Getting Started

Beginning the client intervention:

• Part of my job as a health professional is to prevent needless illness and injury in my clients. Following a healthy lifestyle including reduction of alcohol intake helps reduce risks for many chronic diseases, injury and negative social behaviors. Are you a ‘low risk’ drinker?  Low Risk Drinking is a term used to describe an approach that encourages healthy adults to make informed decisions about their alcohol consumption in order to minimize risk.

Goal:

To encourage reduction in alcohol consumption to a level that is considered to lower risk for individuals.  See the Low Risk Drinking Guidelines. www.lrdg.net

ASK about the client’s use of alcohol:

Suggestions:  Explore the following questions with your client:

• Have you or your family and friends ever felt that you should cut down on your drinking? 
• Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking? 
• On a typical day, how many drinks do you have? 
• On average, how many days a week do you drink alcohol?

Go to Low Risk Drinking for more advice on the health and social effects of alcohol.

* Discussing LRDG’s as part of a BCI may not be appropriate with the alcohol dependant person who most likely requires more intensive treatment with abstinence as a treatment goal.  See Quick Reference for details on how to assess the differences between the problem drinker and the alcohol dependant drinker according to CAMH (Centre for Addictions and Mental Health). Referral to treatment may be indicated at this point. See treatment/referral options in the Relapse section of these pages.  The BCI approach is only intended for those who are exceeding the LRDGs but who do not demonstrate signs of alcohol dependence.*