User:Don Shenker

Don Shenker is the Director of Alcohol Health Network. www.alcoholhealthnetwork.org.uk

The Alcohol Health Network is a UK-based social enterprise, set up in 2012, which aims to support employers and employees to promote safer drinking and reduce alcohol harm across workforces. We use evidence-based approaches recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to reduce alcohol harm via workplaces and improve staff health, wellbeing and productivity.

The Network collaborates with the E-Health Unit at University College London and Don Shenker, Alcohol Health Network’s Director, advises Dame Carol Black through the Alcohol at Work subgroup for the Responsibility Deal on Public Health.

Research support for this approach

UK Government has estimated that 11-17 million working days per year are lost to absenteeism due to alcohol misuse, costing a total of £6.4bn per year

The International Labour Organisation estimate that 25% of the global workforce drink at levels high enough to be at risk of ill-health and dependency

Using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Tool (AUDIT) and providing brief advice has been recommended and evidenced as highly effective and cost-efficient by NICE in identifying and reducing harmful drinking

A recent Swedish study found that by using AUDIT in occupational health settings, increased-risk drinking reduced by 50%

A Scottish study found use of AUDIT and brief advice reduced drinking rates among local authority staff by 6 units per week and that 92% were happy to use AUDIT as part of an occupational health promotions

Computer-based interventions for reducing alcohol intake have been found to be as effective as in-person interventions, such as CBT and motivational interviewing in some studies

US research has estimated a 4:1 benefit to cost ratio for organisations who use IBA approaches to address alcohol issues at work over 4 years, or £120 per employee per year

References