On 1 December 2025, WHO/Europe will lead a national training on alcohol screening and brief interventions (SBI) in Zagreb, Croatia, co-organized with the Croatian Institute of Public Health and the WHO Country Office in Croatia. Conducted as part of the WHO-European Union Evidence into Action Alcohol Project (EVID-ACTION), the initiative brings together experts from WHO/Europe’s programmes on alcohol and drugs and on disability and rehabilitation, reflecting a joint commitment to strengthen disability-inclusive, person-centred primary health care.
Alcohol use remains one of the leading risk factors for ill health, premature mortality and disability in the WHO European Region. Primary health care is uniquely positioned to identify risks early, offer brief advice and support and reduce the burden of chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, to which alcohol contributes substantially. Yet research shows that alcohol is often difficult to discuss in routine consultations, with stigma, time constraints and misconceptions acting as barriers to care, including towards patients with disabilities.
The training responds to WHO’s commitment to support Member States in implementing screening and brief interventions for substance-use problems, including alcohol, within non-specialist health-care settings. The training aims to build the confidence and capacity of Croatian primary health care providers to address alcohol use in a sensitive, evidence-based and non-judgmental way. A particular focus will be placed on ensuring that screening and brief intervention approaches are inclusive of people with disabilities, who often face disproportionate barriers to accessing preventive and support services.
Participants will be introduced to the WHO alcohol brief intervention training manual for primary care, recently translated into Croatian, which will support the roll-out and sustainability of SBI in health care settings across the country. Through practical exercises and discussion, the training will help providers strengthen communication skills, explore common challenges and embed alcohol-related risk assessment into everyday practice.
By delivering this training as part of EVID-ACTION, WHO/Europe aims to support Croatia in embedding SBI into everyday primary-care practice, advancing more equitable, high-quality health care for all and contributing to reduced alcohol-related harm.