Overview
High-risk drinking is very prevalent among Danes aged 55+. It poses a serious risk to health and independent living, burdening health care systems and family members. Measures to reduce high-risk alcohol use in this growing group at need are urgently needed. A recent small study from the US shows that text messaging reduces high-risk alcohol intake in older adults. The investigators will conduct a pilot study with the same intervention in Denmark, with adaptations to language and culture. The pilot study will investigate among Danish older adults whether text messaging is well-accepted by participants and feasible in terms of reducing 1) high-risk drinking and 2) commonly accompanying problems with daily functioning, social relationships, and mental and physical health. The pilot-trial will include n=60 adults aged 55-80 years who will receive alcohol-related text messages (within a secure app for data protection purposes) over 12 weeks. Assessments will include a baseline assessment and a post-assessment.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- consumption of > 10 standard drinks á 12 gram ethanol per week (i.e., high-risk alcohol use defined by the Danish Health Authority) in the past four weeks
- desire to reduce drinking
- age 55 to 80 years
- mobile phone ownership and willingness to receive and respond to text messages
- fluency in Danish.
Exclusion Criteria:
- drinking more than 53 standard drinks per week in the last four weeks
- past 12 month alcohol withdrawal symptoms or lifetime history of serious withdrawal symptoms (e.g., seizures)
- score above 12 on the Short alcohol withdrawal scale; SAWS
- possible drug dependence (i.e., use of illegal drugs or psychotropic medication taken without prescription more than once a month)
- indication of serious psychiatric illness (lifetime diagnosis of psychosis or bipolar disorder, inpatient treatment or medication for these, recent suicidality)
- current alcohol/drug abuse treatment or a desire to start alcohol/drug abuse treatment during the study
- medical condition that requires abstinence from alcohol
- wish to achieve abstinence (applied to secure a focus on reduction)
- lack of understanding of study protocol or reading difficulty as evidenced by a score of less than 7 out of 10 on the consent form quiz.