Pathways to care for alcohol use disorders

The aim of the present study was to examine access to care for people with alcohol use disorders.

An alcohol screening questionnaire was completed by 444 respondents in a community survey. During a designated week, 1009 patients presenting in primary care were assessed by their doctor and 773 of these completed the same questionnaire. Over a six month period 223 people with alcohol use disorders were identified using specialist addiction and psychiatric services, of whom 58 were admitted to hospital. One month prevalence rates of alcohol morbidity were determined for people aged between 16 and 64 years at all five levels in the pathways to care model.

Around half the people with alcohol morbidity in the community never consulted their general practitioner and of those who did only half had their problem identified. Case recognition was particularly poor for women, young people and Asians. The main filter to people accessing specialist services came at the point of referral from primary care. This was especially marked for young people and for ethnic minorities.

Strategies are required to improve the identification and treatment of alcohol morbidity in primary care. Deficits in access to specialist services for women, young people and ethnic minorities need to be addressed.