Management of alcohol dependence in general medical practice: a pilot study

General Medicine, 2023, 25(6), 13-19.

D. Krasimirova, Zh. Ruseva, V. Madjova

Department of General Medicine, MU – Varna

Abstract. Alcoholism does not limit on a certain group of the population but it is a problem of every social layer and age group. General practitioners have a key role in finding, diagnosing and tracking the people with alcohol dependence. The target of the preparing scientific research is ascertainment of the level of the alcohol consumption with a combined screening method, and also the frequency of the physical and mental damages because of it; and also development of a model for tracking and dispensary of the found dependent and risky people in the general practice. For the pilot investigation with 100 patient in Razgrad city a survey was developed, laboratory tests took place and hepatic ultrasound was performed. In the analysis of the results, the level of risky and alcohol dependent patients is very high – 42%, and a part of them are with newfound complications caused by the chronic alcohol disease. It is necessary during the prophylactic check-ups to be looked for manifests of abuse with alcohol and availability of the alcohol disease. That will allow early diagnosis and treatment of the ill and dependent people, and also protection from physical, mental and social defeats.

Key words: alcohol, alcohol dependence, screening, prevention

Address for correspondence: Daniela Krasimirova, MD, e-mail: daniela-medika@abv.bg