Thousands call Drinkline

6,000 people a month have called Drinkline since it was founded in 1993. Following the established practice of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon, the organisation has sought to help problem drinkers, or those concerned about a problem drinker, by means of its telephone network. The helpline is staffed by trained counsellors.

A profile of callers shows that 59 per cent were seeking help for themselves and 37 per cent were concerned about others. Just over half of the callers who were worried about their own drinking were women which is in contrast to the proportions of men and women presenting at rehabilitation clinics or specialist counselling practices. This may well reflect the greater embarrassment generally felt by women in admitting to a drink problem and the attraction of anonymity. 76 per cent of those who called on behalf of another person were women.

The slight majority of callers were seeking help with a drink problem for the first time. Most of the rest had previously been to AA, a local alcohol agency, or a GP. This pattern of contacting a variety of sources of help is not unusual among problem drinkers and tends to indicate a hesitancy about accepting the necessity of change. It may also be part of a search for the answer the drinker wants to hear, quite often that it is all right to continue drinking in a controlled way. The uncompromisingly abstinent message of AA does not appeal to such drinkers.

When someone calls Drinkline, he is given "factual information about safe drinking levels, advice, and guidance about ways to control, or avoid alcohol and practical suggestions about overcoming any related problems." The survey of users shows overwhelming appreciation of the service Drinkline offers. 81 per cent said that they "were given all the information and advice they needed at the time."

Of course, there are limitations to what telephone counselling can achieve. A leading alcohol therapist said, "Telephone counselling can be effective in short, emergency interventions but, of course, difficulties of engagement and honesty are bound to arise."

91 per cent of the sample intended to carry out some kind of plan of action as a result of calling Drinkline. It is significant that the highest level of resolve to do something was found among those admitting to the largest alcohol consumption. "Just over two thirds of concerned others reported that their concerns had lessened or reduced in the two months after calling Drinkline." This occurred either because, among those with a minor problem, the contact with Drinkline had alleviated matters or because referrals had led to treatment, detoxification, or participation in a 12-step programme.

Given the nature of its activities, Drinkline makes no claim to a direct connexion between itself and any subsequent changes in the lives of its clients. It is undoubtedly the case, however, that Drinkline has played a very important part in the process of seeking change. It has acted as a catalyst to further action on the part of the callers. At the very least, the opportunity of talking on the telephone can provide comfort, at best it can lead to the road to recovery and an end to the suffering of the problem drinkers and those close to them.