The role of the family physician in the detection and treatment of alcohol related problems

Abstract

The alcohol consumption in Portugal is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in our country. It is therefore imperative to implement an effective preventive strategy capable of detecting individuals with risk alcohol consumption before the social and health become evident, since most of the problems associated with alcohol consumption (PLA) and their impact in society are mostly caused by heavy alcohol consumption. General practitioners / family doctors are health professionals who have thus an important role to play here, since there is a closer contact with its population of users and providing health care in continuity. There are brief questionnaires (which stands AUDIT) which can detect excessive consumption of alcohol and help practitioners of primary care to identify users who benefit in reducing fuel consumption. Several studies show that after the identification of the level of consumption, made ??a brief intervention by GPs allows promote consumption reduction alcohol. It is most often used in the context of excessive consumption than in dependency and can be used by persons who are not experts on contexts additives. But also use this type of intervention when seeking to motivate dependent alcoholics to be referred for specialist treatment for the purpose of withdrawal.