2023-11-10 08:45:22
Far from being trivial, alcohol consumption represents a real public health issue due to the seriousness of the individual and collective damage it can cause. However, the issue of alcohol and its risks remains little discussed due to numerous taboos and the omnipresence of drinking within our society. Faced with this problem, the High Authority of Health therefore publishes recommendations intended for health professionals with the aim of helping them to better inform and support alcohol consumers in reducing the associated risks.
Alcohol consumption in France
Synonymous with celebration and conviviality, alcohol is highly appreciated among the French population. 87% of people aged 18 to 75 consume it as well as 77% of young people aged 17. Far from being trivial, alcohol consumption nevertheless represents a real public health issue due to the seriousness of the damage individual and collective that it can cause. It must be said that alcohol:
- Represents the leading cause of hospitalization;
- Represents the second cause of preventable mortality after tobacco;
- Represents the second leading cause of preventable cancer;
- Is involved in 30% of fatal road accidents;
- Is involved in 30% of cases of violence.
But it is clear that the management of the subject of alcohol and its risks is far from sufficient within our society. In fact, alcohol consumption is not subject to systematic and widespread monitoring. Even more, drinking behaviors and their complications remain underdiagnosed. And for many practitioners, alcohol consumption is only a concern when it reaches the stage of addiction.
In this context, the High Authority of Health wants alcohol to become a health issue in its own right, just like diet, sleep or physical activity. The idea is to raise awareness among all users of the health system and to ensure that they feel concerned by the issue of alcohol throughout their lives and not just on an occasional basis. The body thus publishes recommendations intended for health professionals with the aim of helping them to better inform and support alcohol consumers in reducing the associated risks.
Inform to reduce the risks associated with alcohol consumption
Developed in the form of guides, tool sheets and summaries, these recommendations aim to help healthcare professionals take action from the first resort thanks to a network of partners. The stated objective? Inform and support each person, whatever their alcohol consumption habits, and help them reduce the associated risks according to their own expectations and needs.
To know ! Primary care professionals refer to health professionals working directly in contact with the population (dieticians, nurses, general practitioners, pediatricians, pharmacists, psychiatrists, psychologists, professionals in occupational medicine, women’s health, educational settings). and academics, emergency services, social and medico-social workers, etc.).
For this, systematic, early and regular identification of all uses is recommended. Because contrary to what one might believe, it is people whose risks have never been identified who mainly suffer from alcohol-related damage.
To reduce the associated risks as best as possible, it will also be necessary to act on various factors depending on the consumer profile and:
- Their consumption habits (quantity, frequency, intensity);
- Its consumption context (favorable situations);
- Its environment (professional, friendly);
- His risk-taking.
The importance of personalized support
The High Authority for Health specifies that supporting a person towards lower risk must start by opening a dialogue with them on the subject of alcohol. To do this, it will be appropriate not to judge or make her feel guilty and to encourage exchanges and the expression of her needs.
As for the support itself, it will be the result of a common construction through the implementation of concrete and lasting actions aimed at strengthening the consumer’s power to act:
- By acting on your internal motivations and resources.
- By acting on its consumption methods.
- By acting on your abilities to manage your stress and emotions, to resolve difficulties and to control yourself.
- By acting on the search for alternatives to alcohol.
And for this support to be as beneficial as possible for the alcohol consumer, it will not only rely on the primary care professional consulted. It will call on a whole network of diversified partners with specific skills.
Next step for the High Authority of Health? Always work harder to reduce the risks associated with alcohol. With this in mind, the body intends to publish in 2024 a second part of recommendations dedicated to women then in 2025, a third part aimed at youth.
Déborah L., Doctor in Pharmacy
Sources
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