Doctors Urged to Screen for Alcohol Problems

An influential group of experts is recommending that primary care doctors screen all adults for alcohol problems. The advice comes from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. This independent group reviews medical evidence and offers advice to doctors on preventive care. The new report says there’s enough evidence to show that asking one question can help show which patients may have “risky” drinking patterns. The question is: “How many times in the past year have you had five or more drinks in a day (if you’re a man), or four or more drinks (if you’re a woman or older than 65)?” If the person says this has happened at least once, the doctor can ask more questions to assess the degree of risk. Risky drinking may be causing current problems or may just increase the risk of problems later. The journal Annals of Internal Medicine published the study.