Alcohol Policy UK

Latest from the IBA blog: SIPS - not just a leaflet; IBA in a nutshell; IBA should do it? INEBRIA 2012 presentations and more

A selection of recent posts from the IBA blog, which aims to promote news, links and ideas relating to alcohol brief interventions are included below: 

• SIPS Primary Care research: not just a leaflet
• Step-by-step IBA (in a nutshell)
• New look to the blog…
• IBA – who should do it and how do we convince them?
• INEBRIA 2012 presentations
• IBA – are all settings equal? Presentations and experiences
• INEBRIA 2012: research into practice?
• IBA ‘mystery shopping’ experiences: the good, the bad and the…

The blog also has dedicated 'About IBA' and 'IBA tools' pages. See here for the Alcohol IBA Twitter Updates (@Alcohol_IBA).

The IBA blog was set up to promote learning, understanding and the delivery of IBA through news, links and ideas on IBA from a range of contributors. It also aims to highlight other resources and links such as INEBRIA and the Alcohol Learning Centre IBA pages.

Latest Findings alcohol bulletings: brief interventions findings including SIPS review

Recent bulletins from the drug and alcohol bank:

First major report from crucial English alcohol screening and brief intervention trials

Confirming preliminary releases, the first major formal account of findings from the SIPS trials reports no benefits from adding 20 minutes of theory-based counselling to a straightforward few sentences warning primary care patients they are drinking too much. 'Do just the minimum' is the message austerity-hit commissioners might take from the studies, but that would be to over-read their implications.

See here for the BMJ SIPS Primary Care results.

Single question identifies most problem drinkers

Can you get away with asking just a single question to identify risky and even dependent drinkers? When the thresholds are suitably adjusted, asking either about frequency of heavy drinking or maximum single-occasion consumption worked remarkably well in the US general population. Results could help extend screening to more venues and more patients.

Half-hour of advice may cut drinking in repeat drink-driving offenders

Can repeat drink-driving offenders be swayed by just 30 minutes with a therapist, and would those minutes best be spent in motivational interviewing or providing information on alcohol? This Canadian study hints that 'Yes' is the answer to both questions – but only hints.

See the Alcohol IBA blog or Alcohol Learning Centre for brief interventions news and resources.

Latest Findings alcohol bulletins: Canadian experience supports minimum pricing evidence; Scotland exceeds brief intervention target

Recent bulletins from the drug and alcohol bank:

Real-world Canadian evidence supports minimum alcohol pricing
Mathematical models for Britain predict that high minimum per unit alcohol pricing would substantially reduce consumption, but are consumers and markets that predictable? From British Columbia in Canada, real-world support for this first step in the chain expected to lead to improved public health and productivity and reduced crime.

Minimum price for alcohol has reduced consumption
Further and arguably stronger Canadian evidence from Saskatchewan of the real-world impact of something close to minimum per unit alcohol pricing applied more consistently to more beverage types and at a higher level than in British Columbia.

Scotland exceeds national brief alcohol interventions target
In three years from 2008 Scottish national policy drove delivery of nearly 175,000 brief alcohol interventions, testament to what can be done when policy is backed by funding and infrastructure and incentive payments contingent on implementation. Leverage and acceptance were greatest in primary care, where the vast majority of the work took place.

LHIB action on early intervention: London IBA reviews; IBA Practitioners' Network & 2013 Leadership Summit

The shadow London Health Improvement Board (LHIB) alcohol programme has announced a number of projects and events as part of its aim to promote alcohol early intervention across the capital.

The LHIB alcohol priority is committed to ensuring that Identification and Brief Advice (IBA) is delivered effectively across a wide range of key settings in London including criminal justice, acute and primary care. It will also be engaging with senior leaders to develop a shared vision and partnership framework, and supporting local licensing and enforcement teams.

As part of the early intervention programme, the LHIB commissioned two key reports to assess the extent of IBA delivery across the capital and challenges and opportunities for moving forward - see summary reports here:

• IBA Interventions across London - Executive Summary.pdf
• Systematic Review of Alcohol Early Intervention in Criminal Justice Sector - Executive Summary.pdf

An IBA Practitioner Network has also been established, aiming to bring together a practitioners from health, social care and criminal justice sectors to promote and lead on IBA delivery. The Network is currently recruiting practitioners from a range of key settings, though is not intended for drug and alcohol roles - see here for more information.

An IBA leadership Summit will also take place in January 2013 with the intention of securing senior level buy-in to embedding IBA delivery across London.

London Health Improvement Board's alcohol priority takes shape

Since 2011, the shadow London Health Improvement Board (LHIB) has been working with a variety of partners to improve the health of all Londoners and reduce inequalities in health outcomes. The LHIB aims to deliver city-wide action to generate better outcomes for Londoners, with a particular focus on key areas of alcohol, obesity and cancer.

For the alcohol priority, work has been developing to deliver action on:

• Vision and Partnership - developing a London-wide vision for how London should view and relate to alcohol and a partnership framework t support action across sectors
• Licensing and Enforcement - supporting local authorities and their partners in creating a well-managed night time economy by developing a set of licensing and enforcement standards
• Early Intervention - ensuring that Identification and Brief Advice (IBA) is delivered effectively across a wide range of key settings in London including criminal justice, acute and primary care.

As part of the 'Early Intervention' work programme, an IBA Practitioners Network is currently being established to develop leadership and peer support around IBA delivery. The Network is currently seeking London practitioners from a range of health, social care and criminal justice settings who are committed to supporting IBA delivery. If you are a London based health or social care practitioner and committed to IBA delivery please get in touch.

In 2013, an Early Intervention and Prevention Leadership Summit event will take place to support the programme and ensure strategic buy-in and leadership.

Latest from the IBA blog: first INEBRIA 2012 report; 'mystery shopping' for IBA?; Brief Advice 'bullets' & more

A selection of recent posts from the IBA blog, which aims to promote news, links and ideas relating to alcohol brief interventions are included below:

• INEBRIA 2012: research into practice?
• IBA ‘mystery shopping’ experiences: the good, the bad and the…
• ‘Mystery shopping’ for IBA in Primary Care?
• How intense an intervention is IBA? And competencies needed?
• How ‘opportunisitic’ can IBA be – a step too far?
• Brief advice bullets: try lower strength drinks?
• Brief advice bullets: alcohol disrupts sleep
• Is IBA ‘girly’?

The blog also inlcudes an about IBA page and quick reference IBA tools & resources page. Previous popular posts include:

• IBA for children and young people: evidence, guidance and resources?
• Extended Brief Interventions: who, when, where, and other questions?
• Is self-completing the AUDIT OK for IBA?

The IBA blog was set up to promote learning, understanding and the delivery of IBA through news, links and ideas on IBA from a range of contributors. It also aims to highlight other resources and links such as INEBRIA and the Alcohol Learning Centre IBA pages.

SIPS Junior trial underway; sessional researchers sought for London

The SIPS Junior research trial is underway, and the team are seeking to recruit sessional workers for part of the study.

The SIPS Junior research programme will provide estimates of the level of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems in adolescents attending Emergency Departments (EDs). It will also develop, implement and evaluate screening and alcohol interventions for adolescents in the ED setting. Funding was awarded by the Department of Health National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to a consortium of research centres led by the Institute of Psychiatry (IoP), King's College London.

As part of the programme, 10 sessional Research Workers are needed to work in London Emergency Departments (King’s College Hospital, St George’s Hospital, Lewisham Hospital, St Thomas’ Hospital) between 8am until 4pm or 4pm until midnight recruiting 10 to 17 year olds into the study for the period of three months (September-November 2012).

Download the SIPS jr researchers advert here. To obtain further particulars, an application form and further information about the Institute, please email Paolo.Deluca@kcl.ac.uk.

Results of the adult SIPS trial are soon to be published following peer review. A post on IBA for children and young people: evidence, guidance and resources is available on the IBA blog.

Latest Findings bulletins: Single alcohol question effective but routine screening low across offender settings

Recent bulletins from the drug and alcohol Bank:

Single question enough to identify most heavy drinking offenders         At English prisons, police stations and probation offices, offenders and arrestees in this study usually scored as at least hazardous drinkers and over half as problematic on the AUDIT drink problem questionnaire; nearly all would have been identified by a much briefer screening method usually requiring just a single question.

Despite senior support most detainees not screened for risky drinking  Risky drinking was widespread among the disorder and assault suspects screened for alcohol problems and (as indicated) offered brief advice by civilian staff at a police station in north east England, but despite senior officer support, they constituted just a quarter of the arrestees intended to have been screened.

Screening offenders for risky drinking not a priority in Scotland      Though drinking problems were widespread, Scottish probation and community service staff were unconvinced of the appropriateness of screening their offender clients for risky drinking and (if indicated) offering brief advice. Not a priority, was the common feeling.

Previous Findings bulletins suggested alcohol-related offending measures do work, but also that Probation resources too stretched to adequately tackle huge drink problem.

Last year the Centre for Mental Health called for more support for offenders with alcohol problems.See here for further Offender Health publications and links on the Alcohol Learning Centre.

Latest from the IBA blog: When to do extended brief interventions; young people's IBA resources; is self-completing AUDIT OK?..

A selection of recent posts from the IBA blog, a resource promoting news, links and ideas relating to alcohol brief interventions are included below:

• Extended Brief Interventions: who, when, where, and other questions?
• IBA for children and young people: evidence, guidance and resources?
• Is self-completing the AUDIT OK for IBA?
• IBA for alcohol… and diet…and physical activity…and smoking….and…
• A breath of fresh air: when GPs do IBA
• How to decide what to do, whatever the evidence.
• Is the unit message getting through?
• INEBRIA Conference 2012
• Audiovisual resources can be invaluable in IBA training

The IBA blog was set up to promote learning, understanding and the delivery of IBA through regular items and updates on IBA from a range of contributors. It also aims to highlight other resources and links such as INEBRIA and the Alcohol Learning Centre IBA pages.

Alcohol IBA blog aims to share news, info and links for alcohol brief interventions

A new Alcohol IBA blog has been set up to help promote the delivery of 'Identification and Brief Advice' (IBA), also known as alcohol brief interventions.

The blog, available at www.alcoholiba.com, aims to promote learning, understanding and the delivery of IBA amongst all roles that have the opportunity to deliver it.

IBA is a cost-effective simple intervention that proven to reduce risky drinking. It is a key part of the national effort to reduce alcohol-related harm, but it needs widespread delivery to achieve this.

The blog aims to support the IBA agenda by sharing information and learning relating to IBA, and sign-posting to key resources. It should also offer a space for new ideas about improving the delivery or implementation of IBA, particularly in settings or organisations facing challenges to delivery.

The blog has been set up by James Morris of the Alcohol Academy, but will be supported by a number of expert contributors in the field. Dr Laura Pechey, an IBA specialist for HAGA, recently explored how has IBA done in the new strategy, whilst Dr Niamh Fiztgerald of Create Consultancy has started with an exploration of who needs IBA?

You can also follow the blog on Twitter @Alcohol_IBA or subscibe to its feed here. To get in touch about the blog or propose a contribution see here.