Regional Innovation Fund 2010/11 Project: MH 30009

Selected service users who meet project criteria will be trained in how to use an Alcometer. Identified service users will be allowed to take an alcometer home, along with the sample breath tubes. 

Participants will be encouraged to drink 2 units of alcohol every time (interval of 1-2 hours approximately) when they breathalyse less than the previous recording, and advised to drink up to 4 units before sleeping at night.  This process would enable people to be alcohol free in seven to ten days without the need for medication and give them a sense of ownership and understanding that they can reduce their alcohol intake at home without the need to go into the hospital.

The additional benefit to service users is the perspective that if they do not want to become abstinent, they could achieve sensible drinking without the accompanying chaos or problems of dependent drinking.

The participants are initially assessed and asked to write a ‘drink diary’ charting their comfort level and score in a 10 point scale.  After few weeks of this diary, they will be asked to drink down with the help of alcometer (usually for a week) to a comfort level that is stable (although this could be higher units of alcohol than the recommended units for men and women).  This shows them that they could drink to a lower level than they think, for their comfort and could scientifically challenge their belief system.  This enables them and prepares for the future prospect of drinking down to abstinence without the need of any medications.