Alcohol use and the availability of supportive services in a white urban community.

Abstract

This study identifies the alcohol intaKe patterns of 274

white patients attending an Urban General Practice. The average consumption rate was 6.5 drinKs per person per weeK

(d/p/w). 40X of the surveyed group did not consume any

alcohol. The drinkers averaged 11 dIp/wo 72X of the males drank and 501: of the females dranK. 4.31: of the population

surveyed were drinking more than 28 dIp/wo Marital status made no real difference to consumption rates but unemployment

(16 d/p/w) and being a manual labourer (11.7 d/p/w) did.

People who had lost either their occupation (11.7 d/p/w) or a close family member (9.3 d/p/w) in the preceeding year had

higher than average (6,5 d/p/w) consumption levels and these were increased further if they had identified an alcohol abuser in their family.

This study also identifies the useful supportive services available to this particular community and its health care

worKers with a brief discussion of the type of service

prOVided and method of access to the service. The appendix contains a list of the services with the relevant address.

telephone number and where possible the name of a contact person.