Posted on 10/02/2014 4:30:02 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I bet that would be awesome with coca-cola!!!!!
It would be easier to have it declared ‘just another lifestyle choice.’
HERETIC!!!
Take that *BACK*!!
Yeah, those pesky meetings.
Your post reminds me of an old joke.
Jews don’t recognize the primacy of Jesus, Roman Catholics don’t recognize the primacy of the Orthodox Patriarch, Protestants don’t recognize the primacy of the Pope, and Baptists don’t recognize each other in the liquor store.
I know, a bad joke...
I have 2 fingers of Scotch many nights. The Fascists are trying to control all facets of life. Screw ‘em.
Absolutely. Just had a dram of the water of life last night.
But funny :)
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