Mini-counseling sessions could help risky drinkers
For people who consume too much alcohol, multiple short counseling sessions of 10 to 15 minutes with their doctor can curb their risks, a US task force reports this week.
As reported by National Public Radio (NPR), the US Preventive Services Task Force report claims that patients who had multiple mini-counseling sessions with their doctors were 12 percent more likely to quit binge drinking a year later and 11 percent more likely to reduce their drinking to recommended alcohol limits.
While the report doesn't specify how many counseling sessions are recommended, it does suggest more than one.
The recommendations also only apply to "risky" drinking, which is reported to be more than four drinks a day for men and three for women.
The task force's report was published this week in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.
SHARE YOUR OPINION
If you have an opinion you would like to share on this article, please send us an e-mail to the Times LIVE iLIVE team. In the mean time, click here to view the Times LIVE iLIVE section.