Alcohol - our favourite drug and everyone’s problem

Thank you for listening to this podcast, where Frontline Gastroenterology Trainee Editor Dr Philip Smith talks to Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, honorary consultant physician at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and honorary chair at the University of Liverpool. The podcast is an accompaniment to the Frontline Gastroenterology Twitter Debate (#FGDebate) held on Tuesday 11th November 2014 at 8-9pm GMT, entitled, 'Frontline Hepatology: alcohol - our favourite drug and everyone's problem'. Prior to the debate Sir Ian said: 'We are in the middle of an epidemic of alcohol-related diseases, of which alcoholic liver disease is a prime and crucial example. The burden of alcoholic liver disease and its complications is so great that all gastroenterologists, whatever their special interest, need to be competent to manage them. Furthermore, gastroenterologists and hepatologists seem to see, almost by default, the majority of patients in the UK admitted to hospital with alcohol-related conditions whether or not the GI tract or liver is affected, and so are the natural leaders not just in the clinical management but also in becoming advocates for evidence-based policies to reduce the burden. Public health may not be familiar territory for them, but it is an area where they can make as big a difference as on the wards. Also, by becoming champions for alcohol care teams in their hospital, they can not only make sure patients with alcohol dependence get a better outcome but also free up beds and save valuable resources. Finally, it is important that gastroenterologists have some knowledge of treatment options for alcohol dependence and the range of medications that they can prescribe. It is important to dispel the myth that treatment for alcohol dependence does not work – on the contrary it is highly cost-effective' The purpose of the podcast is to 'fill any gaps' the #FGDebate may have left. Sir Ian has also provided the slides he used in #FGDebate to help those interested understand the issues associated with alcohol and its research. We hope you enjoy this and it is informative. View the slides: http://goo.gl/XQCUk1 Don't miss the next #FGDebate which is our Christmas Special debate on Sunday 21st December 2014 at 12 noon GMT by Nobel Laureate Professor Barry Marshall and Editor in chief of GUT, Professor Emad El-Omar - "Frontline Research: The highs and lows of academic life - the basics, the barriers and the breakthroughs".