Community pharmacists have an important role in educating the public about the risks associated with excessive alcohol drinking and promoting safe alcohol consumption...one of the ways we can help is by simply talking to patients giving brief advice, but initiating the conversation can be challenging.
The LPC is working with the local authorities to try and get a brief alcohol intervention service up and running using scratch cards to start the conversation.
For information, there is a public health media campaign called "Dry January" and it's an attempt to encourage people to abstain from alcohol for 31 days - during the month of January. The campaign will be focussing on the link between alcohol and cancer:-
So, the simple message is: "the more often you drink, the more you increase your risk of developing cancer".
If you're interested in supporting the campaign in your pharmacy (or by having a month off alcohol yourself?), then please please visit the dry January website. www.dryjanuary.org.uk
Can you stay off the booze for 31 days?
The LPC is working with the local authorities to try and get a brief alcohol intervention service up and running using scratch cards to start the conversation.
For information, there is a public health media campaign called "Dry January" and it's an attempt to encourage people to abstain from alcohol for 31 days - during the month of January. The campaign will be focussing on the link between alcohol and cancer:-
- Alcohol is the second biggest cause of cancer (in people over 35) after smoking...
- Alcohol is responsible for 4% of UK cancers – about 12,500 cases each year (Alcohol Research UK)...
- An estimated 6% of cancer deaths in the UK caused by alcohol. (Cancer Research UK, Alcohol and Cancer: the evidence, 2009).
- 85% of people do not realise that drinking over limits increases the risk of developing breast cancer.
- Some 65% were unaware it increases the risk of bowel cancer.
So, the simple message is: "the more often you drink, the more you increase your risk of developing cancer".
If you're interested in supporting the campaign in your pharmacy (or by having a month off alcohol yourself?), then please please visit the dry January website. www.dryjanuary.org.uk
Can you stay off the booze for 31 days?
RSS Feed
