title: Beliefs about drinking problems: results from a general population telephone survey.
abstract: As part of a general population telephone survey (N=3006), respondents were asked their beliefs about alcohol problems. The majority of respondents were skeptical about the possibility of untreated and of moderate drinking recoveries. The predominant conceptions of the nature of alcohol problems were those of a disease or of drug addiction. Beliefs about the need for treatment and abstinence were positively associated with being female, older, and married. Current heavy drinkers were less likely to believe that treatment was needed. Former heavy drinkers were more likely to believe that abstinence was required, as compared to all other respondents.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. John_Cunningham@camh.net
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blomqvist
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cordingley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D009864:Ontario; D012737:Sex Factors; D013695:Temperance