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Accession Number:
ADA399185
Title:
Evidence Based Care Models for Recognizingand Treating Alcohol Problems in Primary Care Settings
Descriptive Note:
Corporate Author:
RAND HEALTH SANTA MONICA CA
Report Date:
2001-01-01
Pagination or Media Count:
58.0
Abstract:
Alcohol-related problems are a significant public health concern in the United States. Alcohol dependence, abuse, and problem drinking increase morbidity and mortality McGinnis, 1993, and raise economic, social and health care costs Institute for Health Policy, 1993 Rice, 1991 Manning, 1989 US Department of Health and Human Services, 1993. A recent study estimated that the total economic cost of alcohol-related problems was 148 billion in 1992 18.8 billion in health care costs, 67.7 billion in lost productivity and 19.7 billion in crime Harwood, 1998. Effective treatments exist for the entire spectrum of alcohol-related problems Fleming, 1997 CSAT TIP 28 NIAAA, 1995, but fewer than half of those individuals who need treatment actually receive it Institute of Medicine, 1990. One in 5 men and 1 in 10 women who visit their primary care providers meet the criteria for at-risk drinking, problem drinking or alcohol dependence Manwell et al, 1998 Flemming and Manwell, 1999. Primary care physicians PCPs are in an ideal position to screen for alcohol problems, begin treatment, and monitor progress. However, primary care systems are not set up to support PCPs in recognizing and treating alcohol use disorders. Since many of these patients do not consult alcohol treatment specialists on their own, important opportunities for identification and treatment are missed Alcohol Research and Health, 2000. A recent national survey of primary care physicians and patients noted that more than nine in ten physicians fail to identify substance abuse in adults. The majority of patients with substance abuse say that their primary care physician did nothing to either assess or treat their substance abuse CASA, 2000. A recent study of primary care physicians in Ohio in which 4454 patient visits were observed revealed that screening for alcohol problems took place during 8 of the visits, and only 1 of the patients received counseling on alcohol problems.
Distribution Statement:
APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
