Alcohol and Drug Prevention - Recommendations from the Directorate of Health

-Automatic translation

The Directorate of Health provides professional advice on policy, scientific research, and other issues relating to alcohol and other substances. The directorate also promotes cooperation and coordination among those working on prevention.

Prevention occurs at different levels. Young people's alcohol use, excessive alcohol use, or harmful consumption patterns are attributed to the interaction of cultural, societal, and individual factors. Excessive use of alcohol and other substances has severe consequences for society. Consequences include poor health, illness, accidents, unemployment, long-term social problems, or death.

The main objective of prevention is to reduce or prevent the harm that alcohol or other drugs have on individuals, families, and society. Particular emphasis is placed on preventing or delaying the initiation of use by young people.

The Directorate of Health regularly monitors selected determinants of health, including the use of alcohol and other substances among citizens. The directorate collaborates with foreign and domestic institutions and universities on research and prevention.

Alcohol is a significant contributor to poor health and one of the four most common risk factors for non-communicable diseases, with approximately three million people dying worldwide each year from alcohol-related causes. Alcohol consumption affects the development of various types of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Drinking alcohol is not a private matter

A study by the Nordic Welfare Center (NVC) states that many people are negatively affected by the alcoholic consumption of others, both family members, friends, acquaintances, and strangers. Icelandic results show that nearly one-third of Icelanders, 18 years and older, have been negatively affected by the alcohol consumption of others in their immediate environment. Women and young people are more likely to be negatively affected by other people's drinking. The results of studies like these are essential for public health and alcohol policies.

Recommendations on the use of alcohol

• The criteria for harmless use of alcohol are not known

• You cannot drink alcohol for health benefits

• Stop drinking before reaching five drinks on the same occasion

• Pregnant women should avoid drinking alcohol. Women trying to conceive are also advised to skip alcohol altogether

• Older people are advised to avoid alcohol

• Alcohol may affect the effectiveness of medicines

• Children and young people under the age to buy alcohol should not drink alcohol at all

Terms

• Binge drinking: The consumption of five or more alcoholic beverages on the same occasion.

• Harmful use of alcohol: Defined by the World Health Organisation ICD-10 classification system, including drinking that causes detrimental health and social consequences for the drinker.

• Experimenting: Applies to occasional and short-term drug use. Experimenting can lead to regular use.

• Regular use: Repeated and long-term use of drugs. Regular use can lead to drug abuse or addiction.

• Abuse: Persistent and harmful use of drugs. The damage is both mental and physical and affects social relationships.

• Addiction: An individual is addicted to alcohol or other drugs when three or more of the WHO criteria for addiction are met. The criteria are:

  • Addiction (persistent urge to use drugs)

  • Lack of control

  • Physical withdrawal symptoms

  • Tolerance

  • Less interest in other things or spends a lot of time getting alcohol or other drugs

  • Continuous use of substances despite knowledge of harmful effects