Management of alcohol problems: the role of the general practitioner.

Some 23% of men and 8% of women in the United Kingdom are consuming alcohol at levels that are of risk to their health, or are experiencing some problems related to their alcohol use. Traditionally, general practitioner efforts have focused on diagnosing and treating patients with a substantial history of dependence, and relatively little attention has been given to early intervention, with at-risk drinkers identified in general practice through screening or case finding programmes. Evidence indicates that early interventions by general practitioners are effective in reducing alcohol consumption among at-risk patients. Further work is still needed on the most effective ways of supporting general practitioners in this task.