TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevelance of alcohol consumption, abuse and dependence in a country with high per capita consumption: Findings from the German TACOS study
AU - Meyer, C.
AU - Rumpf, H. J.
AU - Hapke, U.
AU - Dilling, H.
AU - John, U.
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgements This Study is part of the German Analytical Epidemiology of Substance Abuse (ANEPSA) research network. Factors related to the use and abuse of psychoactive substances are analysed by different research groups in the context of several longitudinal studies. Contact persons are: Dr. Büringer/Dr. Küf-ner (IFT Institute for Therapy Research, Munich), Prof. Dr. Wittchen (Max-Planck-Institute, Munich), and Prof. Dr. John (University of Greifswald)/Prof. Dr. Dilling (Medical University of Lübeck). The research network is funded in the context of the Biological and Psycho-social Factors of Drug Abuse and Dependence programme by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science, Research, and Technology. Data described in this paper are part of the Transitions in Alcohol Consumption and Smoking (TACOS) project, part 1: Drug Use in the Adult General Population in a Northern German City and Surrounding Communities, grant no.: 01 EB 9406; principal investigators: Prof. Dr. John (University of Greifswald), Prof. Dr. Dilling (Medical University of Lübeck).
Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Background: The aim of the Transitions in Alcohol Consumption and Smoking (TACOS) project is to investigate substance use and use disorders in the adult general population in a region of the under-researched north of Germany, focussing on smoking and alcohol consumption. In this study, the design and quality assurance provisions of the baseline cross-section of the longitudinal project are described. Prevalence rates of alcohol use disorders, consumption pattern, and the nature of their association are also analysed with regard to preventive strategies. Method: A random sample of 4075 participants, aged 18 to 64 and drawn from residents registration office files, was interviewed with a DSM-IV adapted version of WHO CIDI. Fieldwork resulted in a response rate of 70.2% and an unbiased database with regard to demographic characteristics. Results: Low lifetime prevalence of alcohol use disorders (4.5% abuse, 3.8% dependence) and hazardous consumption (13.2% lifetime; 6.0% 12-month) was found compared to southern regions of Germany and US American data. In contrast, we found a comparatively high percentage of moderate alcohol uses. Male subjects are more affected by lifetime alcohol use disorders (abuse OR 8.3, 95% CI 5.3-13.2; dependence OR 4.3, 95% CI 2.8-6.4). The association between alcohol use disorders and alcohol consumption pattern revealed a weaker relation for alcohol abuse compared to dependence. Conclusion: National and regional drinking habits and norms have to be considered as a significant source of variance, supporting the need for European epidemiological research on substance use in addition to US American activities, and emphasising the advantages of community-based preventive measures. An evaluation of public recommendations for safe limits of alcohol consumption and prevention targets referring to average consumption is indicated. There is also a need for a clear distinction between alcohol abuse and dependence.
AB - Background: The aim of the Transitions in Alcohol Consumption and Smoking (TACOS) project is to investigate substance use and use disorders in the adult general population in a region of the under-researched north of Germany, focussing on smoking and alcohol consumption. In this study, the design and quality assurance provisions of the baseline cross-section of the longitudinal project are described. Prevalence rates of alcohol use disorders, consumption pattern, and the nature of their association are also analysed with regard to preventive strategies. Method: A random sample of 4075 participants, aged 18 to 64 and drawn from residents registration office files, was interviewed with a DSM-IV adapted version of WHO CIDI. Fieldwork resulted in a response rate of 70.2% and an unbiased database with regard to demographic characteristics. Results: Low lifetime prevalence of alcohol use disorders (4.5% abuse, 3.8% dependence) and hazardous consumption (13.2% lifetime; 6.0% 12-month) was found compared to southern regions of Germany and US American data. In contrast, we found a comparatively high percentage of moderate alcohol uses. Male subjects are more affected by lifetime alcohol use disorders (abuse OR 8.3, 95% CI 5.3-13.2; dependence OR 4.3, 95% CI 2.8-6.4). The association between alcohol use disorders and alcohol consumption pattern revealed a weaker relation for alcohol abuse compared to dependence. Conclusion: National and regional drinking habits and norms have to be considered as a significant source of variance, supporting the need for European epidemiological research on substance use in addition to US American activities, and emphasising the advantages of community-based preventive measures. An evaluation of public recommendations for safe limits of alcohol consumption and prevention targets referring to average consumption is indicated. There is also a need for a clear distinction between alcohol abuse and dependence.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034490061&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s001270050277
DO - 10.1007/s001270050277
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 11213843
AN - SCOPUS:0034490061
SN - 0933-7954
VL - 35
SP - 539
EP - 547
JO - Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
JF - Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
IS - 12
ER -
