title: Alcohol dependency prevention and early intervention.
abstract: Current data on efforts to prevent alcoholism indicate that we are better able to prevent some of the consequences of alcohol misuse, such as alcohol-related car crashes and fetal alcohol syndrome, than chronic alcohol dependence itself. A review of data on outcomes of treatment for long-term alcohol dependence indicates that 9 of 10 alcohol dependent persons receive no treatment for the disorder in any given year. When treatment is provided for long-term alcohol dependent persons, it has only slightly positive results. As a result, many clinicians and researchers have concluded that rather than exclusive preoccupation with long-term alcoholics, early intervention with persons who are just beginning to abuse alcohol may be a more effective use of resources.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D005380:Financing, Government; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007878:Legislation as Topic; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012574:Schools