title: Health effects from drinking: type, severity, and associated drinking patterns based on qualitative and quantitative questions in a methodological survey.
abstract: The specific content of reported health harms are explored in relation to heavy episodic drinking and alcohol dependence symptoms. A national telephone computer-assisted interview of U.S. adults (N = 635), was conducted in 1994. A modified National Alcohol Survey instrument assessed self-reported health harms and related economic costs and work missed. Among the 579 lifetime drinkers, 26% reported health harms from drinking. In multivariate logistic regression harms relating to intoxication, injuries or internal organs were associated with monthly heavy drinking (5+ drinks) and past dependence symptoms. Study limitations are noted. Dependence symptoms should be assessed in screening for those most at risk for alcohol-related health harms.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA. alown@arg.org
authors.forename: E Anne
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Lown
authors.forename: Thomas K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Greenfield
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010507:Periodicity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires