Alcohol identification and brief advice workshops
In Buckinghamshire, about 1 in 4 adults drink more alcohol than is safe for their health. This leads to many people needing hospital treatment, costing the NHS £21.1 million every year.
Identification and Brief Advice (IBA) is a cost-effective and simple way to reduce risky drinking. It is promoted by NICE, the Department of Health and is part of the NHS health check programme.
IBA includes some simple key elements:
- identification of alcohol misuse using a validated screening tool such as AUDIT
- brief advice (usually lasting 5-10 minutes). Tailored to the individual, highlighting the benefits of cutting down and tips to achieve it – where an individual is willing
- delivered in an empathetic way that aims to motivate and support an individual to change
- delivered opportunistically, for instance as part of health checks or new registrations
For any questions regarding Alcohol Identification and Brief Advice training, contact the Public Health Team, [email protected]