A general practitioners' study of alcohol consumption has indicated that one in five people in the Republic are drinking in a way that is either hazardous or harmful to their health.
Dr Anne Hope, special adviser on alcohol to the Department of Health and Children, told the launch of the study yesterday that soon-to-be-published data would show the level of binge drinking was much higher in the Republic than in other European countries.
Funded by the Department and carried out as part of the Irish College of General Practitioners Helping Patients with Alcohol Problems project, the study found that 13 per cent of those screened were either teetotal or in recovery following treatment for alcohol dependency.
Some 2,300 patients were randomly screened by GPs and nurses in 10 practices throughout the State. As a result they were assigned to one of three alcohol risk categories: low risk, hazardous intake or drinking in a harmful/dependent way.
Those considered to be in the medium- to high-risk groups were followed up after three months to see if treatment had made any difference. Of those people who returned for a follow-up, one third had changed their drinking habits to a low-risk pattern, an outcome which, according to project leader, Mr Rolande Anderson, "proves that, if resourced and trained properly, GPs can make a significant difference for patients". This compares well with other international studies, he said.
The majority of patients who required follow-up were under 30 years of age.
Treatment consisted of a consultation in which a brief intervention - based on motivational therapy - was offered to the patient. In addition, two separate information leaflets, based on whether it was appropriate for the person to cut down on drinking or quit completely, were given to patients. All practice staff underwent training to ensure that each practice was "alcohol aware".
In nine of the 10 practices, the intervention technique was administered by practice nurses or GPs.
However, a practice in Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, was provided with a trained alcohol counsellor by the South Western Area Health Board.
It identified the highest number of patients with harmful or dependent drinking patterns.
"This suggests that alcohol problems are being missed in most general practices, but that the presence of an alcohol counsellor shows that a better 'pick-up' rate can be achieved when a practice is adequately resourced. The team approach clearly works well," Mr Anderson said.
As a result of the successful outcome of the study, the Department of Health and Children has indicated that it will fund the Helping Patients with Alcohol Problems project for a further three years. Original funding was provided by Merck Pharmaceuticals and the Department.
The authors of the research, Dr Michael Boland, Ms Annette Elebert, Ms Yvette Dalton and Mr Anderson recommended that a larger study, involving a service initiative, be carried out.