Approximately 30% of the U.S. population is affected by alcohol misuse.
Alcohol misuse is now the third leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. after smoking and obesity. Two shocking statistics that the United States Preventive Services Task Force wants to help turn around.
The Task Force is out with brand new recommendations on how health care professionals should screen for dangerous drinking.
The new recommendations suggest that all adults, 18 and over, including pregnant women, be screened for alcohol misuse and that clinicians provide behavioral counseling to patients who engage in risky behavior with alcohol. Brief 10 to 15 minute interventions with follow-up support from a health educator have been shown to be effective.
The Task Force did not go as far as to suggest screenings for adolescents 12 to 17 years old. While acknowledging teen alcohol use is a serious problem, they concluded that there wasn't enough evidence that screening and behavioral counseling in this age group is effective in the long-term.
I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news doctors are reading; health news for healthier living.
Source: www.nlm.nih.gov
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