Putting drinkers 'under contract.' (use of contracts to treat alcoholism)

A contract is drawn, and the parties involved prepare to sign it. This scene, typical of everyday business at a law firm, also is becoming common at the offices of a growing number of physicians. In this setting, the parties agreeing to the contracts are patients seeking to stop smoking, lose weight, or otherwise improve their health habits and lifestyles.

"Studies have shown that, if an individual writes a contract saying, 'I am going to change my behavior,' it improves the effectiveness of the agreement with the physician, especially if there is a witness," indicates Daniel Vinson, assistant professor of family and community medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia. "Contracts are clearly more effective than a physician's oral warning to change a bad habit or lifestyle."

Following this line of thought, Vinson and his colleagues at the university's School of Medicine have created a computer program that challenges problem drinkers who may be headed for alcoholism to curb or eliminate their alcohol consumption by making a written agreement with themselves and their physicians. Problem drinkers include those who do not drink enough to be diagnosed as alcoholics, but do go beyond moderation--about 10-20% of the entire population. Problem drinkers may consume a lot of alcoholic beverages and sometimes get into trouble because of their drinking. Hazardous drinkers are...