Skip to content

Category Archives: Guidance

New Guidance for Mental Health Liaison services highlights role of alcohol in mental health problems

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has released guidance for Commissioners of Mental Health Liaison Services in Acute Care.

‘Don’t let drink sneak up on you’ – new Change4Life alcohol campaign launched

A new Change 4 Life alcohol campaign, 'Don't let the drinks sneak up on you', has been launched – see the press release , TV advert and Change4Life alcohol pages including a new tool to check your drinking . The campaign warns against drinking above lower risk guidelines , highlighting the potential impacts on long term health.

‘Tackling alcohol misuse: Should abstinence be our preferred approach?’ British Liver Trust call for public health action on alcohol

The British Liver Trust have released a new report outlining the need for a comprehensive approach to tackling alcohol misuse. It warns against a “one size fits all approach for treatment” for a range of problem drinkers “each of whom will need tailored approach with the interventions and appropriate treatment goals.” Download 'Reducing alcohol harm: recovery and informed choice for those with alcohol related health problems' A supporting commentary piece by Andrew Langford , Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust also appeared in the Guardian .

Public Health Outcomes Framework released: spend should reflect local needs; alcohol admissions data to be reviewed

The NHS Public Health Outcomes Framework has been published, aiming to tackle public health challenges through moving public health back into local government.

Scientists gleam further insight into alcohol’s effect on brain reward system

Further insight into the effect of alcohol on the brain's reward system has been reported in the journal of Science Translational Medicine. It found alcohol effects the orbitofrontal cortex and results in a release of endorphins, previously only proven in animal studies.

MPs call for alcohol guidelines to be reviewed – and emphasise ‘alcohol free days’

MPs on the Science and Technology Committee have called for greater efforts to help the public understand alcohol guidelines . It also calls for a further scientific review to build public confidence, although based on the evidence presented the guidelines should not be relaxed. See here for the report chapters or the full report here

DH streamlines public health social marketing for 2012

The Department of Health (DH) will shortly launch public health communications for 2012, taking a 'linked behaviours' approach. It will tailor social marketing operations to follow the life course, instead of focusing on individual behaviour issues. The strategy, Changing behaviour, Improving outcomes , was published in April 2011 and aims to increase effective communication of public health issues

NHS Operating Framework 2012/13: implications for alcohol harm reduction?

The NHS Operating Framework 2012/13 was recently published and sets out business planning arrangements and national priorities for the year ahead. The framework contains a number of 'Domain areas' within which there is scope to consider implications for alcohol harm reduction. Domain One is prevention of premature death, which strongly advocates the early recognition and treatment of chronic conditions.

Protect children from alcohol misuse: Turning Point call for early intervention

The health and social care provider Turning Point has said alcohol misuse within families is an escalating concern in its new report “Bottling it up: the next generation” . It says early screening and identification of families is needed urgently to prevent the ‘inter-generational cycle’ of alcohol misuse which blights the lives of children and undermines their life chances.

Findings brief interventions bulletins: all Primary Care staff can deliver; dependent drinkers respond to extended brief interventions in A&E

Recent research bulletins from the drug and alcohol Bank : Alcohol brief interventions: doing without the Doctor It works when the doctor does it, but what if the nurse or other primary care staff briefly counsel risky drinking patients? According to this synthesis of the research, it still works – maybe not as well, but perhaps more patients can be reached more cheaply.