Page 149 - Petelin, Ana, et al. 2019. Eds. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of Children and Adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 149
atment cooperate well in dealing with the problems of their children; there- alcohol, and children and adolescents 147
fore, the prognosis is more favourable. In some cases, parents represent an ob-
stacle to the treatment of their children at the beginning and in such cases, we
also need to improve the parents’ motivation for a change.
In children and adolescents, alcohol consumption can be a symptom of
another mental disorder typical of childhood and adolescence, such as mood
disorders (depression, anxiety) or attention disorder. A suitable treatment of
mental disorders has a favourable outcome only on condition that alcohol
use is also addressed. Unfortunately, the latter frequently remains untreated
and consequently, the treatment of other disorders is longer and less effective
(Stahl, 2013).
When agreeing on the changes (or therapeutic measures), we check for
each of them whether and to what an extent (on a scale from 0 to 10) our young
patient assesses that the change (such as giving up alcohol) is important, that
it is feasible and that he/she is prepared to invest a great effort into making the
change.
Conclusions: Measures to be taken for a reduction in damage
made by alcohol among the adolescents
Instead of a conclusion, we summarize evidence-supported measures for a re-
duction in damage by alcohol among the young.
As measures that have proved to be effective in reducing damage by al-
cohol, the World Health Organization emphasizes measures aimed at the lim-
itation of access for adolescents in particular, e.g., banning the sale of alcohol
to underage people, the determination of minimal age for the purchase of al-
cohol, licensing, and generally the measures that include road safety (e.g., limi-
tation or zero blood alcohol concentration for all drivers, regular random test-
ing of drivers), price and tax measures (price policy of alcohol, taxes and excise
duties), early recognition (screening) of risky alcohol consumption or alcohol
dependence syndrome and adapted measures (short counselling, short inter-
ventions, directing towards specialist treatment), treatment of conditions and
consequences of alcohol abuse (WHO, 2009; WHO, 2012).
From the aspect of public health measures aimed at the population, le-
gal and economic measures have the best and most long-term effects, but they
need to be implemented and carried out in practice to the letter (the example
being the ban on the sale of alcohol to adolescents) (WHO, 2009; WHO, 2012;
McKnight-Eily et al, 2017). From the aspect of an individual, especially in the
case of most vulnerable subgroups, it is essential that systemic measures be up-
graded and that effective programmes that have proved to be effective and are
adapted to the needs be carried at various levels and in various environments
(local environment, family, school, health system). A challenge in the field of
prevention of consequences due to alcohol exposure is also represented by the
implementation of standardized screening programmes for the detection of
fore, the prognosis is more favourable. In some cases, parents represent an ob-
stacle to the treatment of their children at the beginning and in such cases, we
also need to improve the parents’ motivation for a change.
In children and adolescents, alcohol consumption can be a symptom of
another mental disorder typical of childhood and adolescence, such as mood
disorders (depression, anxiety) or attention disorder. A suitable treatment of
mental disorders has a favourable outcome only on condition that alcohol
use is also addressed. Unfortunately, the latter frequently remains untreated
and consequently, the treatment of other disorders is longer and less effective
(Stahl, 2013).
When agreeing on the changes (or therapeutic measures), we check for
each of them whether and to what an extent (on a scale from 0 to 10) our young
patient assesses that the change (such as giving up alcohol) is important, that
it is feasible and that he/she is prepared to invest a great effort into making the
change.
Conclusions: Measures to be taken for a reduction in damage
made by alcohol among the adolescents
Instead of a conclusion, we summarize evidence-supported measures for a re-
duction in damage by alcohol among the young.
As measures that have proved to be effective in reducing damage by al-
cohol, the World Health Organization emphasizes measures aimed at the lim-
itation of access for adolescents in particular, e.g., banning the sale of alcohol
to underage people, the determination of minimal age for the purchase of al-
cohol, licensing, and generally the measures that include road safety (e.g., limi-
tation or zero blood alcohol concentration for all drivers, regular random test-
ing of drivers), price and tax measures (price policy of alcohol, taxes and excise
duties), early recognition (screening) of risky alcohol consumption or alcohol
dependence syndrome and adapted measures (short counselling, short inter-
ventions, directing towards specialist treatment), treatment of conditions and
consequences of alcohol abuse (WHO, 2009; WHO, 2012).
From the aspect of public health measures aimed at the population, le-
gal and economic measures have the best and most long-term effects, but they
need to be implemented and carried out in practice to the letter (the example
being the ban on the sale of alcohol to adolescents) (WHO, 2009; WHO, 2012;
McKnight-Eily et al, 2017). From the aspect of an individual, especially in the
case of most vulnerable subgroups, it is essential that systemic measures be up-
graded and that effective programmes that have proved to be effective and are
adapted to the needs be carried at various levels and in various environments
(local environment, family, school, health system). A challenge in the field of
prevention of consequences due to alcohol exposure is also represented by the
implementation of standardized screening programmes for the detection of
