Doctors have action plan to fight alcohol addiction

Prague, Feb 6 (CTK) - Experts in addiction treatment have worked out the National Action Plan to fight alcoholism in the Czech Republic, which traditionally leads international standings of alcohol consumption, doctor Petr Popov, head of the Society for Addictive Diseases, told reporters Wednesday.

The recent methanol affair has revealed how much the danger of high alcohol consumption is underestimated in the country, he added.

Since early September, when the scandal erupted, methanol in bootleg liquor has claimed some 40 lives in the Czech Republic. Tens of people have been hospitalised with methanol poisoning symptoms.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an average Czech over 15 years consumes 16.61 litres of pure alcohol a year, including 1.5 litres of illegal spirits, while the EU average is 12.45 litres and 1.6 litres, respectively.

"The more alcohol addicts or risk consumers undergo a therapy, the fewer people die of alcoholism consequences. Moreover, the costs of removing the damage caused by drinking will decrease," Popov said.

Experts have worked out the National Action Plan in this respect that should be released to the public and debated openly, he added.

Popov expects the new concept to help increase the number of people to be treated with alcoholism.

The plan also reckons with outpatient treatment of alcohol addicts.

A novelty is that the aim of the treatment is not only a complete abstinence but also the lowering of alcohol consumption in the case of some patients.

The state should support the fight against alcoholism. Health Minister Leos Heger (TOP 09) plans to introduce a ban on the sale of liquor at market places and in automatic machines as from 2014.

Popov recalls that over 300 people annually die of legal-alcohol poisoning in the 10.5-million Czech Republic.

Michal Miovsky, head doctor of the Addictology Clinic, says 12.5 percent of men and 2.7 percent of women consume alcohol in a hazardous way or are addicted to it in the Czech Republic,

People with basic education only, the unemployed and people from lower social stratas prevail in this group.

"Frequent drinking of high alcohol amounts increases the risk of injury, traffic accidents and aggressive behaviour under the influence of alcohol," Miovsky warns.

The main problem is that most of the Czech society does not consider alcohol dangerous, Popov said.

According to the action plan, the family and friends can also help alcohol addicts but they should consult a doctor first. Even a GP can offer help in such cases. If the addicts are unable to limit drinking on their own, they should seek a medical treatment.