Evaluation of Effectiveness Economic and Commercial Benefit Community Empowerment in Reducing Alcohol Related Harm in Sabah, Malaysia Helen Lasimbang1, Wendy Shoesmith1, Jaswant Singh2, Nirmal Kaur3, Lidwina Amir3, Mohd Nazri Bin MohdDaud4, Margaret Chin5, EdnaSalumbi5, Wilfred John6 1- University Malaysia Sabah, 2- Alcoholics Anonymous, 3- JKNS, 4- Mercy Malaysia, 5- Sabah Theological Seminary Introduction Alcohol Intervention Tool Kit Alcohol is the number three contributor to the burden of disease worldwide1, causing one in sixteen deaths in men. There are various evidence based strategies to reduce alcohol related harm2, but the outcomes of these strategies differ depending on local context. Alcohol related harm was not seen as a priority until recently, because it only affects a minority of the population3. Sabah has more than 30 different ethnic groups and alcohol has a traditional role in the cultural practices of many of these groups4. In 2009 the Intervention Group for Alcohol Misuse (IGAM) was formed, under the umbrella of Mercy Malaysia (a medical relief NGO). This group consists of health care workers, academics, members of the Clergy and people who were previously alcohol dependent. IGAM, have organised public seminars, visited villages and schools, encouraged the formation of a support group and trained healthcare professionals in brief intervention. More recently the focus has changed to empowering communities to find solutions to alcohol related harm in their community in a way which sensitive to their culture. Evaluation of Effectiveness Village alcohol committee Twenty villages already involved in the program Communities apply adaptation appropriate to the culture, examples of activities done: Implementing time limits on sales of locally brewed alcohol Preventing persons under 18 years old from buying alcohol Limiting alcohol service during celebrations Organizing sporting events and activities for young people, so they are less attracted to drinking. Presented at Global Alcohol Policy Conference 2013. Interest from the World Health Organisation as an example of good practice Mixed methods study to evaluate effectiveness is currently underway. Economic and Commercial Benefit Potential for significant economic benefit. Alcohol related harm costs middle income countries approximately 1-3% of GDP. Objectives References To empower communities to reduce alcohol related harm. 1. Mathers C, Stevens G, Mascarenhas M. Global health risks: progress and challenges. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2009;87(9). Available at: www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/87/9/09-070565/en/. 2. World Health Organisation. Strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. In: Sixty-First World Health Assembly.; 2008. 3. Ministry of Health Malaysia. National Health and Morbidity Survey.; 2011. 4. Naing Oo Tha, Wendy Shoesmith, Khin Saw Naing, Roslee Bin Haji Abbas, Ahmad Faris Abdullah, Rina Norgainathai JJ. Alcohol Related Attitudes and Drinking Behaviors in Rural Sabah. In: 3rd ICORM, International Conference on Rural Medicine.; 2011. 5. Rehm J, Mathers C, Popova S, Thavorncharoensap M, Teerawattananon Y, Patra J. Global burden of disease and injury and economic cost attributable to alcohol use and alcohol-use disorders. Lancet [Internet]. 2009 Jul [cited 2010 Jul 26];373(9682):2223–33. Available from: http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140673609607467 Methods Representatives of several communities were invited to brainstorming workshops, to find ways to reduce alcohol related harm in their community. Every 6 Months a workshop is organized by IGAM: follow-up on the activities of the Alcohol Intervention Committee New groups (4-5 group) are invited to listen and introduced to the tool-kit Groups are also given training on alcohol use disorders. Older group will introduce the tool-kit to help them be a better trainer. Trained group are given: Seed money Tool-kit Go back to their respective community and form the Alcohol Intervention Committee Use the Alcohol Intervention Tool-kit as a guide Modify the tool-kit according to what is acceptable in their community Use seed money to start a program Acknowledgement Grant from Mercy Malaysia since 2009- RM9000 per workshop. Grants from IOGT International for running large awareness building event and staff training Grant from Rural Medical Education Centre Partner organisations: Mercy Malaysia, IOGT International, Johor Mental Health Association, JKN Sabah, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, JOHOR MENTAL HEALTH