Binge drinking crackdown is to take place

Jun 18 2009 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

HEALTH bosses have launched a new crackdown on binge drinking across Lanarkshire.

NHS Lanarkshire have introduced an alcohol screening programme aimed at reducing consumption and the effects of binge drinking.

A high number of patients who attend accident and emergency departments, and emergency admissions, do so because of alcohol misuse.

In a bid to tackle the problem before people need hospital treatment, the Scottish Government has incorporated an alcohol screening target into the HEAT performance framework.

Accident and emergency frontline staff will receive training in the use of the fast alcohol screening test (FAST), a screening tool used to identify early hazardous alcohol use.

The substance misuse nurses within each of the three sites will deliver the brief interventions throughout the coming months. Patients will be selected by reason of presentation.

They will be offered feedback on their FAST score and signposted or referred to the substance misuse nurse team where appropriate.

Brief interventions are already being carried out in the primary care setting to identify patients who may be drinking too much and help them make a positive change.