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Drinking patterns and the distribution of alcohol-related harms in Ireland: evidence for the prevention paradox.

dc.contributor.authorO'Dwyer, Claire
dc.contributor.authorMongan, Deirdre
dc.contributor.authorMillar, Seán R
dc.contributor.authorRackard, Marion
dc.contributor.authorGalvin, Brian
dc.contributor.authorLong, Jean
dc.contributor.authorBarry, Joe
dc.date.accessioned2019-11-15T12:44:30Z
dc.date.available2019-11-15T12:44:30Z
dc.date.issued2019-10-22
dc.identifier.issn1471-2458
dc.identifier.pmid31640654
dc.identifier.doi10.1186/s12889-019-7666-4
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10147/626915
dc.descriptionBackground: According to the prevention paradox, the majority of alcohol-related harms in the population occur among low-to-moderate risk drinkers, simply because they are more numerous in the population, although high- risk drinkers have a higher individual risk of experiencing alcohol-related harms. In this study we explored the prevention paradox in the Irish population by comparing alcohol-dependent drinkers (high-risk) to low-risk drinkers and non-dependent drinkers who engage in heavy episodic drinking (HED). Methods: Data were generated from the 2013 National Alcohol Diary Survey (NADS), a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of Irish adults aged 18 – 75. Data were available for 4338 drinkers. Respondents dependent on alcohol (as measured by DSM-IV criteria), respondents who engaged in monthly HED or occasional HED (1 – 11 times a year) and low-risk drinkers were compared for distribution of eight alcohol-related harms. Results: Respondents who were dependent on alcohol had a greater individual risk of experiencing each harm ( p < .0001). The majority of the harms in the population were accounted for by drinkers who were not dependent on alcohol. Together, monthly and occasional HED drinkers accounted for 62% of all drinkers, consumed 70% of alcohol and accounted for 59% of alcohol-related harms. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the majority of alcohol consumption and related harms in the Irish population are accounted for by low- and moderate-risk drinkers, and specifically by those who engage in heavy episodic drinking. A population-based approach to reducing alcohol-related harm is most appropriate in the Irish context. Immediate implementation of the measures in the Public Health (Alcohol) Act (2018) is necessary to reduce alcohol-related harm in Ireland.en_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.subjectAlcoholen_US
dc.subjectDrinking patternsen_US
dc.subjectHarmen_US
dc.subjectIrelanden_US
dc.subjectPopulation studiesen_US
dc.subjectPrevention paradoxen_US
dc.subjectALCOHOLen_US
dc.subjectALCOHOL MISUSEen_US
dc.titleDrinking patterns and the distribution of alcohol-related harms in Ireland: evidence for the prevention paradox.en_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
dc.source.journaltitleBMC public health
refterms.dateFOA2019-11-15T12:44:31Z


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