Is “Hazardous” Drinking a Useful Concept for Public Health Recommendations?

摘要: Public policy recommendations about the risks and benefits associated with consumption of alcohol are an important tool for prevention harm. Meaningful practical advice based on balanced information is needed to provide public understanding potential consequences drinking. Ideally, this allows individuals make their own decisions consumption, encouraging them responsible choices, while at same time ensuring well-being safety those around society as a whole. Although relationship between risk harm derived from empirical individual-level data, definitions "risky" or "low-risk/safe" drinking often aggregated experience, times limiting usefulness. As Gross ( 1983) points out, it seems logical that threshold would exist below which should be accompanied few problems above increases. Yet, variety reasons will addressed, there little consensus level can designated "safe" and, conversely, upper limit appears certain. Therefore much research devoted gray area lies somewhere "harmful" Often referred "hazardous" drinking, includes spectrum behaviors characterized by rather than actual incidence Hazardous might considered range within individual present possibly increases levels increase. This paper not attempt define but explores how its derived-. It addresses some considerations in order translate these evidence behind into meaningful health recommendations. Deriving Traditionally, descriptions hazardous have relied largely upon measure particular type negative physical outcome. Measurements typically made using indices quantity consumed (such grams ethanol) frequency related phenomenon, such intoxication. dose-response underlies risk-curve approach generally applied defining middle ground apparent "Hazardous drinkers persons whose pattern poses high future damage mental health. Harmful use already resulting problems" (Allen et al., 1997). However, highly complex behavior, inherent extend beyond just his her The definition offered WHO Lexicon Alcohol Drug Terms (1994) comes closer addressing full complexity issue. defines "increases harmful user. Some . ; also include social consequences. In contrast use, refers patterns significance despite absence any current disorder user" (WHO, 1994, p. 41). description embodies difficulty arriving comprehensive suited all purposes. Definitions rely primarily calculations indicator indicators been ones long-term physiological harm-dependence, malignancies, blood pressure stroke, coronary heart disease, other adverse (for review, see Edwards al. …