Responding to Drug and Alcohol Problems in the Community (WHO, 1991, 109 p.): 3. Organizing primary health care services to combat drug and alcohol abuse: Functions of primary health care services

Responding to Drug and Alcohol Problems in the Community (WHO, 1991, 109 p.)

3. Organizing primary health care services to combat drug and alcohol abuse

		(introduction...)
		Functions of primary health care services
		Primary prevention
		Secondary prevention
		Tertiary prevention
		Functions of the second level of health care
		The changing role of specialists
		Coordination with other sectors
		Evaluation and monitoring
		Training
		Budget

Functions of primary health care services

The functions of the primary health care service in relation to drug and alcohol abuse can be considered within a framework of three levels of prevention:

Primary prevention aims to avoid the appearance of new cases of drug and alcohol abuse, by reducing the consumption of drugs and alcohol through health promotion.

Secondary prevention attempts to detect cases early, and to treat them before serious complications cause disability.

Tertiary prevention aims to avoid further disabilities, and to reintegrate into society individuals who have been harmed by severe drug and alcohol problems.

The PHC worker will be involved at all of these levels.