"Continuum Care" in alcohol abuse disorders. A manifesto to bridge the gap in personalisation of treatment pathways
"Continuum Care" nei disturbi da uso di alcol. Un manifesto per colmare i gap nella personalizzazione dei percorsi di trattamento
I. Maremmani (1), A. Baselice (2), G. Biggio (3), M. Cibin (4), C. Leonardi (5), C. Mencacci (6), A. Mosti (7), P.P. Pani (8), A. Rossi (9), E. Scafato (10), G. Turchetti (11)
1 Professor of Psychiatry, Professor of Addiction Medicine, University of Pisa – Past President SITD (Italian Society of Addiction Medicine); 2 Head of Functional Center on Alcohol, UOC, Health District Salerno – President AICAT (Italian Association of Alcohol Territorial Clubs); 3 Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Experimental Biology, Section of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari; 4 Director of the Department of Mental Health, Ulss 13 (Health District 13) Veneto Region, Mirano, Venice; 5 Director of the Unit of Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse and Alcoholism, ASL RMC (Health District RMC), Rome; 6 Director of the Department of Neuroscience, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Milan; 7 Department of Mental Health and Pathological Dependencies, AUSL Piacenza (Health District Piacenza) – Director of the U.O.C. SERT (Drug Addiction Service); 8 Director of Social Services, Health District 8 (ASL 8) Cagliari; 9 Responsible of SIMG (Italian Society of General Practitioners) for pathological dependencies; 10 President SIA (Italian Society on Alcohol); 11 Professor of Health Economics and Management, Sant'Anna Superior School, Pisa
Alcohol consumption is an important public health problem, and is responsible for 3.8% of all deaths in Europe and 4.6% of disability adjusted life years (DALYs). In Italy, it is estimated that about 8 million drinkers are at risk. Even if per capita consumption of ethanol in Italy has been significantly reduced to about 6.1 litres per year, heavy drinkers have not followed such a reduction. The WHO (World Health Organization) defines heavy drinkers as those whose mode of consumption causes damage to health (daily consumption of alcohol > 40 gm for women and > 60 gm for men).