Changes in the age of alcohol treatment beginning. Should we modify our clinical strategies?

Abstract

Introduction: Epidemiological data on alcohol consumption in Spain show the importance of alcohol consumption in the youths, but increase over time of this problem or a impairment of the consequences has not been yet studied. Either we know their repercussion in the treatment beginning. Material and Method: We analyzed the age of all the new cases of alcoholism treated in Catalonia (Spain) in the last 10 years as well as all the new patients treated in our alcohol dependence unit for the last 25 years. In addition we also studied the age of all patience that used group psychotherapies and those that required hospital detoxification. Results: Interesting enough, the population attended for alcohol dependency it is increasing on age, in all Catalonia as well as in our specific alcohol unit. The women ratio for the illness is maintained stable. At the same time, group psychotherapies and inpatient detoxification are consequently also increased on age. Discussion: The use of different therapeutic techniques seems to be adapted to the changes in time, but those changes are sometimes, made without a scientific evidence. It does not exist yet enough study about efficacy. Our data , show the need for instruments and specific techniques for each one of the types of alcoholic patients that are being identifying over time. This study suggest a growing tendency for a new group of alcoholic patients that may be named “third age”.