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Alcohol use
Interventions

Interventions directed at the population have been proven to have impact


Several policy interventions directed at the population as a whole have been proven to be effective in reducing the harm done by alcohol consumption in a population. In contrast: most interventions directed at individuals do not impact public health. However these intervention-approaches can be effective in reducing harmful drinking in individuals. The following categories can be distinguished from the broad range of available interventions to reduce the harm done by alcohol (Babor et al., 2003; Anderson & Baumberg, 2006).
  • Policies that reduce drinking and driving.
  • Policies that support education, communication, training and public awareness.
  • Policies that regulate the alcohol market (regulating physical availability; taxation and pricing; regulating alcohol promotion).
  • Policies that support the reduction of harm in drinking and surrounding environments.
  • Policies that support interventions for individuals (treatment and early intervention).

Most of these policies are elaborated on in the EUphact on Alcohol policies.

Brief interventions can have effect on public health


Brief interventions (directed at individuals with hazardous alcohol consumption or dependence) can have an effect on public health, but otherwise the effects of treatments are restricted to the individual. In individual treatment there is a wide range of therapies and interventions. Research shows that many methods offer effective treatment and that there is little difference in their effectiveness. For individuals there is not a ‘best option’ for the treatment of alcohol problem.Some examples of effective treatments are listed below (Raistrick et al., 2006).
  • Brief preventive interventions by healthcare providers that target hazardous levels of alcohol consumption.
  • Motivational enhancement therapy
  • Cognitive behavioural therapy.
  • 12-step facilitation.
  • Marital and family therapies.
  • Coping and social skills training.
  • Benzodiazepines (medication for alcohol withdrawal).
  • Acamprosate and naltrexone (medication for long-term treatment of alcohol addiction).
Kuunders M (RIVM). Alcohol use - Interventions. In: EUPHIX, EUphact. Bilthoven: RIVM, <http://www.euphix.org>  EUphact\ Determinants of health\ Health behaviours\ Alcohol use, 16 March 2009.

EUPHIX, version 1.11, 17 December 2009
© RIVM, Bilthoven.


Literature and data sources

Literature and data sources

Anderson P, Baumberg B. Alcohol in Europe: a public health perspective.  London: Institute of Alcohol Studies, 2006.
Babor TF, Caetano R, Casswell S, Edwards G, Giesbrecht N, Graham K, et al. Alcohol: No ordinary commodity. Research and public policy.  Oxford: University Press, 2003.
Raistrick D, Heather N, Godfrey C. Review of the effectiveness of treatment form alcohol problems.  London: National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, 2006.