Danas je alkoholizam treća bolest suvremenog čovječanstva, u Hrvatskoj ima 6% ovisnika o alkoholu, a oko 15% muškaraca starijih od 20
godina prekomjerno uzima alkoholna pića. Prikazan je 65-godišnji pacijent, mjesec dana u mirovini, s teškim, neliječenim mnogostrukim psihičkim, fizičkim i socijalnim problemima uzrokovanim alkoholom. Tjelesne posljedice su često ozljeđivanje, prijelomi nadlaktice i kuka. Psihosocijalne posljedice su gubitak obiteljske kuće, odvojen život od žene koja živi povremeno kod kćerke, sin je razveden, često hospitaliziran na psihijatriji zbog PTSP-a i nije voljan primiti oca, troje unučadi od kojih su dvoje krenula „krivim“ putem i smješteni su u učenički dom, a unuka od 17 godina odustala je od škole. Njegov brat, sa senzomotornom afazijom nakon moždanog udara ga također ne može primiti u prigradsku kuću, koju iznajmljuje. Pacijent je prošlog ljeta zapušten spavao ispred ambulante te je uz insistiranje liječnika i prisilno hospitaliziran, zadržan „iz socijalnih razloga“ petnaestak dana na psihijatrijskom odjelu i potom udomljen. Obiteljska medicina je idealna za liječenje poremećaja uzrokovanih alkoholom i barem jednako efikasna kao specijalizirana zdravstvena skrb. Još uvijek je prisutna stigmatizacija alkoholičara i posljedična društvena diskriminacija, što valja suzbijati antistigma programima.Alcoholism is a major public health problem in modern society. There is 6% of alcoholics in Croatia while 15% of adult men drink excessively. A
patient, 65-year-old alcoholic with severe, untreated multiple mental, physical and social problems is presented. Injuries such as fractures of upper arm and hip were frequent physical consequences. He lost his family home, separated from his wife, his son is divorced, frequently hospitalized for PTSD, and is not willing to accept his father to live
with him. Three of his grandchildren undertook the wrong way in their lives (two of them were institutionalized, and a 17-year-old granddaughter abandoned school). His brother, with sensomotor
aphasia after a stroke, refused to accept him in his suburban house, which is currently rented. Last summer the patient was found asleep in front of the dispensery in a poor condition, and compulsorily hospitalized. After he spent 15 days in a psychiatric ward for “social reasons” the patient was placed in foster care. Family medicine is ideal for the management of alcoholism. Interventions in reduction/cessation
of heavy drinking in primary care are as effective as in specialized institutions. Stigmatization and consequential social discrimination of alcoholics is still present what is the reason for family doctors to
implement antistigmatic programs
