Have you completed the first two modules in this series about alcohol misuse?

Part one: Facts about alcohol
Part two: Alcohol as a drug.

CPD activity

Before you start reading this article, think about:

• What do I want to learn?
• What will I gain from this learning?
• What will my employer gain?
• What difference will it make to people who use my services?

Alcohol misuse may present in community pharmacy in many ways, but it is unlikely that people will approach members of the pharmacy team directly to discuss their alcohol intake.
It is useful, therefore, to consider ways in which you can raise awareness, including displaying posters and information leaflets in the pharmacy. It is also important to try to identify individuals who may benefit from reducing their alcohol intake, whether it’s because of an existing medical condition or how they present in the pharmacy.

Understanding identification and brief advice

The process of alcohol identification and brief advice (IBA) is an opportunistic but structured approach that can be used to identify and help people whose alcohol consumption may cause them short- or long-term health problems either now or in the future.

Patients are initially screened using a short identification tool. Simple brief advice lasts five to 10 minutes and is usually delivered by non-alcohol specialists. It is effective for increasing risk and higher risk drinkers, but not for dependent drinkers.

Evidence for brief advice

There is a large body of international research evidence that shows that early identification of alcohol misuse, together with the delivery of simple advice, can be very effective in reducing people’s drinking to lower risk levels. The evidence indicates that one in eight people who receive advice will reduce their drinking to fall within lower risk levels. This compares favourably with smoking advice, where only one in 20 will act on the advice given, or one in 10 when nicotine replacement therapy is offered. Evidence-based alcohol interventions can potentially deliver quality and quantity of life benefits to the individual, their families and communities.