 |
Problem Drinking Screening and Counseling
Facts:
- A number of randomized clinical trials have
demonstrated the efficacy of brief (5-15 minutes) outpatient counseling
for non-dependent problem drinkers
- Primary care practitioners and emergency room
personnel are capable of providing this brief intervention, and are
often the first or only contact a problem drinker has with the health
care system
- The pattern of alcohol use over the last few
generations has changed: drinking begins at increasingly earlier ages,
the risk of dependence has increased, and in women, drinking patterns
and rates of dependence have become more similar to those of men
- For most adults, moderate alcohol use - up to two
drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and older people
- causes few if any problems.
- Certain people, including women who are or want to
become pregnant, those taking some medications, drivers and others
requiring alertness, those with some medical conditions, and people
younger than 21, should not drink at all.
- According to data on US adults from the National
Health Interview Survey for the year 2000, 39% of those over 18 were
identified as abstainers, 43% were light drinkers, 13.5% were moderate
drinkers, and 4.5% meet the criteria for alcohol abuse or alcohol
dependence or put themselves at risk on occasion through the misuse of
alcohol.
- Binge drinking is the consumption among males of
five or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion (four or more drinks for
females). In New Mexico, most binge drinkers are male, and there has
been a marked increase in binge drinking among 18-20 year olds and
those older than 55 years. 11.6% of these binge drinkers reported
driving while under the influence of alcohol in the past 30 days.
Goal:
- To increase appropriate and effective screening for problem drinking by New Mexico health care providers.
- To improve the treatment and management of patients with alcohol problems by their health care providers.
CPI Intervention:
- The CPI Problem Drinking Workgroup published
a handbook for health care providers in 2004 with support from the New
Mexico Medical Society, Kellogg Community Voices New Mexico (Ref#
P0060131), UNM Center for Community Partnerships, and the American
Legacy Foundation.
- Members of the Workgroup provide outreach to
primary care providers by offering presentations to provider groups
throughout New Mexico.
Resources:
Committee Chair: Sandra Lapham MD, MPH and Michael Sievert MD
For further information, please contact Annie Jung at ajung@nmms.org or 505-828-0237.
|
(2004)