although with lower certainty.

Cautions

Before intervening on substance use and exposure to toxicants, assess the patient's consumption pattern, dependence, and clinical conditions, and individualize the approach. Discontinuing substances that produce physical dependence may require medical supervision because of the risk of a withdrawal syndrome, so it should not be stopped abruptly without assessment. Advise seeking professional care in the presence of any warning sign, including in crisis situations, and refer to specialized addiction treatment/environmental health services, according to the case. Reassess the course periodically.

Quantitative evidence