Reducing alcohol abuse in active patients

Alcohol abuse is recognized as one of our most acute societal concerns and has widespread consequences. The main costs from alcohol consumption each year in the United States are an estimated $150 billion, which includes those of related healthcare and productivity losses from the estimated 100,000 lives lost. Substance abuse figures prominently among public health priorities; many mention alcohol or drinking. Achieving reductions in abuse has been mediocre in recent years (1). Although progress was made toward the Healthy People 2000 targets, none of the goals was met.