EU funds to help Estonia sober up

Hanneli Rudi
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Photo: SCANPIX

On the wings of EU millions, major change is coming to alcoholism treatment in Estonia. Instead of pulling folks out of delirium as before, the future focus will be integrated treatment.

«As early as March 2010, it was obvious that even as family doctors diagnosed alcohol problems and people needed help, we had nowhere to send them for treatment,» said National Institute for Health Development (TAI) head Maris Jesse. Thus, a doctor will be feeling the burden of responsibility, while unable to help the patient as treatment is outside her competency.

Help brings bill

According to social ministry chief specialist Triinu Täht, Health Insurance Fund will only be paying for the detoxification part of in-patient treatment of addicts. And even that, as a rule, only when the person is in especially severe condition like in delirium. Whoever is able to walk to the hospital and ask for help breaking the cycle, will on most occasions get a bill along with the help.

«It’s a bit more complex with out-patient treatment; some family doctors and even psychiatrists do deal with addicts within the existing system, but we do not have a separate financing scheme for treatment of alcohol addiction,» admitted Ms Täht.

From European Social Fund, Estonia will for the next six years be receiving €10m, by which it is planned to create a modern effective alcohol addiction treatment and counselling system. For instance: in addition to family doctors it is planned to also involve other physicians, contacted by a tippler, in the early stages of detecting and counselling regarding addiction.  

«Early detection of excessive consumption of alcohol and related counselling help lower volumes and frequency to a level which is not harmful or dangerous for health, thus preventing damage to health and development of addiction,» said Ms Täht. It is also planned to create a modern treatment and rehabilitation, for alcoholics.

According to Ms Jesse, the plan is to be offering alcohol addicts a treatment made up of various components, while it is not intended to turn the person into a teetotaller at any cost. «It would already spell success if many drinkers would cut the volumes, and the trend for them would perhaps continue. It ought to be the norm to consume less alcohol and not to get drunk when partying,» explained Ms Jesse.

Family support

Pursuant to state alcohol policy, about 5,300 people a year might be receiving out-patient treatment. In-patient volumes might be needed by up to 1,500 people a year, it is assessed – and the length of it should be 15–20 days, followed by out-patient treatment.

While currently counselling is only provided for those closest to drug addicts, the same support should also become available for family members of alcoholics.

«According to the very early plans, by the end of the program those helped might number 15,000 people. Via family doctors, during the same period, early detection and, if needed, brief counselling might have been offered to 20,000 people a year,» said Ms Täht.

Pursuant to a 2012 WHO study, alcohol addiction affects 11 percent of Estonia’s males and two percent of the ladies. The same study says that with men, every third early death is caused by alcohol; with ladies – every eighth. Last year, 11.8 litres of pure alcohol were consumed in Estonia per grown-up. The goal is to bring this down to eight litres.

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