Abstract
Background: Mobile phone-based text messages have been used to address alcohol use disorder in younger populations by promoting abstinence, decreased alcohol intake, and moderation. Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the effectiveness of mobile phone text messaging to address problem drinking by youth and younger adults. Results: Authors systematically searched PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, APA PsycNET, and the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials for literature published in the past 8 years (2010-2018). Randomized control trials and pre-post studies of younger people that used the problem drinking criteria of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) were included in the meta-analysis. Conclusions: The meta-analysis suggests that text message-based interventions might not be effective in decreasing alcohol intake in the younger populations.