Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the cumulative evidence on the effectiveness of brief alcohol interventions in primary healthcare in order to highlight key knowledge gaps for further research. Methods: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the effectiveness of brief alcohol intervention in primary healthcare published between 2002 and 2012. Findings: Twenty-four systematic reviews met the eligibility criteria (covering a total of 56 randomized controlled trials reported across 80 papers). Across the included studies, it was consistently reported that brief intervention was effective for addressing hazardous and harmful drinking in primary healthcare, particularly in middle-aged, male drinkers. Evidence gaps included: brief intervention effectiveness in key groups (women, older and younger drinkers, minority ethnic groups, dependent/co-morbid drinkers and those living in transitional and developing countries); and the optimum brief intervention length and frequency to maintain longer-term effectiveness. Conclusion: This overview highlights the large volume of primarily positive evidence supporting brief alcohol intervention effects as well as some unanswered questions with regards to the effectiveness of brief alcohol intervention across different cultural settings and in specific population groups, and in respect of the optimum content of brief interventions that might benefit from further research.

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In a large meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in emergency care settings, there was evidence for very small effects of brief interventions on alcohol consumption reductions. More intensive interventions showed no benefit over shorter approaches. Non-face-to-face interventions appear to be comparably effective, but this finding remains tentative due to the low number of non-face-to-face studies.

Equilibria between the tautomers of heterocyclic azoles like 1 , 2 , and 4 have been studied many times. We here show that the application of density functional methods in combination with matrix IR spectroscopy is a useful tool for determining which protomer is preferred in rare gas matrices and thus also can be assumed to dominate in the gas phase. Photolysis of tetrazole (4) in cryogenic matrices allows the IR-spectroscopic identification of a new CHzNz isomer, the long soughtafter nitrilimine HCNNH (6). Flash pyrolysis of 4 also yielded nitrilimine. Upon irradiation this species is converted to a second, previously unknown "isomer", an HCN/NH complex 13. Nitrilimine (6) can also be generated by photolyzing 1,2,3-(1) and 1,2,4-triazole (2) in Ar matrices. The complex photochemistry of all three heterocyclic precursor compounds was unveiled. Our findings were supported by isotopic substitution experiments and by high-level a b initio calculations. Moreover, the IR bands of iminocyanide HNCN were tentatively assigned. This radical has up to now not been observed in a matrix.Recently, we reported on the results of matrix isolation studies of the decomposition of 1,2,3-triazole (1) and 1,2,4-triazole (2)['1. Both the photolysis of 1 and the flash pyrolysis of 2 caused the loss of a nitrogen molecule. While in the IR spectra of the photolysis products of 1 only the two strongest absorptions of the previously unknown hydrogen cyanide N-methylide HCNCH2 (3) could be found, the thermolysis of 2 turned out to be more efficient for the structural elucidation of 3. Five fundamental vibrations and two overtones of this interesting intermediate were observed, their positions being in accordance with ab initio calculations. Mono-, di-, and trideuterated 2 were synthesized and upon pyrolysis yielded the anticipated isotopically substituted products. In continuation of these investigations we also studied tetrazole (4). In addition, we intensified our efforts to clarify the complex photochemistry of 1,2,3-triazole (1) and examined the photolysis of 1,2,4-triazole (2). The outcome of these experiments was then substantiated by photolysis studies with cyanamide, diazomethane, and hydrogen cyanide. Structure of TetrazoleAlthough tetrazoles have been known for over a centuryf2], there is still considerable and growing interest in this field[3-51. Recent developments include the patented use of tetrazole in air bag@] and pharmaceutical applications [']. For any study of the decomposition of tetrazole the equilibrium between the three conceivable tautomers 4a-c is of vital importance. While in the solid state the 1H form 4b is clearly preferred18] the situation in solution is less clear-cut [9]. Depending on the nature of the solvents and the experimental method used, either lH- ['l or 2H-tetrazole~[~~] appear to be favored. In the gas phase only 4a was detected by microwave spectroscopy ["], but the presence of 4b could not be ruled out. Mass spectrometric investigations indicated that the vapor consists of a mixture of both arom...

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Issues. Numerous studies have examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol use changes in Europe, with concerns raised regarding increased use and related harms. Approach. We synthesised observational studies published between 1 January 2020 and 31 September 2021 on self-reported changes in alcohol use associated with COVID-19. Electronic databases were searched for studies evaluating individual data from European general and clinical populations. We identified 646 reports, of which 56 general population studies were suitable for random-effects meta-analyses of proportional differences in alcohol use changes. Variations by time, sub-region and study quality were assessed in subsequent meta-regressions. Additional 16 reports identified were summarised narratively. Key Findings. Compiling reports measuring changes in overall alcohol use, slightly more individuals indicated a decrease than an increase in their alcohol use during the pandemic [3.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.00-7.6%]. Decreases were also reported more often than increases in drinking frequency (8.0%, 95% CI 2.7-13.2%), quantity consumed (12.2%, 95% CI 8.3-16.2%) and heavy episodic drinking (17.7%, 95% CI 13.6-21.8%). Among people with pre-existing high drinking levels/alcohol use disorder, high-level drinking patterns appear to have solidified or intensified. Implications. Pandemic-related changes in alcohol use may be associated with pre-pandemic drinking levels. Increases among high-risk alcohol users are concerning, suggesting a need for ongoing monitoring and support from relevant health-care services. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that more people reduced their alcohol use in Europe than increased it since the onset of the pandemic. However high-quality studies examining specific change mechanisms at the population level are lacking.

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