Presentation title goes here

HARTRESEARCH
Views On Alcoholism
& Treatment
Alan Rivlin
Senior Vice President
Peter D. Hart Research Associates
September 29, 2005
Research Methods - Overview
Internet surveys were conducted among the following populations: 1,000 adults age 20+; margin of error = ±3.1 percentage points – 300 physicians; margin of error = ±5.7 percentage points The Internet survey resulted in a self-selected sample that is • 60% general practitioners; 40% internists – 503 people in recovery from addiction to alcohol; margin of error = ±4.4 percentage points The sample includes adults age 25 to 50 recruited by CADCA • 46% say they struggled with alcohol problems for more than 10 years, and 32% say they struggled for five to 10 years 47% have been in recovery for more than 10 years Alcoholism Not Top Health Priority
One or two most important health issues facing the nation… Physicians
General Public
Depression
Alcoholism
Addiction
General Public Affected By Alcoholism
How much impact has addiction to alcohol had on your life, whether it is addiction of a friend or family member, your own addiction, or any other experience with addiction? General Public
41% of the public reports having encouraged a loved one to seek help for Majority Of Public Sees Moral
Weakness In Addiction
Addiction to alcohol is primarily: Perceived Causes Of Alcoholism
Most important factors contributing to alcohol addiction People in
General public
Physicians
recovery
Stress, anxiety, insecurity about
work, family, other problems
Genetics, family history
Emotional disorders or mental
illness, depression/fear
Lack of willpower/self-control
Stigma –
“…something that detracts from the
character reputation of a person,
a mark of disgrace.”
The Stigma Of Being Labeled “An Alcoholic”
Or “A Person In Recovery”
Primary Care
Primary Care
Physicians
Physicians
General Public
General Public
People in
People in
Recovery
Recovery
Obstacles To Getting Help For Alcoholism
Which do you feel are the biggest obstacles that keep people from getting help? against in employment, housing, etc.
Primary Care Physicians’ Obstacles
To Screening For Alcoholism
Which reasons might explain why you do not ask patients about their drinking habits more often?* ¾ 41% - Patients will deny they have a problem * Asked of the 50% of physicians who report asking about drinking habits half the time or less often.
Primary Care Physicians Would Recommend
Other Experts For Care
Which one of the following treatment pathways best describes what you recommend for patients who have unhealthy drinking habits? 49% refer to treatment facility, counselor,
another physician, or addiction specialist
20% refer to support groups
13% recommend a combination of
medication and counseling
Lack of Awareness and Experience with Medication Among
Primary Care Physicians Surveyed Limits Patients Pathways
to Recovery
• Only 26% of primary care physicians think that medication would be very or fairly effective in treating alcoholism • 51% has prescribed Antabuse® at some point, only 22% are • Only 26% of primary care physicians have experience with ReVia® and 15% have experience with Campral®(acamprosate) • Interestingly, primary care physicians who have prescribed Campral® (acamprosate) are most likely to say treatment will lead to recovery at 45% (compared to 25% among non-prescribers); however, the majority of Campral® prescribers(51%) still express doubt Public Would Embrace Medication to Stop Drinking
If medication were available to help keep people from drinking, and a doctor or treatment advisor recommended it, how likely would you be to encourage a loved one who has a problem with alcohol to try the medication in conjunction with a treatment program? Very likely Somewhat
Not at all

Source: http://www.favor.org.za/new_pdf/2005-09-29_rivlin.pdf