The Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA) is supporting the Commission on Alcohol Harm: An Inquiry into the Effects of Alcohol on Society.

The Commission was established to examine the current evidence on alcohol harm, recent trends in alcohol harm and the changes needed to reduce the harm caused by alcohol. 

The Commission examined the need for a new comprehensive alcohol strategy for England, which takes account of the strategies in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and considers UK-wide priorities in areas where policy is not devolved. 

The publication is structured around the...

TREATMENT SYSTEMS TRANSCEND INDIVIDUAL SERVICES

Online course on alcohol treatment research moves out to the level of whole treatment systems, highlighting the simple US innovation which routed detoxification recyclers into longer term remission, freeing up expensive resources. See if your vision of a ‘good’ service corresponds with that of an expert group. One criterion might be responding appropriately to mental illness; explore with us whether Britain is making progress on organising care at the substantial overlap between problem drinking and mental illness.

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THE TREATMENT ORGANISATION IS THE HEALING CONTEXT

We said that of the treatment of problem drinking in general, and it remains the case for specifically medical treatments. Cell D3 focuses on that context at the level of the treatment or healthcare organisation, drawing on seminal and key research to ask:
- Do higher quality primary care practices do better alcohol treatment, or is this an unrelated niche activity?
- Evidence-based innovation: always a good thing, or an outcome-eroding burden?
- Is alcohol treatment helped or hindered when medical care is part of the package? Research shows...

According to the WHO, harmful alcohol use is one of the leading risk factors for the global burden of disease.

In response to concerning trends, governments around the world have intervened in the market for alcohol by levying specific taxes.  

In 2008, the government of Botswana imposed a 30% tax levy on all alcohol products to deal with problematic drinking in the country. The levy was initially set at 70% but was reduced to 30%.

Research into the effectiveness of these measures typically focusses on alcohol sales and self-reported levels of consumption. However, an area less understood...

On the 12th of July, in a bid to reduce the volume of trauma patients so hospitals have more beds open to treat COVID-19 patients, President Cyril Ramaphosa reintroduced the alcohol ban.

South Africa originally introduced a ban on all alcohol sales on 27 March. However, as lockdown restrictions were reviewed the ban was lifted.

According to President Cyril Ramaphosa, however, since the sale and distribution of alcohol was reintroduced in June, hospitals have experienced a spike in admissions in their trauma and emergency wards.

The South African government has faced pressure from the...

MAKING THE MOST OF MEDICAL CARE

Selected, explained and discussed – key research on management of medical interventions and treatment in medical settings. Highlights the remarkable transformation of a US clinic in the 1950s by an open-minded manager, whose overarching strategy was “placing the responsibility for achieving a therapeutic alliance on the caretaker rather than the patient”. Then addresses three key issues for managers:
- They differ greatly in how well their patients do – but how do you identify effective clinicians?
- Worth ‘stepping up’ to more intensive treatment if initial...

A General Practitioner (GP) is often the first point of contact for people struggling with alcohol related issues. These doctors must be trained to detect problematic drinking as well as have the confidence and skills to have open conversations with patients. 

Feedback from patients who have received support from their GP helps inform guidance to having these conversations.

The aim of this qualitative study was to analyse the feelings of patients with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) who have  experienced screenings conducted by their GPs.

Through interviews, the researchers were keen to gain an...

Since its formation in 2012, Hope and Beyond (HaB) has established herself as a pioneer organisation to combine treatment and research for Alcohol Use Disorders in Uganda.

The period between 2017 and 2019 was eventful and special for within this time; HaB was officially opened, conducted ground-breaking research and scaled up outreach and treatment services. In 2017, HaB launched community based services including; free treatment for Substance Use Disorders among low income populations, offering of community service and donations to the needy. The beneficiaries of our treatment services have...

www. ugandaalcoholpolicyalliance.org

HOW MANY DRINKERS SHOULD BE IN TREATMENT?

What proportion of England’s problem drinkers are in treatment, how far does that fall short of the number who *should* be – and how do we judge ‘should’? Depending on where you draw the line, performance ranges from abysmal to excellent. Asks whether austerity-driven public service funding cuts have obstructed routes into treatment, decreasing the extent to which treatment is meeting the needs of the alcohol-dependent population.

Click link below to view or paste it in to your web browser address box, being sure to enter the whole address:
https:/...

During this global lockdown, most people have had to make major lifestyle changes in order to adhere to guidelines outlined by their respective governments.

The situation has forced people's behaviour and choices to change, and it is important to monitor these adjustments from a public health perspective.

In the past, researchers have monitored how major events have influenced peoples drinking behaviour, both during and post-crisis. Although behaviour scientists around the world are carrying out similar analysis, there are several factors that make this situation unique. These include the...