Pilot Alcohol Cessation Counselling Service
The Department of Health (“DH”) has subvented the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (“TWGHs”) to launch the “Pilot Alcohol Cessation Counselling Service” (“Pilot Programme”) starting from April 2024 for 2 years. The Pilot Programme aims to provide one-stop counselling service for people with probable alcohol dependence. Eligible persons can receive the service at the service centre under TWGHs free of charge.
Background:
According to the World Health Organization (“WHO”), the harmful use of alcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 diseases, injuries and other health conditions. The harmful use of alcohol is associated with a risk of developing health problems such as mental and behavioural disorders, including alcohol dependence, and major non-communicable diseases such as liver cirrhosis and some cancers, etc. Beyond health consequences, the harmful use of alcohol brings significant social burdens to individuals, families and society at large.
To be in line with WHO recommendations, the DH promulgated, in 2018, a strategy and action plan (“SAP”), entitled “Towards 2025: Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent and Control Non-communicable Diseases in Hong Kong”, setting out nine targets to be achieved by 2025, with Target 2 of “Reducing harmful use of alcohol”. This Pilot Programme is a new initiative under the SAP for achieving the target of reducing harmful use of alcohol.
Service Targets:
- Hong Kong residents
- Persons identified to have Probable Alcohol Dependence[1]
[1] Note: Defined by the WHO’s Alcohol Use Disorders identification Test (AUDIT) as having a total score of 20 or above.
Service Period:
- The Pilot Programme will last for 2 years. Service commences from 8 April 2024.
Service Provided:
The following service will be delivered by the counsellors of TWGHs:
- Initial assessment
- Evidence-based individual counselling intervention
- Subsequent evaluation follow up, and further arrangement or appropriate referral according to users’ needs