Alcohol News - 5/2011

manx.net (Sweden) - Schools Take Part In Europe-Wide Drug and Alcohol Survey

The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD) is about to launch its 2011 questionnaire. The study, led from Sweden, will carry out its fifth survey this year. Forty countries will take part, including small nations such as Iceland, Faroe Islands, Malta, Cyprus and the Isle of Man.

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Helsinki Times (Finland) - Finland's Räsänen accuses Risikko of kowtowing to alcohol industry

Päivi Räsänen, the Finnish opposition Christian Democrat leader, said Saturday that she was disappointed in Paula Risikko's decision not to pursue a ban on image-based alcohol advertising.

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University of Gothenburg (Sweden) - Women involved in leisure activities drink less alcohol

Women who are satisfied with everyday life and are involved in leisure activities rarely have problems with alcohol, reveals a thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy.

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News24Online (Denmark) - Alcohol in pregnancy can damage kids fertility

Mothers who drink alcohol while they are pregnant may be damaging the fertility of their future sons, experts believe. The Danish researchers analysed the sperm of almost 350 young men and compared the results with information on drinking habits their mothers had given 20 years earlier when pregnant with them.

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MSNBC - Heavy drinking may raise abnormal heart rhythm risk

People who drink regularly, especially heavy drinkers, may be more likely than teetotalers to suffer atrial fibrillation, a type of abnormal heart rhythm, according to a research review.

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PC Magazine - Alcohol-Detecting Cars Could Keep Drunk Drivers Off the Road

Researchers in Massachusetts are working on creating technology that would keep a car from starting if the driver is drunk.

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TVNZ (New Zealand) - Review calls for mandatory alcohol warnings to women

A Trans-Tasman review recommends a push for labels to be placed on alcohol warning of the dangers of drinking while pregnant.

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NACS Online (USA) - Tax and Trade Bureau Considers Alcohol Labeling

A proposal presently before the federal Tax and Trade Bureau — the agency with authority over alcohol labels — is seeking that alcohol producers list nutrition information such as calories, carbohydrates, serving size and alcohol per serving on spirits, beer and wine, the Associated Press reports.

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Herald Scotland (Scotland) - Scots top UK alcohol league

Scots were typically drinking one unit of alcohol more per week in the year to 2009 – the equivalent of a single whisky, one-third of a pint of beer or half a standard glass of red wine.

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Natural Products INSIDER - JAMA Commentary: Energy Drinks Accelerate Risks

Energy drinks, with or without alcohol, pose a threat to individual and public health and safety and more research is needed to guide regulation, according to Amelia M. Arria, Ph.D., and Mary Claire O’Brien, MD, both from University of Maryland School of Public Health, in a JAMA commentary.

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Bloomberg (Turkey) - Erdogan Defends Revised Alcohol Curbs in Turkey, Hurriyet Says

Stiff new alcohol curbs in Turkey are necessary to protect Turkish youth and have nothing to do with the religious sentiments of the Islamic-rooted government, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Hurriyet newspaper.

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Telegraph.co.uk (UK) - Alcohol-related liver disease in young people up 50% in a decade

The number of young people having to be treated in hospital for serious liver disease has risen by more than 50 per cent in the last decade, figures show.

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World Radio Switzerland (Switzerland) - Beer ad ban sought for sports events

Addiction Info Switzerland is calling for a ban on advertising for booze at sporting events as paert of a total overhaul of the country’s Alcohol Act.

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Business Daily Africa (Kenya) - Bar owners lose court battle against alcohol laws

The alcoholic beverages industry players face further revenue losses after High Court ordered the full implementation of the alcohol control law.

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Independent (UK) - In a glass of our own: Britain's troubled relationship with alcohol

Everyone is in a hurry to drink themselves into insensibility," observed a foreign visitor to this country.

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msnbc.com - Anxiety -- not social fears -- may spur teens to drink more

A new study in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism highlights the complex relationship between mental health and substance use. Although it was known that anxious teens often self-medicate with alcohol, a group of Finnish researchers, led by Sari Fröjd at the University of Tampere, showed those teens are also more likely to continue using alcohol two years later.

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Telegraf.by (Belarus) - Interior Ministry Wants to Reduce Permissible Level of Alcohol in Blood

The permissible level of blood alcohol from 0.5 to 0.3 ppm will be reduced in Belarus in 2011. This was reported by Interior Minister Anatoli Kuleshov. "The document, providing for reducing the permissible level of alcohol in the blood, is currently under consideration by the Council of Ministers," said the MIA head.

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Financial Times (Vietnam) - Vietnam: Diageo thirsty for local alcohol

While a select class of wealthy Vietnamese men like nothing more than cracking open a bottle of Johnnie Walker with their mates at a karaoke bar, the vast majority of alcohol consumed here is home-made “rice wine” served in re-used plastic water bottles. But tastes are changing as the middle class grows and Diageo, the global drinks group, has forked over £33m for a stake in a local vodka maker as it seeks to tap into the growing fondness for higher quality but affordable Vietnamese brands.

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The Publican (UK) - May claims below-cost ban will cut alcohol incidents by 7,000

Home Secretary Theresa May has claimed the ban on below-cost selling will mean 7,000 fewer alcohol-related incidents and 1,000 fewer hospital admissions a year.

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Ukrainian Radio (Ukraine) - Alcohol industry will be privatized sooner or later, Minister says

This opinion was expressed by Minister of Agricultural Policy and Food Mykola Prysiazhniuk. "Sooner or later the alcohol industry will be corporatized and privatized. But what a form - now we are working on with the Ministry of Economy," the minister said.

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Deutsche Welle (Germany) - German thirst for beer continues to fall

Beer consumption in the home of some of the most-loved beer brands in the world is continuing to drop, according to official statistics released this week. Beverage makers are turning to experimental alternatives.

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Irish Times (Ireland) - Call for price floor below which alcohol cannot be sold

A LEADING charity has called for the sale of alcohol to be restricted and the introduction of a price floor below which it cannot be sold.

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Unraveling the complexity of driving while intoxicated: A study into the prevalence of psychiatric and substance abuse comorbidity

Research is beginning to provide an indication of the co-occurring substance abuse and mental health needs for the driving under the influence (DUI) population. 

This study aimed to examine the extent of such psychiatric problems among a large sample size of DUI offenders entering treatment in Texas.

This is a study of 36,373 past year DUI clients and 308,714 non-past year DUI clients admitted to Texas treatment programs between 2005 and 2008. Data were obtained from the State's administrative dataset.

Analysis indicated that non-past year DUI clients were more likely to present with more severe illicit substance use problems, while past year DUI clients were more likely to have a primary problem with alcohol. Nevertheless, a cannabis use problem was also found to be significantly associated with DUI recidivism in the last year. In regards to mental health status, a major finding was that depression was the most common psychiatric condition reported by DUI clients, including those with more than one DUI offence in the past year. This cohort also reported elevated levels of Bipolar Disorder compared to the general population, and such a diagnosis was also associated with an increased likelihood of not completing treatment. Additionally, female clients were more likely to be diagnosed with mental health problems than males, as well as more likely to be placed on medications at admission and more likely to have problems with methamphetamine, cocaine, and opiates.

DUI offenders are at an increased risk of experiencing comorbid psychiatric disorders, and thus, corresponding treatment programs need to cater for a range of mental health concerns that are likely to affect recidivism rates.



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Request Reprint E-Mail:    je.freeman@qut.edu.au

The acute effects of caffeinated versus non-caffeinated alcoholic beverage on driving performance and attention/reaction time

Marketing that promotes mixing caffeinated ‘energy’ drinks with alcoholic beverages (e.g. Red Bull with vodka) targets young drinkers and conveys the expectation that caffeine will offset the sedating effects of alcohol and enhance alertness. Such beliefs could result in unwarranted risk taking (e.g. driving while intoxicated). 

The aim of this study was to assess the acute effects of caffeinated versus non-caffeinated alcoholic beverages on a simulated driving task and attention/reaction time.

We conducted a 2 × 2 between-groups randomized trial in which participants were randomized to one of four conditions: beer and non-alcoholic beer, with and without caffeine added. Caffeine was added in the same proportion as found in a commercially available caffeinated beer (69 mg/12 oz of beer at 4.8% alc. by vol).

Participants were 127 non-dependent, heavy episodic, young adult drinkers (age 21–30) who were college students or recent graduates. The target breath alcohol level was 0.12 g%.

Driving performance was assessed with a driving simulator; sustained attention/reaction with the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT).

Across the driving and attention/reaction time we found main effects for alcohol, with alcohol significantly impairing driving and sustained attention/reaction time, with mainly large statistical effects; however, the addition of caffeine had no main or interaction effects on performance.

The addition of caffeine to alcohol does not appear to enhance driving or sustained attention/reaction time performance relative to alcohol alone.



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Request Reprint E-Mail:  : jhowl@bu.edu  

The use of alcohol and drugs to self-medicate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder

Self-medication has been proposed as an explanation for the high rates of comorbidity between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders; however, knowledge of self-medication in PTSD is scarce.

We describe the prevalence and correlates of self-medication in PTSD in the general population. 

Data came from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions Wave 2 (N=34,653; response rate: 70.2%), a nationally representative survey of mental illness in community-dwelling adults. Self-medication was assessed separately for alcohol and drugs. Prevalence rates were determined for self-medication among individuals with DSM-IV PTSD. Regression analyses determined associations between self-medication and a variety of correlates, including sociodemographic factors, comorbid mental disorders, suicide attempts, and quality of life. 

Approximately 20% of individuals with PTSD used substances in an attempt to relieve their symptoms. Men were significantly more likely than women to engage in self-medication behavior. In adjusted models, using illicit drugs or misusing prescription medications to control PTSD symptoms was associated with a substantially higher likelihood of dysthymia and borderline personality disorder. After controlling for mental disorder comorbidity, self-medication was independently associated with higher odds of suicide attempts (adjusted odds ratio=2.46; 95% confidence interval 1.53–3.97) and lower mental health-related quality of life.  

Self-medication is a common behavior among people with PTSD in the community, yet has potentially hazardous consequences. Health care practitioners should assess reasons for substance use among people with PTSD to identify a subgroup with higher psychiatric morbidity.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: jbolton@hsc.mb.ca   

Unrecorded consumption, quality of alcohol and health consequences

This contribution aims to examine systematically the evidence on the impact of the quality of unrecorded alcohol products on health consequences.

Systematic computer assisted review of the literature.  

There are a number of pathways related to alcohol quality that may lead to acute or chronic health problems. The following constituents and contaminants of alcoholic beverages were identified as likely contributors to these problems: (i) toxic metals (e.g. lead) from contaminated water sources or unsuitable distillation equipment; (ii) volatile constituents, such as acetaldehyde or higher alcohols, which may be produced in significant amounts due to faults in production technology or microbiological spoilage; (iii) ethyl carbamate (urethane), a carcinogenic contaminant with major occurrence in certain fruit and sugarcane spirits; (iv) biologically active flavour compounds (e.g. coumarin in cosmetics used as non-beverage alcohol); (v) toxic compounds used to denature alcohol (e.g. methanol or diethyl phthalate). In addition, the often higher ethanol content may have detrimental health effects. These pathways should not be assumed as present for all subcategories of unrecorded alcohol, but are more relevant to certain types and geographic regions.  

A health impact of unrecorded alcohol over and above the effect of ethanol cannot be excluded. More research is urgently needed, especially with respect to liver disease and alcohol poisoning as endpoints.  

A feasible approach for new research on the effects of unrecorded alcohol could be based on a representative sample from low socioeconomic regions with high prevalence of unrecorded consumption.

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Request Reprint E-Mail:  jtrehm@aol.com 

Adolescent Alcohol Intoxication in the Dutch Hospital Departments of Pediatrics: A 2-Year Comparison Study

To monitor the prevalence of, and the circumstances leading to, adolescent alcohol intoxication admissions in Dutch hospital departments of pediatrics.

Data were collected in 2007 and 2008, using the Dutch Pediatric Surveillance System, in which pediatricians received questionnaires on varying issues, including adolescent alcohol intoxication admissions.

The adolescents treated in 2008, as in 2007, were average youth across proportion of gender, educational level, school performances, family structure, siblings, familiarity with medical or aid agencies, alcohol use, and other (illicit) drug use. In 2008, 13% more adolescents were treated. These adolescents showed a trend of having a younger average age, higher blood alcohol concentrations, and longer durations of mental impairment.
 

About 45% of the adolescents who were treated for alcohol intoxication had purchased alcohol from a commercial place, despite that 51 times the specific adolescent had not reached the legal age of 16 years old. 

About one-third of the youngsters consumed alcohol at home or at a friend's home.

The number of adolescents suffering from alcohol intoxication increased in 2008 compared with 2007. Parental (lack of) involvement and responsibilities of commercial sales personnel are discussed.

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Request Reprint E-Mail:  j.j.vanhoof@utwente.nl

Alcohol Industry and Non-Alcohol Industry Sponsorship of Sportspeople and Drinking

To examine the relationship between direct alcohol and non-alcohol sponsorship and drinking in Australian sportspeople.  

Australian sportspeople (N = 652; 51% female) completed questionnaires on alcohol and non-alcohol industry sponsorship (from bars, cafes etc.), drinking behaviour (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)) and known confounders.
 

31% reported sponsorship (29.8% alcohol industry; 3.7% both alcohol and non-alcohol industry and 1.5% non-alcohol industry only) Multivariate regression showed that receipt of alcohol industry sponsorship was predictive of higher AUDIT scores (β_adj = 1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.56–2.78), but non-alcohol industry sponsorship and combinations of both were not (β_adj = 0.18, 95% CI: −2.61 to 2.68; and β_adj = 2.58, 95% CI: −0.60 to 5.76, respectively). 

Governments should consider alternatives to alcohol industry sponsorship of sport. Hypothecated taxes on tobacco have been used successfully for replacing tobacco sponsorship of sport in some countries, and may show equal utility for the alcohol industry's funding of sport. 

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Request Reprint E-Mail:   kerrykez@gmail.com

 

What Is Alcohol per Capita Consumption of Adults Telling us about Drinking and Smoking among Adolescents? A Population-Based Study across 68 Countries

To investigate whether recorded alcohol per capita consumption of adults could be linked with alcohol drinking and smoking among adolescents.  

Adult alcohol per capita has been plotted graphically together with the prevalence of current drinking and smoking among adolescents

Across all 68 countries, a highly statistically significant correlation was detected, indicating a linear relationship. 

 

Countries which are high in alcohol per capita consumption among adults need to pay heightened attention to alcohol and tobacco use among the younger population.

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Request Reprint E-Mail:  dcfuhr@gmail.com

 

Lifestyle Practices and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in the Elderly: The Leisure World Cohort Study

Modifiable behavioral risk factors are major contributing causes of death, but whether the effects are maintained in older adults is uncertain. 

We explored the association of smoking, alcohol consumption, caffeine intake, physical activity, and body mass index on cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in 13,296 older adults and calculated risk estimates using Cox regression analysis in four age groups (<70, 70–74, 75–79, and 80+ years). 

The most important factor was current smoking, which increased risk in all age-sex groups. In women, alcohol consumption (≤3 drinks/day) was related to decreased (15–30%) risk in those <80 years old; in men, 4+ drinks/day was associated with reduced (15–30%) risk. Active 70+ year olds had 20–40% lower risk. Both underweight and obese women were at increased risk. 

Lifestyle practices impact CVD death rates in older adults, even those aged 80+ years. 

Not smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, physical activity, and normal weight are important health promoters in our aging population.

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An acute psychosocial stressor increases drinking in non-treatment-seeking alcoholics

Although studies suggest that stress is an important reason for relapse in alcoholics, few controlled studies have been conducted to examine this assumption. 

Evidence of stress-potentiated drinking would substantiate this clinical observation and would contribute to the development of a model that would be valuable to alcohol treatment research. 

The hypothesis was tested that an acute psychosocial stressor, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), increases alcohol consumption in non-treatment-seeking alcoholics. 

Seventy-nine alcohol-dependent participants (40 women) were randomly assigned to receive the TSST or a no-stress condition. Immediately afterward, all participants received an initial dose of their preferred alcoholic beverage to achieve a target blood alcohol concentration of 0.03 g/dl (to prime subsequent drinking in the laboratory). Participants then participated in a mock taste test of two glasses of beer. Primary dependent measures were whether s/he drank all of the beer available (yes/no) and total amount of beer consumed (milliliters). 

Stressed participants were twice as likely as non-stressed participants to drink all of the beer available, a significant effect. Although the stressed group drank more milliliters than the non-stressed group, this effect failed to reach significance, likely due to ceiling effects. There were no significant stress group x gender effects on either outcome. 

This study supports that stress-potentiated drinking is valid and can be modeled in a clinical laboratory setting.

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thomass@musc.edu.

 

Hazardously Drinking Women Leaving Jail: Time to First Drink

This study evaluated time to first drink in women being released from jail to determine predictors of early relapse among women with hazardous drinking and HIV risk behaviors. 

Between February 2004 and June 2007, 245 participants were recruited from the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. Following the baseline assessment, participants were randomized to a motivational intervention group or to a control condition. Follow-up assessments at 1, 3, and 6 months were completed for 210 participants. 

Alcohol use during follow-up occurred in 86.7% of participants, 42.4% initiated alcohol use on Day 1. 

The rate of initiation was associated with norms favorable to using alcohol (p < .01) and having a partner with an alcohol problem (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.62, p < .01). 

The rate of drink initiation decreased significantly (HR = 0.82, p < .05) as length of incarceration increased. 

The intervention was not associated with decreased drinking. 

Interventions to maintain abstinence need to reach women within their first days postrelease. 

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Request Reprint E-Mail:   Jennifer_Clarke@Brown.edu

  

What Choline Metabolism Can Tell Us About the Underlying Mechanisms of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

The consequences of fetal exposure to alcohol are very diverse and the likely molecular mechanisms involved must be able to explain how so many developmental processes could go awry. 

If pregnant rat dams are fed alcohol, their pups develop abnormalities characteristic of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), but if these rat dams were also treated with choline, the effects from ethanol were attenuated in their pups. 

Choline is an essential nutrient in humans, and is an important methyl group donor. Alcohol exposure disturbs the metabolism of choline and other methyl donors. Availability of choline during gestation directly influences epigenetic marks on DNA and histones, and alters gene expression needed for normal neural and endothelial progenitor cell proliferation. Maternal diets low in choline alter development of the mouse hippocampus, and decrement memory for life. Women eating low-choline diets have an increased risk of having an infant with a neural tube or orofacial cleft birth defect. 

Thus, the varied effects of choline could affect the expression of FASD, and studies on choline might shed some light on the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for FASD. 


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Request Reprint E-Mail:  steven_zeisel@unc.edu   

Alcohol Consumption after the Recognition of Pregnancy and Correlated Factors among Indigenous Pregnant Women in Taiwan

To examine the rates and factors associated with alcohol consumption after the recognition of pregnancy among indigenous pregnant women, as well as the rates and factors associated with continuing alcohol consumption after the recognition of pregnancy among indigenous pregnant women who drank alcohol before the recognition of pregnancy in 10 hospitals in southern and eastern Taiwan. 

 

A total of 806 indigenous women who had just given birth in 10 hospitals in southern and eastern Taiwan were recruited. They were interviewed to collect their substance use information, demographic characteristics, psychological health status, history of physical abuse, and pregnancy history. 

 

The rates of alcohol consumption after the recognition of pregnancy in all indigenous pregnant women and the rates of continuing alcohol consumption after the recognition of pregnancy among those who drank alcohol before the recognition of pregnancy were calculated. The factors relating to alcohol consumption and continuing alcohol consumption after the recognition of pregnancy were examined using logistic regression analyses. 

 

The results of this study found that 26.6% of indigenous pregnant women drank alcohol at any stage after the recognition of pregnancy, and 52.5% of indigenous pregnant women who drank alcohol before the recognition of pregnancy persisted in drinking alcohol after the recognition of pregnancy. 

 

Multiple parities, smoking or chewing betel quid after the recognition of pregnancy, and a higher frequency of drinking alcohol before the recognition of pregnancy were significantly associated with alcohol consumption and continuing alcohol consumption after the recognition of pregnancy. 

 

Meanwhile, being single or divorced, and intimate partner violence after the recognition of pregnancy were significantly associated with alcohol consumption after the recognition of pregnancy. 

 

High prevalence rates of alcohol consumption and continuing alcohol consumption after the recognition of pregnancy were found among indigenous pregnant women in Taiwan. 

 

Early detection of alcohol consumption and effective intervention for alcohol consumption during pregnancy are needed. 

 

 

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Request Reprint E-Mail:   yehdiana@mail.cgit.edu.tw 

Major Habitual Dietary Patterns Are Associated with Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiovascular Risk Markers in a Southern European Population

Most dietary pattern analyses in southern Europe have relied on a priori food approaches using Mediterranean-style diet indexes. These methods may not reflect the current population's food consumption.

To assess the association of a posteriori dietary patterns with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cardiovascular risk markers in the general adult population of Porto, Portugal.

A population-based case-control study was conducted. Information was collected by trained interviewers. Diet was assessed with a validated 82-item food frequency questionnaire.

Cases were patients consecutively hospitalized for an incident non-fatal AMI (n=820), and controls were individuals free of previous AMI selected from the hospitals' catchment area (n=2,196).

Dietary patterns, representing mutually exclusive clusters of individuals, were identified by multivariate finite mixture models among controls. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained from unconditional logistic regression, with adjustment for main confounders.

In comparison to women with a “healthy” dietary pattern, those with a “low fruit and vegetables” pattern and a “red meat and alcohol” (also characterized by lower intake of dairy products and vegetables) pattern showed a higher risk of AMI (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.01 to 3.39 and OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.17 to 3.12, respectively). Female controls with the “red meat and alcohol” pattern also had a higher total to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio. In comparison to men with a “healthy” pattern, those with the “red meat and alcohol” pattern, similar to the counterpart found in women, were more likely to experience an AMI (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.35 to 2.92); male controls with this pattern had higher diastolic and systolic blood pressure, C-reactive protein, and uric acid levels.

A dietary pattern with lower fruit and vegetable intakes in women, and a pattern characterized by higher consumption of red meat and alcohol (and lower of dairy products and vegetables) in both sexes, were associated with an increased risk of AMI and adverse cardiovascular risk profiles. 

These findings highlight the importance of sustained recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake and cautious guidance on consumption of alcoholic beverages, which clusters with less healthy dietary patterns of men and women.

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New Releases

Alcohol and other drug treatment services in New South Wales 2008-09: findings from the National Minimum Data Set (NMDS)

This data bulletin summarises the main findings from the 2008-09 Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS-NMDS) for New South Wales. Other data bulletins are available ... Published 28 January 2011.

Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Queensland 2008-09: findings from the National Minimum Data Set (NMDS)

This data bulletin summarises the main findings from the 2008-09 Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS-NMDS) for Queensland. Other data bulletins are available for most ... Published 28 January 2011.

Alcohol and other drug treatment services in South Australia 2008-09: findings from the National Minimum Data Set (NMDS)

This data bulletin summarises the main findings from the 2008-09 Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS-NMDS) for South Australia. Other data bulletins are available for ... Published 28 January 2011.

Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Tasmania 2008-09: findings from the National Minimum Data Set (NMDS)

This data bulletin summarises the main findings from the 2008-09 Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS-NMDS) for Tasmania. Other data bulletins are available for most ... Published 28 January 2011.

Alcohol and other drug treatment services in the Australian Capital Territory 2008-09: findings from the National Minimum Data Set (NMDS)

This data bulletin summarises the main findings from the 2008-09 Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS-NMDS) for the Australian Capital Territory. Other data bulletins are ... Published 28 January 2011.

Alcohol and other drug treatment services in the Northern Territory 2008-09: findings from the National Minimum Data Set (NMDS)

This data bulletin summarises the main findings from the 2008-09 Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS-NMDS) for the Northern Territory. Other data bulletins are available ... Published 28 January 2011.

Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Victoria 2008-09: findings from the National Minimum Data Set (NMDS)

This data bulletin summarises the main findings from the 2008-09 Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS-NMDS) for Victoria. Other data bulletins are available for most ... Published 28 January 2011.

Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Western Australia 2008-09: findings from the National Minimum Data Set (NMDS)

This data bulletin summarises the main findings from the 2008-09 Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS-NMDS) for Western Australia. Other data bulletins are available for ... Published 28 January 2011.

Alcohol craving and the dimensionality of alcohol disorders

ICD-10 includes a craving criterion for alcohol dependence while DSM-IV does not. Little is known about whether craving fits with or improves the DSM-IV criteria set for alcohol-use disorders.

Data were derived from current drinkers (n=18 352) in the 1991–1992 National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey (NLAES), a nationally representative survey of US adults >17 years of age. The Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule was used to assess the eleven DSM-IV dependence and abuse criteria, and alcohol craving. Exploratory factor, item response theory, and regression analyses were used to evaluate the psychometric properties and concurrent validity of DSM-based alcohol disorder criteria with the addition of alcohol craving.

The past 12-month prevalence of craving was 1.3%. Craving formed part of a unidimensional latent variable that included existing DSM-IV criteria. Craving demonstrated high severity on the alcohol-use disorder continuum, resulting in an improved dimensional model with greater discriminatory ability compared with current DSM-IV criteria. Correlates of the diagnosis did not change with the addition of craving, and past 12-month craving was associated with prior alcohol dependence, depression, and earlier age of alcohol disorder onset among those with current DSM-IV alcohol dependence.

The addition of craving to the existing DSM-IV criteria yields a continuous measure that better differentiates individuals with and without alcohol problems along the alcohol-use disorder continuum. Few individuals are newly diagnosed with alcohol dependence given the addition of craving, indicating construct validity but redundancy with existing criteria.

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Request Reprint E-Mail:  

dsh2@columbia.edu

 

Don’t ask don’t tell: substance abuse and addiction among nurses

The purpose of this manuscript is to illustrate the challenges faced by nurses who abuse substances and to promote international dialogue about what practitioners, administrators, health care providers and students can do when they suspect someone in the profession is abusing substances, or they may themselves be suffering from addiction.

Addiction among nurses has been recognised by professionals in the field for over 100 years, and current estimates place rates of substance misuse, abuse and addiction rates as high as 20% among practicing nurses. Unfortunately, fear of punishment and discipline may keep nurses or students from asking for help for themselves or from reporting a colleague or friend who is in need of help.

This paper synthesises the results of three previous papers conducted on substance abuse policies in the nursing profession. In the first paper, the authors reviewed the history of addiction in nursing and compared disciplinary and alternative-to-discipline policies. The second focused on the development of an alternative-to-dismissal policy for substance abuse in a school of nursing and using telephone and email interviews, and the final paper reported findings of what types of polices seem to be working to retain and rehabilitate nurses who suffer from addiction in the USA. Lastly, this paper introduces international policy for nurses with addictions.

Poor or ineffective policies that mandate punitive action endanger the public by making it difficult for impaired students or professionals to ask for help. Providing early intervention and assistance is essential in helping colleagues and students recover from an addictive disorder and providing a non-punitive atmosphere of support may well be a life-saving first step for nurses and those in their care. Many territories and countries throughout the world now offer confidential, non-punitive, assistance for nurses suffering from addictions.

Recognition of a colleague’s need of treatment is the important first step in the rehabilitation process. Early intervention and assistance are essential for helping colleagues and students to recover from an addictive disorder and providing a confidential, non-punitive atmosphere of support may well be a life-saving first step for nurses and those in their care.


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Request Reprint E-Mail: todd.b.monroe@vanderbilt.edu      

Press Release - Drinkaware annual conference brings together public health and industry representatives

More than 100 representatives from the public health community and drinks industry attended the first Drinkaware Annual Conference on Monday 24^th January 2011 at Westminster Central Hall, London.  

The event focused on how best to address under-18 alcohol misuse and acted as a springboard for future collaboration between the sectors.  The conference included an address by Andrew Lansley CBE, Secretary of State for Health and a panel discussion hosted by journalist Sheena McDonald.  

In attendance were a range of organisations including the Royal College of Nursing, the Alcohol Education Research Council, the British Beer and Pub Association, the Portman Group and University College London.  

 > > > >   Read More

Smoking and drinking among adults 2009

The Department of Health estimates that the harmful use of alcohol costs the NHS around £2.7bn a year and 7 per cent of all hospital admissions are alcohol related. Drinking can lead to over 40 medical conditions, including cancer, stroke, hypertension, liver disease and heart disease. The General LiFestyle Survey (GLF) and its predecessor the General Household Survey (GHS) have, between them, been measuring drinking behaviour for over 30 years.
 
Questions about drinking alcohol were included in the General Household Survey (GHS) every two years from 1978 to 1998. Following the review of the GHS, the questions about drinking in the last seven days form part of the continuous survey, and have been included every year from 2000 onwards. Questions designed to measure average weekly alcohol consumption were included from 2000 to 2002 and in 2005 and 2006. The General LiFestyle Survey (GLF) has included both sets of questions in both 2008 and 2009. Before 1988 questions about drinking were asked only of those aged 18 and over, but since then respondents aged 16 and 17 have answered the questions using a self-completion questionnaire.
 
This report presents information on the frequency of drinking alcohol, the amounts consumed in the week before the interview took place and average weekly consumption. It also presents data on the association between consumption of alcohol and characteristics of individuals such as sex, age, socio-economic classification, and region of residence.


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ONS data: fall in alcohol related deaths; lifestyle survey highlights drinking differences

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released data showing alcohol-related deaths have fallen since 2008, but remain significantly higher than the the early 1990s. Results from the General LiFestyle Survey (GLF), formerly the General Household Survey (GHS), were also released highlighting drinking and smoking differences between between socio-economic groups.  > > > >   Read More