Alcoholism in the UK

Alcoholism in the UK

Why are the rates so high?

Pavan Grewal

Public Health Perspective

The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre (2023)

What is alcoholism?

• Known as alcohol use disorder (AUD)
• The inability to control alcohol use

• Changes in the brain allow for AUD to perpetuate
• Exists on a spectrum

(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism,2023)

Alcoholism in the UK

• In 2021, 28.6 million adults were diagnosed with AUD
• 894,000 12-17yr olds were diagnosed with AUD
• Alcohol misuse is the biggest risk factor for death, ill-health and disability among 15-49 year-olds in the UK, and the fifth biggest risk factor across all ages

(Drinkaware, 2019)

(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism,2020)

Factors affecting the level of AUD

• The 'Alcohol Harm Paradox'
• Those of low socioeconomic status (SES) experience greater levels of alcholism than those of high SES
• Availability and cost of alcohol
• Provision of services

(The Guardian,2018)

(DrinkAware,2023)

Current public health measures

E-Learning

Encouraging Self Awareness

Alcohol Screening

• Educating professionals on how to identify those whose drinking is affecting their health
• Learn how to deliver simple, structured advice aimed at reducing this risk

• Uses a test to indentify those who suffer from AUD based on their drinking habits

• Based on the severity of the disorder, the patient will be directed to the relevent treatment for them

• Patients are encouraged to calculate their alcohol units and cut back if necessary
• Patients are provided with an information leaflet with the necessary data for calculations

(GOV.UK,2021)

Issues with the current public health measures

• most of the treatments do not vary in their outcomes

• medical and non medical paths of treatment both have similar effectiveness

• The cultural coverage of policy research is restricted
• The prevention policies produced are inclined to be best understood by those of higher SES and better English language skills

• Just providing the information for individuals to gain knowledge on alcoholism is ineffective

• 'Increased knowledge doesnt equate to changed attitudes'

(BMJ,2005)

Improvements to the current public health measures

• 'developing or supporting community programmes and policies for subpopulations at particular risk, such as young people, unemployed persons and culturally diverse communities'

• 'improving capacity for prevention, identification and interventions for individuals and families living with fetal alcohol syndrome and a spectrum of associated disorders'

• the services in place need to increase their capacity to be able to meet the demands of the populations in their areas
• focus on areas of lower socioeconomic status

(World Health Organisation,2019)

Key Takeaway Points

Socioeconomic status plays a huge role in the inequalities of AUD in British society known as the Alcohol Harm Paradox

Alcoholism is a broad term that covers all types of alcohol dependence and addiction

The current public health measures focus on healthcare professionals and self diagnosis/ treatment

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2023) Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder. [website] https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-alcohol-use-disorder [Accessed 14/11/23] Knox, J et al. (2019) Prevention, screening, and treatment for heavy drinking and alcohol use disorder. [website] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(19)30213-5/fulltext [Accessed 14/11/23] Copello A, Day E. (2015) Assessment and management of alcohol use disorders. [website] https://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h715 [Accessed 14/11/23] Bloomfield, K. (2020) Understanding the alcohol-harm paradox: what next?. [website] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(20)30119-5/fulltext [Accessed 14/11/23] NHS England (2023) About the Alcohol Identification and Brief Advice programme. [website] https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/alcohol/ [Accessed 14/11/23] Babor, T et al. (2005) Alcohol and public health. [website] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673605178702 [Accessed 17/11/23] World Health Organisation. (2019) 10 areas governments could work with to reduce the harmful use of alcohol [website] https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/10-areas-for-national-action-on-alcohol [Accessed 17/11/23] GOV.UK. (2022) Alcohol: applying All Our Health. [website] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alcohol-applying-all-our-health/alcohol-applying-all-our-health [Accessed 17/11/23] The Gaurdian. (2018) Nearly one-third of alcohol sold in England drunk by 4% of population. [website] https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jan/22/nearly-one-third-of-alcohol-sold-in-england-drunk-by-4-of-population [Accessed 17/11/23] The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre. (2023) Simulation modelling of alcohol consumption and the effectiveness of harm-reduction policies. [website] https://preventioncentre.org.au/research-projects/model-behaviour-a-systems-approach-to-alcohol-related-harm/ [Accessed 17/11/23] National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2023) Alcohol Treatment in the United States: Age Groups and Demographic Characteristics. [website] https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-treatment-united-states-age-groups-and-demographic-characteristics [Accessed 27/11/23] Drinkaware. (2019) Alcohol Consumption UK. [website] https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/research/alcohol-facts-and-data/alcohol-consumption-uk [Accessed 27/11/23] BMJ. (2005) Effectiveness of treatment for alcohol problems: findings of the randomised UK alcohol treatment trial (UKATT). [website] https://www.bmj.com/content/331/7516/541 [Accessed 27/11/23]