New research suggests that counseling by phone can help reduce alcohol consumption among problem drinkers. Many studies in the past have shown that just a few conversations with a doctor or counselor about alcohol abuse can help people to drink less. This is often referred to as brief interventions. However, we now know that these discussions don’t necessarily have to take place in person.

It’s important to note that this only works for people who have a mild alcohol abuse problem. Those with severe a severe addiction require much more extensive addiction treatment help. Stays in residential rehab facilities along with counseling and support groups are usually necessary to overcome a serious alcohol addiction. However, brief interventions can be effective for people who infrequently participate in alcohol abuse or are starting the path towards alcohol addiction.

This finding is helpful because there are often things that keep people from meeting with a doctor or counselor in person about alcohol abuse. Some of these are child care, not being able to get away from work, and transportation issues. Other people don’t want family members to know they have an issue with alcohol abuse or are afraid someone in the community will find out they’re seeking treatment. Addiction counseling over the phone can help these people.

In the study, researchers found participants in the waiting rooms of clinics. Approximately 900 people were evaluated as possibly dealing with alcohol abuse in their lives. Half of them received pamphlets on addiction, and the other half were contacted by phone for alcohol abuse counseling. The women who received the telephone counseling said that their drinking had reduced by 11 percent, and men in the study reduced alcohol consumption by 17 percent. This information could provide a new method of addiction treatment for people with mild alcohol abuse problems. It was published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.