Almohol: The Negative Impact Of Alcohol Use

Alcohol is the most dangerous licit psychoactive drug that has been in existence dating back to the ancient times. Alcohol in all its forms is consumed the world over during religious, social gatherings, cultural events and of late alcohol drinking contest. Its consumption which is due to low pricing policies and ready availability by all races, gender and ages. The negative impact of alcohol is observable in both the mental, physical, and social health of individuals who consume it.

Brief intervention for risky alcohol use can take place within the context of a typical consultation session following assessment or screening. Effective brief interventions need be no longer than 5-15 minutes in duration across 1-4 sessions. The format for an

Many people are unaware that they are drinking at hazardous or harmful levels and highlighting risks linked to current drinking patterns can be a powerful motivator for change. Most brief interventions have provided clients with feedback, in some form, of assessment results. Evaluation has often, but not always, been extensive, occupying an average of 2-3 hours. Simple participation in this amount of evaluation may produce impact Brief interventions 327 through the inherent feedback involved (e.g. Elvy et al, 1988; Heather et al, 1986). Some brief interventions have focused explicitly on feedback of impairment as a tool for instigating change (e.g. Kristenson et al., 1983; Miller & Sovereign, 1989; Persson & Magnusson, 1989). “You’ve scored 16 on the AUDIT which indicates that you are at high risk of harm from your current pattern of

Options include behavioural control (e.g. setting personal drinking limits and sticking to it; alternating alcoholic drinks with soft drinks; switching to low alcohol drinks; having regular alcohol-free days; identifying high risk situations for heavy drinking and creating a management plan; engaging in alternative activities to drinking). A MENU of alternative change options Self-help resources have typically described not one, but an array of alternative strategies for reducing drinking (Heather et al., 1989; Miller & Mofioz, 1982; Robertson & Heather, 1986). Brief interventions, as described in these studies, have seldom prescribed a single approach, but have advised either a general goal or a range of options. Presumably, this increases the likelihood that an individual will find an approach appropriate and acceptable to his or her own