PROBLEM DRINKERS

Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh asked the Minister for Health (a) from 1990 to 1999, how many cases of problem drinking were reported to hospitals annually and what was the profile of these problem drinkers by gender and social class factors; (b) what measures are in place to address intervention and treatment issues at the institutional and community levels; and (c) whether it is time for a national campaign against problem drinking.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: The number of admissions to hospitals from 1990 to 1999 for conditions related to problem drinking, such as acute alcoholic intoxication, alcohol dependence syndrome, alcoholic liver damage and alcoholic psychosis, is about 1,100-1,200 annually. The annual number of such admissions over the years has remained fairly constant. The male to female ratio is approximately 8:1. We do not keep track of the social class of patients admitted.

Woodbridge Hospital runs an Alcohol Treatment Centre for the treatment and rehabilitation of problem drinkers. The Centre accepts referrals from hospitals, polyclinics, general practitioners, community groups dealing with alcoholism, like Alcoholics Anonymous, social service organisations such as the Family Service Centres, community agencies and counselling centres. In 1999, the Centre had managed about 170 admissions, 100 new outpatient cases, and 3,600 attendances at its alcohol recovery support group sessions. The staff of the Alcohol Treatment Centre also conducts public seminars and training for general practitioners on early identification of persons with alcohol problems and the management of such persons.

In the community, the Alcoholics Anonymous and two halfway houses offer counselling and group therapy for problem drinkers.

The current size of the problem does not warrant a national campaign. Nevertheless, my Ministry will focus on public education to increase awareness of the dangers of excessive drinking, specify safe drinking limits, and manage problem drinkers.