DOCTORS UNSURE HOW BEST TO DEAL WITH ALCOHOLISM

DESPITE the fact that it remains one of the most insidious diseases
affecting thousands of people in this country, alcoholism is a field which
many general practitioners are not educated enough to deal with. Neither are
they satisfied with the level of resources being provided by the Department
of Health to treat people with an alcohol dependence problem.

These disturbing facts emerged from a survey undertaken by Forum, the
journal of the Irish College of General Practitioners, which also evinced an
attitude of indifference by almost a quarter of those surveyed towards the
treatment of the illness.

Of the 661 doctors nationwide who responded, 72% said they did not think
that adequate resources were available, and as many said they were not
satisfied with their own level of education in this area.

A startling revelation was that 23% of respondents said that treating
patients with an alcohol dependence was frustrating and not worth the
effort.

Various other opinions expressed views that responsibility for treating the
disease should rest with addiction centres, self-help groups, counsellors or
psychiatric hospitals.

What is very evident from this new survey is that the medical profession is
unsure as to how best alcoholism should be dealt with, and that there is a
certain ambivalence among some of them as to whether they should treat it at
all. Millions of pounds are lost to industry every year through alcoholism.
Apart from that economic loss, families are ravaged and torn apart by its
devastating affects, in some cases with tragic consequences.

Quite obviously, the ambivalence which still exists in this country towards
the tolerance of alcohol has been, and continues to be, a contributing
factor to the undermining of campaigns aimed at creating a greater sense of
responsibility in the consumption of this drug.

More than two years ago, the previous Minister for Health initiated a
National Alcohol Policy which was directed at reducing the prevalence of
alcohol-related problems, and was based on a multi-sectoral approach
involving a wide range of statutory and non-statutory organisations.

While containing laudable aims and objectives, it would appear that it has
not made any significant impact on drinking patterns. Under-age drinking is
still a very worrying problem, as is the consumption among the adult
population.