New drug for 'mild alcoholics' drinking two glasses of wine a night

The Telegraph ^ | October 2, 2014 | Rebecca Smith

[BulletBobCo]

GPs will prescribe nalmefene and actively ask about patients' alcohol consumption, under new plans by national health watchdog Nice to tackle alcohol abuse.

Hundreds of thousands of people drinking half a bottle of wine a night are to be put on the first ever drug to help reduce alcohol consumption, under plans announced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Men drinking three pints of beer and women drinking two large glasses of wine per night and who do not cut down within two weeks should be prescribed a new drug, Nice has said.

There are an estimated 750,000 people in the UK who would be eligible for nalmefene who show no overt symptoms associated with their drinking.

The plans mean GPs will actively ask patients about their alcohol consumption even when they see them for unrelated health matters such as low mood, inability to sleep, diabetes and high blood pressure.

The drug, which costs £3 per tablet, is taken when people feel the urge to have a drink and stops them from wanting more than one.

The plans will cost £288m per year and it is estimated to save 1,854 lives over five years and prevent 43,074 alcohol-related diseases and injuries over the same period.

The NHS and local authorities will be required to make funding available within three months.

Prof Mark Bellis, alcohol lead for the Faculty of Public Health said there were relatively simple alternatives that would reduce alcohol consumption without the need to medicate the middle classes such as reducing advertising of alcohol and introducing a minimum price per unit.

[AppyPappy]

I have two glasses before breakfast.

[rainee]

I have two glasses before breakfast.

*& two after lunch..two after dinner :)

[GraceG]

This is called the "Sinclair Method" and was used sucessfully by Claudia Christian to treat her Alcoholism.

I know this because was on Michael Garibaldi's Radio Show Talking about it..

[BulletBobCo]

I'm safe...I only have one glass a day.

[EBH]

two glasses of wine make you an alcoholic?

...medicate the middle classes...

Wow...

[EEGator]

[Vendome]

What?

1/2 a bottle if wine is alcohol abuse?

I don’t 1 bottle a night would be abuse.

Wonder what the Portuguese think?

[DoughtyOne]

Two glasses of wine per night qualify you to be an alcoholic?  Wow...

I wouldn't get a buz off that if I chugged it in under a minute.


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[Celtic Conservative]

I think this issue is more true for Britain than here. From what I’ve seen the British can seriously put it away. Who do they think they are, the Irish?

CC

[Georgia Girl 2]

Two glasses of wine is now an alkie? I’m doomed. :-)

[Hoodat]

Seconal?

[Veggie Todd]

[miss marmelstein]

Doctors in this country are absolutely NUTS. Puritanical nuts. Imagine taking away wine and dishing up a drug in its stead!

[miss marmelstein]

Oops! It’s about GB. They’re nuts as well!

[stormer]

Three pints a day? I spill that much...

[mrsmith]

2 glasses- that’s crazy!

Heck, 1 was recommended the last I heard.

[willk]

Seriously, I drink 2 large glasses of red wine with dinner every night. I thought it was supposed to be good for you. I used to drink soda pop.

[Michael.SF.]

Fine, I will cut back to one glass a night:

[Georgia Girl 2]

Mr. GG2 and I were out on the deck grilling and sipping a 16 year old single malt. I guess we are raging Alkies. LOL!