Alcohol

Here you will find an overview of the alcohol-related programme of work being taken forward by NHS Health Scotland.

NHS Health Scotland’s Alcohol programme supports the implementation and delivery of the Scottish Governments strategic approach to tackling alcohol misuse Changing Scotland’s Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action. The Framework is broad based, focusing on reducing alcohol consumption, supporting families and communities, developing a positive public attitude towards alcohol, ensuring that individuals are better placed to make positive choices about the role of alcohol in their lives, and improving support and treatment for those who require it.

HEAT H4 Alcohol Brief Interventions Target

The Scottish Government has set the NHS in Scotland the target of delivering 149,449 brief interventions on alcohol between April 2008 and March 2011. NHS Health Scotland supports all health boards to meet the HEAT:H4 (Health Efficiency Access and Treatment) target for the delivery of alcohol brief interventions locally.

In order to support the Framework and to meet the HEAT H4 target, NHS Health Scotland will:

  • provide guidance on delivery models in a range of settings
  • support the piloting of ABI delivery models in criminal justice and dentistry settings and support NHS24 in the piloting of an ABI telephone helpline
  • develop materials to support the delivery of ABIs in a range of settings
  • facilitate the sharing of information and best practice between NHS boards
  • facilitate the implementation of an alcohol and drugs workforce development strategy and support the ongoing professional development of the workforce
  • devise a monitoring and evaluation plan for the Framework for Action
  • commission studies to provide insight into the progress of implementation and the impact of the Framework and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005
  • work with the education sector to deliver effective substance misuse education
  • continue to review the evidence on the prevention and treatment of alcohol misuse to ensure that policy, practice and planning at national and local levels are up to date

Reviewed 19 August 2010

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