Alcohol use in China.
OBJECTIVE
Over recent decades there has been a striking increase in alcohol consumption and related problems in China. As China holds over 22% of the world's population this has a significant potential impact on world health. Here we review English- and Chinese-language publications on the prevalence of alcohol consumption and related problems in China, and treatment and control measures to reduce these.


METHODS
Medline search 1976-2002 and search of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database 1996-2002.


RESULTS
While alcohol is a traditional part of Chinese life, commercial alcohol production in China has increased more than 50-fold per capita since 1952. In parallel there is evidence of a marked increase in prevalence of alcohol dependence, which has moved from the ninth to the third most prevalent mental illness. The public health response to increase in alcohol-related disorders has commenced but is in need of further development.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need for increased policies and public health programmes to reduce alcohol related harm, and evaluation of outpatient treatment potential.
Cochrane
Johanne
J
School of Public Health and Disciplines of Medicine and Psychological Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Chen
Hanhui
H
Conigrave
Katherine M
KM
Hao
Wei
W
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D001290:Attitude; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011634:Public Health / Q000639:trends