NHS Grampian texts drinkers hold, enough

NHS Grampian is using text messaging to try and prevent binge drinking and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases as part of a new pilot study in Scotland.

Over the next year, researchers will send people in their twenties, who are considered hazardous drinkers, a text message every Friday night urging them to drink in moderation before they set out for pubs and clubs in Aberdeen.

The Talking or Texting? study will recruit more than 1,000 volunteers to take part and use three different methods to define which is best for intervention.

The other methods will be advice leaflets and a brief structured interview with a health professional; which is the most common intervention at the moment.

Dr Steve Bagley, sexual health specialist at Aberdeen’s Woolmanhill Hospital, who is leading the study, said: "Binge drinking is very common among people who come to sexual health clinics and we found in one study that 50% were hazardous drinkers.

"Hazardous drinking – or binge drinking – is associated with poor sexual health: catching sexually transmitted infections, getting pregnant when you don't want to and being sexually assaulted."

Dr Baguley said that the messages will urge people to ‘take it easy’, ‘make sure it’s you making the decisions’, ‘eat before and while you drink’ and ‘use soft drink spacers’.

Additional messages will warn: "You're more likely to be sexually assaulted if you're drunk. Alcohol provokes the desire but takes away the performance."

Dr Baguley added: "Texting has never been tried for alcohol before. Texting has been tried internationally and found to be effective for smoking cessation, weight loss and for promoting exercise and in the control of diabetes.

"I am hopeful it will make a difference to binge drinking. And the results of the study will help inform future Scottish Government policy on alcohol and sexual health."