Is the health profile of problem drinkers different from that of other patients?

Health problems presented to the family physician over a 2-year period were compared between a group of 108 problem drinkers and a group of matched control subjects. Although the problem drinkers had a higher prevalence of many types of problems, the major differences occurred for traumatic injury, digestive disorders, and family or social dysfunction. Such problem areas could comprise a brief checklist to aid in the detection of problem-drinking patients. Information presented to the patient concerning the wide range of problems associated with their drinking may also help break through the denial so characteristic of this population.