[Developing countries. Health education in the primary prevention of alcoholism]

In most developing countries alcoholism hampers economic development in the same way as illiteracy or disease. Several studies reveal the extent of the problem in Latin America where the consumption of alcoholic beverages is rooted in national traditions. In Chile, the population includes 5% of alcoholics and 15% of people who drink excessively. The authors have developed a programme to control alcoholism in Pudahuel, a district of Santiago where there is much poverty. The programme includes four stages. The first consists in informing community leaders, teachers and parents of how to carry out primary prevention. During the second stage, teachers are shown how to use the didactic material available. The third stage concerns programmed activities for students and parents. The last stage is devoted to preventive activities in the community. The evaluation of this ambitious programme has not yet taken place.