December 2008 Edition

Publications
Publications on Alcohol

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has released three new publications examining alcohol as a public health problem. One is available in Spanish only. Other new PAHO publications may be viewed online.

Alcohol and Public Health in the Americas: A Case for Action documents the toll of alcohol on public health in the Americas and argues that reducing consumption should be a top public health priority. Alcohol kills one person every two minutes in the region and contributes to more than 60 health problems, ranging from fetal alcohol syndrome to cancer, heart and liver disease, mental illness, domestic and street violence, and traffic injuries and deaths. Unsafe patterns of consumption, particularly overconsumption, are associated with the greatest harm, and underage drinking is a particular problem in the region. Surveys show that teens in the Americas drink often, and their drinking leads to traffic injuries, suicide attempts, homicide and violence, sexual assault, and risky sex. The book calls on countries to develop a comprehensive approach to alcohol based on 10 building blocks. Among the policies it cites as most effective are increased taxes on alcohol,minimum age limits for buying alcoholic beverages, lowered blood alcohol levels for driving, and restrictions on outlets and hours for alcohol sales.

Alcohol, Gender, Culture and Harms in the Americas analyzes data from the PAHO-sponsored Multicentric Study on Gender, Alcohol, Culture and Harm, which examined alcohol consumption in 10 countries of the Americas. The report finds that overall consumption in the region is high compared with global averages and that young people consumemuch of this alcohol, consume it in a more dangerous way, and suffer more alcohol-related harm, particularly injuries, than older people. The report calls for targeted efforts to reduce alcohol consumption among young people, including price increases and raising the legal age for purchasing and consumption.

Alcohol and Primary Health Care (available in Spanish only) provides guidelines and interventions to help healthcare professionals treat patients who are alcohol dependent or who engage in risky or unhealthy patterns of consumption. The book summarizes the evidence on alcohol-related injuries and offers evidence-based recommendations formanaging patients,with emphasis on primary health care settings, including when to refer patients to specialists and how to provide appropriate care when special services are not available or accessible.

Click here for more on PAHO publications on this and other issues.