プレアルコホリック教育プログラムとその教育効果

Education Programs for Pre-alcoholics, and Their Effects on Drinking Behavior

　【抄録】何らかの飲酒問題を持ちながら，48時間を超える連続飲酒およびアルコール離脱症状を経験していない大きな一群を，我々はプレアルコホリックと定義した。久里浜病院を受診したプレアルコホリックに対して，彼らの飲酒行動を修正する目的で，独自の教育プログラムを作成した。本論文は，このプログラムの紹介とプログラム開始2年後に実施した予後調査の結果をまとめたものである。

　予後調査結果から，簡単な治療介入により彼らの飲酒パターンを効果的に変えられることが明らかになった。少ないエネルギーで飲酒習慣を変えることができた大きな要因は，単に教育効果によるものだけでなく，彼らがプレアルコホリックであるという事実に関係しているものと推察された。

　We have defined pre-alcoholics as the large group who have some sort of alcohol-related problems but who have not experienced continuous drinking bouts exceeding 48 hours or alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

　A special education program for pre-alcoholics treated at Kurihama National Hospital has been prepared with the objective of correcting their drinking behavior. This paper introduces this program and outlines the results of a survey on prognosis performed 2 years after the start of the program. The results of the survey revealed the following three points.

　(1) The subjects showed high rates of abstinence.

　(2) Even if they started to drink again after a certain period, their drinking pattern was markedly improved when compared with that before abstinence. Although the period of observation was short, those who resumed drinking showed few signs of aggravation of their drinking pattern.

　(3) Even those who continued drinking showed marked decreases in drinking frequency.

　These results strongly suggest that (1) simple educational intervention at the stage when dependence has not progressed very far is highly effective in correcting drinking behavior, and (2) early identification of alcohol dependence and early intervention are important.