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Developing an Alcohol Awareness Course for Clients with a Learning Disability
Author(s) -
Forbat Liz
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
british journal of learning disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1468-3156
pISSN - 1354-4187
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3156.1999.tb00077.x
Subject(s) - abstinence , session (web analytics) , medical education , psychological intervention , psychology , intervention (counseling) , medicine , psychiatry , computer science , world wide web
This paper details the pilot study of an Alcohol Awareness group, designed for the dissemination of information regarding the consumption of alcohol. Eight sessions focused on key issues such as units, myths surrounding alcohol, and techniques for refusing drinks. The pilot group comprised adults with learning disabilities resident in a Medium Secure Unit. Special emphasis is given throughout this paper to the user group to whom the intervention was aimed. An assessment tool was designed to measure the level of alcohol‐related knowledge which participants had prior to the course. The same assessment was administered to group members immediately following the course, and at a six‐month follow‐up. Increases in scores were evident for all participants in the post‐assessment. Discussion follows on the need for this addition to mainstream services. Issues of controlled drinking or total abstinence, and some suggestions for future interventions within the service, are also discussed. A package of information, handouts and session‐plans were developed throughout the course/and are available from the secure service on request.