alcohol misuse

Tackling alcohol harm: lessons from other fields

There a clear need to change attitudes, knowledge and behaviour relating to alcohol in the UK. This report presents seven case studies, each telling the story of an initiative designed to bring about attitudinal, behavioural or policy change, for example sustainable transport use or youth smoking prevention. This novel approach provides a unique insight into how the application of new thinking may help to reduce harmful drinking patterns. This report examines how initiatives successfully used in other fields can help inform new strategies for tackling alcohol related harm.

Substance Misuse in Adolescents

There is increasing evidence that substance misuse among British adolescents is escalating (Miller & Plant, 1996; Sutherland & Willner, 1998). Swadi (1992) found that, among adolescents aged 12–17 years referred to mental health services, the prevalence of drug use was 13.1% (16.3% among boys and 9.3% among girls).

Drink and drugs net

This is a web portal for substance misuse specialists and those in the wider health, social care and criminal justice fields who deal with drug and alcohol issues in the course of their work. It is also the website for the fortnightly magazine Drink and Drugs News.

Female binge-drinking (Radio 4 series: Woman's Hour)

This episode of Radio 4's Woman's Hour series looks at female binge-drinking. Hospital consultants in the North of England have noticed increasing numbers of young women are seeking treatment after being injured in drunken brawls. They claim fighting between women is resulting in horrific injuries such as broken cheek bones, fractured hands, or facial wounds inflicted by being hit with glasses or bottles. Is this another consequence of binge-drinking or are women becoming more violent?

Problem drinking and alcoholism: diagnosis and treatment

Alcoholism is one of the most common psychiatric disorders with a prevalence of 8 to 14 percent. This heritable disease is frequently accompanied by other substance abuse disorders (particularly nicotine), anxiety and mood disorders, and antisocial personality disorder.

Although associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, alcoholism often goes unrecognized in a clinical or primary health care setting. Several brief screening instruments are available to quickly identify problem drinking, often a pre-alcoholism condition.

How to build an international network for education and training in harm reduction strategies and approaches: plans for preparing an evidence-based curriculum

A presentation on how to build an international network for education and training in harm reduction strategies and approaches; plans for preparing an evidence-based curriculum.

Drinking in the UK: An exploration of trends

A key part of the Government’s alcohol harm reduction strategy is to monitor changes in drinking habits over time and to identify what factors are potentially contributing to the rising levels of consumption. Reviews research and highlights trends in alcohol consumption over the last 20 to 30 years. A key part of the Government’s alcohol harm reduction strategy is to monitor changes in drinking habits over time and to identify what factors are potentially contributing to the rising levels of consumption.