On August 28, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. An information campaign "Life - without alcohol!" will be held in the Vitebsk region from September 3-7, the BELTA correspondent was informed at the Vitebsk Regional Clinical Center for Psychiatry and Narcology.
The event is being held as part of the implementation of the State Program of National Actions for the Prevention and Overcoming of Drunkenness and Alcoholism for 2011-2015. It includes consulting the public at various medical institutions, visits by specialists to work collectives, distribution of thematic literature, brochures and leaflets, meetings with educators of educational institutions to intensify efforts aimed at preventing the consumption of alcoholic beverages among young people, and a number of other measures.
"The problem of drunkenness and alcoholism is one of the most pressing issues. Unfortunately, in the mass consciousness and everyday culture of the population, especially young people, a stable socio-psychological stereotype has been formed, according to which the consumption of alcoholic beverages is considered a natural, modern standard of behavior, one of the types of "leisure", a way to relieve stress. The information campaign "Life - without alcohol!" is designed to counter this deeply erroneous opinion," the specialists stated.
The centre also noted that the level of alcohol consumption in the Vitebsk region remains high. As of July 1 of this year, 33.7 thousand people were under the supervision of narcologists in the region's healthcare facilities (compared to 35 thousand in the same period of 2011). Of these, 22.5 thousand residents are registered with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence (23.5 thousand respectively), and 11.1 thousand people are under preventive observation due to harmful alcohol consumption (11.5 thousand).
The incidence of alcohol dependence in the first half of the year was 126.2 per 100,000 population, which is 13% lower than in the same period last year. Among individuals with narcological problems under observation, almost 1.9 thousand are minors, including 7 individuals with established dependence (compared to 2.1 thousand and 8 individuals respectively in the same period of 2011). In the region, 156 residents died from alcohol poisoning and its surrogates in the 6 months of this year, which is 7.4% lower than in 2011. Over 7 months, 10.1 thousand people were taken to sobering-up stations in the region, and 550 residents were sent to therapeutic and preventive labour centres.
In order to reduce the spread of alcoholism among the population, a set of measures has been developed and is being implemented to ensure effective prevention and treatment of addictive disorders. Social programs are being implemented in the Vitebsk region for all age groups, aimed at replacing and displacing deviant behavior with other socially positive activities. Monitoring of the demographic situation is carried out with correction of changes and the development of specific solutions and recommendations for healthcare organizations and executive committees. Work on the prevention, identification, and counseling of individuals with problematic alcohol use has been introduced into the practice of primary healthcare, in close cooperation with the mental health service.
In addition, a system for early detection of psychoactive substance users has been created. The accessibility of comprehensive examination and qualified psychological, medical, pedagogical, and social assistance, as well as subsequent rehabilitation of dependent individuals, has been ensured. When working with individuals under obligation and dysfunctional families with minor children, the Vitebsk Regional Clinical Center for Psychiatry and Narcology provides high-tech narcological assistance, including various "coding" methods, on preferential and free terms, when necessary. A plan for interaction between healthcare institutions and internal affairs bodies of the Vitebsk region to prevent addictive and mental illnesses and their consequences for 2011-2015 has been developed. In conjunction with the Department of Internal Affairs and the Department of Trade of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, an experiment to restrict alcohol sales is being conducted in the region this year in the Gorodok, Tolochin, Chashniki, and Sharkovshchina districts.
BELTA