[Intervention for alcoholism control among chronic drinkers in primary care]

To evaluate the evolution of alcohol consumption in chronic drinkers after a primary care alcohol intervention over two years.

Prospective intervention study.

Urban primary care centre.

Males between 20 and 60 years old who consumed 100 or more grams of alcohol per day for at least the previous two years.

Detoxification (out-patient or hospital according to the degree of dependency) and habit-breaking, which consisted of psychological support (techniques of brief counselling, brief motivating interview) and/or referral to the care and observance centre (COC) for individual and/or group psychotherapy, took place. A minimum of eight visits were programmed and consumption was assessed in gr/day at the start and at one (1 m), three (3 m), six (6 m), twelve (12 m), eighteen (18 m) and twenty-four months (24 m). 64 out of 129 (49.5%) responded to the appointment. Control visits: nil observance (0 visits) 6 patients (9%), and excellent observance (> or = 9 visits) 21 patients (33%).

Psychotherapy treatment: psychological support 55 patients (86%), referral to the COC 4 (6%), group psychotherapy 2 (3%), and non-treatment 6 (9%). Data on mean consumption: start 131 g/day (SD = 52), 12 m 31 (SD = 41), and 24 m 38 (SD = 42). Mean reduction of consumption at 24 months according to the observance: insufficient -19%, acceptable -71.1%, excellent -83.9% (p = 0.001).

Low response to appointments. Evolution of alcohol consumption was similar to that in other studies. Clear relationship between number of visits and consumption at the end of the study. Given the positive findings, we think a primary care intervention on alcohol is essential.