One of the greatest challenges to solving alcohol problems is identifying people who need help. A promising technique for doing this is called Screening and Brief Intervention (SBI). Hospital emergency rooms in many states are using this technique to work with patients to address problem drinking and addiction.

Unfortunately, insurance policies are roadblocking SBI efforts. Most state governments allow insurers to sell health and accident insurance policies that will not pay for injuries that occur while the insured person is under the influence of alcohol.

These alcohol exclusion laws (AELs) create a chilling effect in hospitals that interferes with effective treatment. When benefits are denied, injured people can't pay for medical care. To avoid bankrupting their patients, many physicians and hospital managers decide to avoid any activity that might result in an alcohol-related diagnosis.

AELs do nothing to prevent dangerous behavior like drunk driving because most people have no idea that the exclusions are in their policy. They only get in the way of helping people with alcohol problems and prevent long-term solutions to problems like drunk driving.