A first-of-its-kind intervention programme of sending text messages has successfully led to sustained reductions in alcohol consumption in young adults, which researchers say is effective than traditional face-to-face counselling. The text message-based programme could help reduce both immediate and long-term health problems.

The findings show that the participants continued to reduce their alcohol consumption six months after attending the programme. Researchers said that the programme works effectively on young adults who are at high risk of binge drinking.

Participants received messages expressing concern about the levels of alcohol they would take, and asked them if they are willing to set a goal to reduce their consumption below binge thresholds. Those who decided to set a goal then received text messages showing positive reinforcement and strategies to help cut their consumption.

Those who refused received a message encouraging them to reflect on their decision. The results were published in the journal PLOS ONE.

Participants, ages 18 to 25, received messages for 12 weeks. Researchers from Pittsburgh School of Medicine provided the text message programme to 765 participants, divided into three groups, who were discharged from four urban emergency departments in western Pennsylvania.

"Given the low cost to send text messages and the capacity to deliver them to almost every at-risk young adult, a text message-based intervention targeting binge drinking could have a public health impact on reducing both immediate and long-term health problems," said lead author Brian Suffoletto, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at University of Pittsburgh.

For the trial, standard care and no text messages were provided to a control group, while text messages were sent to a self-monitoring group on Sundays asking about their drinking quantity, but it received no feedback.

The third group received the full programme, with text messages delivered on Thursdays asking about their weekend drinking plans. The messages also promoted a goal commitment to limit their alcohol consumption, followed by a text message on Sunday to inquire about their actual drinking, and giving a feedback to reduce its levels.

Researchers provided the full programme to those who reported anticipating a heavy drinking day, taking more than five drinks within any 24-hour period for men and more than four for women.

Six months after the trial, those who were exposed to the full text message intervention experienced an average of one less binge drinking day every month, and incidence of binge drinking decreased by 12 percent. However, no reduction in alcohol consumption was found in both control and self-monitoring groups.

"Our text message-based intervention is scalable, provides uniform behavioural materials, and seems to produce meaningful, potentially life-saving results," Suffoletto said. "By interacting with these young adults in a way in which they are receptive to communicating, and reducing the stigma associated with traditional face-to-face counselling, text messages can provide the boost they need to control their drinking when they are at their most vulnerable to forget what is healthiest for them."

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