 |
 |
EFFECTIVENESS BANK Bulletin 22 October 2012 A new bulletin collating the latest additions to the Effectiveness Bank features a trenchant critique of the kind of cost-benefit calculations which have influenced national alcohol policy, a resource-light way to deliver alcohol interventions at emergency departments, and a review and first evaluation of positive psychology in the treatment of substance use problems. To view the whole bulletin click this link: http://findings.org.uk/docs/bulletins/Bull_22_10_12.php or click the links below to view an entry in the bulletin. If clicking does not work, paste the link in to your web browser address box, being sure to enter the whole address. ************************************** SOCIAL COST OF DRINKING TOTALS LITTLE BETTER THAN NONSENSE Devastating broadside from prominent alcohol expert argues that estimates that drinking imposes billions of pounds of costs on society are so value-laden and bloated that their main use is as propaganda. Policies like increasing the price of drink may be justified on other grounds, but not by a misleadingly precise cost or cost reduction figure. http://findings.org.uk/count/downloads/download.php?file=Makela_K_2.txt MAILED ALCOHOL SCREENING FEEDBACK MORE REALISTIC FOR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS Screening followed by mailed personalised feedback led risky drinkers at Australian emergency departments to cut back, but only when they saw (or had cause to see) drink as contributing to their illness or injury. This low cost written option demanding little of staff could make intervention more feasible in a setting known for difficult and partial implementation. http://findings.org.uk/count/downloads/download.php?file=Havard_A_3.txt EVIDENCE FOR POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND OVERLAPS WITH RECOVERY MOVEMENT A first review has identified overlaps and possible synergies between the contemporary recovery movement in addictions and the positive psychology movement in the broader field of psychological health focused on strengths and wellbeing. http://findings.org.uk/count/downloads/download.php?file=Krentzman_AR_4.cab FIRST TRIAL FINDS POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AIDS TROUBLED YOUNG DRINKERS Tried with 10 patients at a youth drug and alcohol treatment service in England, the sole effectiveness trial to date of positive psychology in the treatment of substance use problems found improved psychological health and substantial remission in alcohol dependence despite the generic nature of the intervention. http://findings.org.uk/count/downloads/download.php?file=Akhtar_M_1.cab ************************************** Effectiveness Bank alerts are provided by Drug and Alcohol Findings (http://findings.org.uk) to alert you to site updates and recent UK-relevant evaluation studies and reviews of drug/alcohol interventions. Findings is managed by DrugScope, Alcohol Concern and the National Addiction Centre. The Effectiveness Bank is supported by Alcohol Research UK and the J Paul Getty Jr Charitable Trust. You have received this message via another mailing list. To receive these messages directly sign up at: http://findings.org.uk/index.php#signUp