GPs welcome practical steps to reduce alcohol harm

General practitioners welcome practical steps to reduce alcohol harm

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (‘the College’) welcomes today’s release of the New Zealand Medical Association’s 10-step plan for reducing alcohol harm.

“There is plenty of evidence that alcohol misuse causes significant harm to people, families and communities in New Zealand”, says College President Dr Tim Malloy.

“Evidence-based, practical suggestions for reducing that harm—such as the New Zealand Medical Association’s new policy—are very welcome for those of us working in primary health care.”

Among its 10 initiatives, the New Zealand Medical Association calls on doctors and other healthcare professionals to take every opportunity to provide screening and/or brief interventions for patients with suspected harmful alcohol consumption.

In 2012, the College and the Health Promotion Agency co-authored a clinical module to help general practices introduce the ABC Alcohol Approach to screen patients at risk of harm from alcohol.

The ABC Alcohol steps are:
• A: Ask (about alcohol consumption)
• B: Brief advice (if consuming more than the recommended levels)
• C: Counselling (referral to appropriate services)

“The ABC Approach is a simple and effective way to identify if someone is at risk, and if they are, to then offer advice and further help”, says Dr Malloy.

“We believe this approach would be useful in many clinical settings outside general practice and could make a real difference in starting conversations with people about their drinking.”

The ABC Alcohol Approach is available at https://www.rnzcgp.org.nz/assets/documents/News--Events/CGP4044-Clinical-Effectiveness-Modules-Template-v2-LR.pdf

ENDS

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