Development of country-wide strategies to reduce the alcohol abuse.
BACKGROUND
Evidence shows that in Iran alcohol abuse rate may be of concern, especially among the youth. The mental and social health and addiction Department of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education has designed a plan to prevent, treat, and rehabilitate the patients abusing alcohol in a time period of 2011-2015.


METHODS
In a 6-month period, three guiding committees of experts in the field of alcohol abuse reviewed the literature. The meetings of the steering committee were held in order to collect the comments of the policy-makers in recognition of the problem, orientation, and administration procedures for the suggested strategies. The first input was discussed in the committee meeting. In the orientation phase, intervention strategies were suggested whose base was the evaluation of the previous international guidelines. In the final phase, the suggested strategies and challenges and their possible solutions were criticized. Finally, using these strategies, appropriate interventions were defined.


RESULTS
Preventing alcohol supply, school- and community-based prevention efforts, monitoring and vigilance were defined as primary prevention. While secondary and tertiary prevention are defined to be the treating and rehabilitating services for the alcohol abusers.


CONCLUSIONS
We hope by using this strategy we will be able to control alcohol abuse in our country. The first step to reach this aim is done by breaking the taboo of giving alcohol-related information and news using media and educational programs especially to the young population.
Mental and Social Health and Substance Abuse Office, Ministry of Health, Tehran, Iran.
Ali
A
Nikfarjam
Mental and Social Health and Substance Abuse Office, Ministry of Health, Tehran, Iran.
Nadereh
N
Memaryan
Department of Community Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Behzad
B
Damari
Department of Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Toxicological Research Center, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Nasim
N
Zamani
Department of Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Toxicological Research Center, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hossein
H
Hassanian-Moghaddam
Addictive; alcoholism; behavior; prevention and control; primary prevention