Alcohol and Drug Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo/Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil

Acesse: The frequency of smoking and problem drinking among general hospital inpatients in Brazil – using the AUDIT and Fagerström questionnaires

Alcohol and Drug Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo/Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil

Neliana Buzi Figlie, Sandra Cristina Pillon, John Dunn, Ronaldo Laranjeira
Sao Paulo Med J/Rev Paul Med 2000; 118(5):139-43

Data from the USA indicate that only 15% of alcoholics seek specialized treatment for alcoholism. However, 70% of the approximately 11 million alcoholics in that country have been treated in general medicine services within the last 6 months.1 Most of these visits are for general medical assessments and not for mental health problems. Studies calculate that the economic costs of alcohol and drug abuse and mental illness are estimated at US$ 273.3 billion. The estimates include US$ 85.8 billion for alcohol abuse, US$ 58.3 billion for drug abuse and US$ 129.3 billion for mental illness.2