title: Alcohol consumption in the aftermath of a natural disaster: a longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we examined changes in alcohol consumption in the aftermath of a natural disaster, as well as possible predictors of both increased and decreased drinking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational longitudinal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Repatriated Norwegian adults who resided in areas affected by the 2004 Southeast Asia tsunami completed a questionnaire at 6 and 24 months postdisaster (N = 649).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Weekly alcohol consumption and frequency of intoxication did not change significantly from 6 to 24 months postdisaster at the population level: 18.3% (n = 116) increased their alcohol consumption while 21.1% (n = 125) showed a reduction. Increased drinking was not predicted by severity of disaster exposure, post-traumatic stress, or measures of psychological functioning. Reduced alcohol consumption was predicted by younger age and social withdrawal, but not by any of the other study variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that the tsunami experience had only minor effects on alcohol consumption, in contrast to some studies suggesting a relationship between trauma exposure and increased alcohol consumption.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Center for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, Gullhaugvn. no 1-3, 0484 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: astri.nordlokken@medisin.uio.no.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nordløkken
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Alcohol and Drug Research, PB 565 Sentrum, 0105 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: hp@sirus.no.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pape
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Center for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, Gullhaugvn. no 1-3, 0484 Oslo, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, PB 1039 Blindern, 0315 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: trond.heir@medisin.uio.no.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057192:Tsunamis
keywords: Alcohol use; Disasters; Epidemiology; Post-traumatic stress