Alcohol

House of Lords written question – answered at on 30 January 2012.

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Photo of Baroness Masham of Ilton Baroness Masham of Ilton Crossbench

To ask Her Majesty's Government how the Department of Health will define "recovery" in their forthcoming alcohol strategy in terms of people who have an alcohol problem.

Photo of Earl Howe Earl Howe The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health

The core components of the definition of "recovery from dependence" are the same for all substances including for alcohol.

The drugs strategy 2010, Reducing Demand, Restricting Supply, Building Recovery: Supporting People to Live a Drug Free Life defines recovery as involving three overarching principles-well-being, citizenship, and freedom from dependence. It is an individual, person-centred journey, as opposed to an end state, and one that will mean different things to different people.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published guidance in February 2011, Alcohol-Use Disorders Diagnosis, Assessment and Management of Harmful Drinking and Alcohol Dependence that advises that abstinence is the appropriate goal for most people with alcohol dependence, and people who misuse alcohol and have significant psychiatric or physical comorbidity (for example, depression or alcohol-related liver disease).

We expect to publish the Government's alcohol strategy in the first months of this year.

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