Helping Patients with Alcohol Problems: A Health Practitioner's Guide
WHAT TO DO ABOUT PATIENTS WHO
ARE NOT READY TO CHANGE THEIR
DRINKING BEHAVIOR
Do not be discouraged if patients are not ready to take action immediately.
Decisions to change behavior often involve fluctuating motivation and
feelings of ambivalence. By offering your advice, you have prompted your
patients to think more seriously about their drinking behavior. In many
cases, continued reinforcement is the key to a patient's decision to take
action. Offer the following guidance to patients who are not ready to
take action:
Restate your concern for your patient's health.
Reinforce your willingness to help when the patient is ready.
Continue to monitor alcohol use at subsequent office visits.
For patients who may be alcohol dependent, you may want to consider some additional strategies:
Encourage your patient to consult an alcohol specialist.
Ask your patient to discuss your recommendation with family members and schedule a followup visit that includes family members/significant others.
Recommend a trial period of abstinence, monitor for withdrawal symptoms, and review progress in a followup visit.
