title: Impact of banning alcohol on outpatient visits in Barrow, Alaska.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Community availability of alcohol affects alcohol consumption patterns and alcohol-related health and social problems. In Barrow, Alaska, an isolated community at the northernmost reaches of the United States, during a 33-month period, possession and importation of alcohol were legal, completely banned, made legal again, and then banned again.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the impact of these public policy changes on alcohol-related outpatient visits at the area hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of outpatient records; time-series analysis of alcohol-related visits with respect to community alcohol policy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total monthly outpatient visits for alcohol-related problems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a substantial decrease in the number of alcohol-related outpatient visits when the ban on possession and importation was imposed compared with baseline. When the ban was lifted, outpatient visits increased; when the ban was reimposed, the number of outpatient visits again decreased. Interrupted time-series analyses confirm that the alcohol ban, its lifting, and its reimposition had a statistically significant and negative effect on the number of alcohol-related outpatient visits (P<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a geographically isolated community, the prohibition of alcohol can be an effective public health intervention, reducing the health problems associated with alcohol use.
authors.affiliation: North Slope Borough Physician Services, Barrow, Alaska, USA.
authors.forename: A Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies