Those agreeing to participate in the secondary screening were administered the CARET over the telephone. It includes questions assessing past 12 month 1) quantity and frequency of drinking, 2) episodic heavy drinking (4 or more drinks on an occasion), 3) driving within 2 hours of drinking 3 or more drinks, 4) others being concerned about the respondent’s drinking, 5) medical and psychiatric conditions, and 6) symptoms that could be caused or worsened by alcohol, and 7) medications that could interact negatively with, or whose efficacy could be diminished by alcohol.
Responses were scored to designate a participant as either an at-risk (score 1–7) or not at-risk drinker (score 0). Some examples of at-risk drinkers include persons who report 1) drinking 3 drinks 4 or more times a week, or 2) drinking 2 or more drinks at least twice a week and often having heartburn, or 3) drinking 2 drinks daily and taking alprazolam at least 3–4 times a week. Of the 2,138 persons eligible for secondary screening, 631 (30%) were at-risk drinkers and agreed to participate in the trial. Approximately one week later at the time of a regular visit with their PCPs (i.e., baseline visit), these participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (310 persons) or control group (321 persons).
Responses were scored to designate a participant as either an at-risk (score 1–7) or not at-risk drinker (score 0). Some examples of at-risk drinkers include persons who report 1) drinking 3 drinks 4 or more times a week, or 2) drinking 2 or more drinks at least twice a week and often having heartburn, or 3) drinking 2 drinks daily and taking alprazolam at least 3–4 times a week. Of the 2,138 persons eligible for secondary screening, 631 (30%) were at-risk drinkers and agreed to participate in the trial. Approximately one week later at the time of a regular visit with their PCPs (i.e., baseline visit), these participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (310 persons) or control group (321 persons).
