Why is this HEAT target important?
This target helps tackle harmful and hazardous drinking, which contributes significantly to Scotland's morbidity and mortality and social harm. Latest research suggests that alcohol contributes to 1 in 20 deaths in Scotland. The cost of alcohol misuse to the Scottish economy is estimated at between £2.47 billion and £4.64 billion per annum (with a mid-point of £3.56 billion).
Brief interventions have been proven to be effective for those individuals, over the age of 16 who are drinking at hazardous and harmful levels, in reducing their level of drinking. Brief interventions are therefore an important way of highlighting harmful behaviours and providing individuals with the tools to make informed choices about how they drink. Many people in Scotland may be unaware that their alcohol consumption could be storing up health problems for the future. By screening patients, doctors can spot early tell-tale signs and provide a brief intervention to help support individuals to moderate their drinking and reduce the risk to their health.
How are we performing?
Target due for delivery in 2011/12
The number of alcohol brief interventions to be delivered during 2011/12 is shown in the table below. There were 174,205 alcohol brief interventions delivered during the three years to 2010/11.
| NHS Board | Target 2011/12 |
| NHS AYRSHIRE & ARRAN | 4,076 |
| NHS BORDERS | 1,247 |
| NHS DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY | 1,629 |
| NHS FIFE | 4,505 |
| NHS FORTH VALLEY | 3,676 |
| NHS GRAMPIAN | 6,054 |
| NHS GREATER GLASGOW & CLYDE | 14,066 |
| NHS HIGHLAND | 3,802 |
| NHS LANARKSHIRE | 6,167 |
| NHS LOTHIAN | 9,939 |
| NHS ORKNEY | 206 |
| NHS SHETLAND | 240 |
| NHS TAYSIDE | 5,137 |
| NHS WESTERN ISLES | 338 |
| NHSSCOTLAND | 61,081 |
Further Information
The Societal Cost of Alcohol Misuse in Scotland for 2007
Changing Scotland's Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action
Changing Scotland's Relationship with Alcohol: a discussion paper on our strategic approach
Scottish Government Alcohol resources webpage
SIGN74 Guideline
Alcohol Brief Intervention statistics
Alcohol brief intervention Communications and Guidance
Alcohol Statistics Scotland 2011
Scottish Health Survey 2009
Related National Outcomes