Non-social consumption of alcohol: its identification in the community for its prevention and treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Alcohol abuse includes high social and economic costs. The prevalence of problems related with alcohol is higher in persons with a non- social consumption, which do not have a criterion to be diagnosed as an alcoholic. In the Health Primary Attention, the recognition of this people through an active investigation, allows their treatment in a medical institution. Objective: To characterize people with alcohol abuse. Material and Methods: A descriptive and transversal investigation was conducted at “Héroes del Moncada” and “Héroes de Corynthia” Policlinics in the neighborhood of Vedado. The patients’ demographic and diagnostic data with alcohol abuse was collected from the family registry of Family Doctors, formal and non- formal leaders of the community were interviewed to find new cases and identify the presence of sale points and habitual meeting places. Results: Prevailed the masculine sex, workers and older than 40 with diagnostic of alcoholic dependence followed by harmful consumption and an easy access to places where alcoholic drinks are expended with a variety of prices. Conclusions: Exist an outdated registration of people with alcohol abuse existed, being able to make its update. It is identified with more facility the advanced of the illness but not the risk consumption. Social acceptance of the consumption exists. A plan for the prevention and attention of the problems was recommend. Keywords: Investigation, risk consumption, alcohol abuse, alcoholic dependence.