Alcohol treatment services in Russia: a worsening crisis

This paper reviews the state of alcohol treatment services in Russia. There have been some recent improvements, for example the introduction of confidentiality in treatment, the closure of correctional centres, and the payment of state benefits to in-patients. However, there remains a considerable stigma attached to a diagnosis of alcoholism. Although new approaches to treatment have been promulgated, in practice Russian treatment methods remain idiosyncratic with little in the way of psychotherapy. Many techniques utilise placebos and persuasion, with the patient as a passive recipient. Services are generally of a poor quality, and underfunded and medical specialists are poorly trained. To improve matters it is suggested that there will need to be: (1) changes in knowledge and attitude among the general population and within the specialist services; and (2) a continuing exchange of ideas and specialists between Russia and the West.