A significant part of the Brazilian population presents alcohol consumption patterns associated with high risk of development problems. Therefore, it is fundamental to verify the patterns of alcohol consumption among the population in order to outline primary and secondary prevention strategies. The aim of this study is to verify the patterns of alcohol consumption among the users of Primary Health Care in the cities of Juiz de Fora and Rio Pomba, in the state of Minas Gerais. We applied a screening test -the AUDIT- in a sample of 921 people selected during routine consultations. Considering data as a whole, 18.3% of the evaluated people were at the risk use zone; 77.9% had low hazardous alcohol use or were abstemious and 3.8% pointed toward the suggestive dependence zone. In general, men more frequently demonstrated hazardous behavior compared to women, which was also more prevalent in the 38 to 47 year-old-age group.
Primary Health Care; Screening; Alcoholism; AUDIT
