Social Support Services Regarding the Harmful use of Alcohol. Empirical Research in Romania

Alcohol consumption among teenagers and young people has increased, a phenomenon evident in the specific statistics at the national and international level. In this direction, the authorities have concerns regarding monitoring and combating the harmful consumption of alcohol, by proposing social control and prevention policies. In recent years, different strategies have been implemented in Romania at the level of social policies in the field of health and education regarding the reduction of abusive alcohol consumption. Purpose: The purpose of the sociological research was to analyze social policies in the field and the opinion of specialists who work in social support services for people addicted to alcohol and their families. Methodology: The sociological research focused on a qualitative analysis of social policy strategies in the field and a quantitative analysis based on the sociological questionnaire survey. The population included in the research targeted professionals (n. 101) working in support services in the field of social work and health. Results and conclusions: The results of the sociological research showed that there is no unitary social policy, and the social support services in the social and medical fields are not sufficiently developed by public institutions and do not cover the needs of these categories. Most therapeutic and recovery services have been developed mainly by private psycho-medical institutions and non-governmental organizations.


Keywords: alcohol abuse, support services, social policies to prevent alcohol consumption