Brief Alcohol Interventions for Youth in the Emergency Department: Exploring Proximal and Distal Outcomes

Brief interventions (BI) for alcohol use in the emergency department (ED) have been shown efficacious among adolescents and young adults; however, whether these interventions extend to other outcomes - proximal and distal - are less explored. This study examined outcomes of ED BIs in four completed trials showing reductions in alcohol use. Limited and inconsistent effects were found on proximal outcomes including parental monitoring, and distal outcomes including tobacco use. Identifying the mechanisms that underlie alcohol-focused BIs as well the intervention processes that may lead to generalized, positive effects on other variables is an important area of future research.