International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research

Editorial: Alcohol harms, alcohol use disorder predictors, alcohol-free mock beverages, and health and social services

Neo Morojele — 2025-11-05

Protocol to study the role of alcohol consumption and alcohol control policy for economic development and health in membership countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2000–2023: A modelling study

Jürgen Rehm — 2025-09-26

Introduction: Economic development leads to higher life expectancy, and in most countries is also associated with a higher level of alcohol consumption, as more people start to consume alcohol. As alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for many diseases, this increased consumption of alcohol reduces life expectancy, and in turn slows down economic development. However, alcohol control policies may reduce consumption and mitigate the detrimental effects of alcohol use on life expectancy and the economy. The objectives of this study are to quantify the interrelations between alcohol control policies, levels and patterns of consumption, life expectancy, and economic development for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries between 2000 and 2023.

Methods and analysis: Secondary data analysis of available data will be undertaken, using a cross-sectionally correlated and time-wise autoregressive model for the main conceptual model. In addition, the detrimental effects of alcohol consumption on economic development will be estimated directly and indirectly via its effect on health indicators.

Ethics and Dissemination: As a secondary analysis study of publicly available data, this research does not require approval by a research ethics board. Its results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, webinars, and other forms available to decision-makers.

Strengths and limitations: We selected a region, the ASEAN countries, which experienced high growth in economic growth wealth as measured by increases in per capita Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Parity since the turn of the century. We were able to use standardized comparable data from international agencies (World Bank, World Health Organization). The study is based on a on a strong conceptual model; i.e., the framework of Angus Deaton, expanded to include the impact of alcohol. We have sufficient data points available to conduct the cross-sectionally correlated and time-wise autoregressive model. However, there may be difficulties in modeling feedback loops within a system in which a change in one variable can eventually lead back to affect the original variable. Finally, there are important potential practical implications for health policy.

Neighborhoods, cultural factors, and alcohol use disorder: A role for acculturative stress in Mexican American young adults

Christina C. Tam — 2025-09-28

Purpose: Trends in heavy drinking among Mexican American young adults are shifting in the United States. Despite elevated risks for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and related problems among Mexican American populations, little work has examined mechanisms contributing to alcohol outcomes in the context of their neighborhood environments. This study examines how neighborhood environment factors (ethnic density and distance to the nearest border port of entry) and cultural factors (acculturative stress and ethnic identity) relate to AUD.

Method: The sample of 575 Mexican American men and women (aged 18 to 30) was recruited from San Diego County, California, USA. We assessed the indirect effects of Mexican American ethnic density and distance to the nearest border port of entry, on AUD through acculturative stress and ethnic identity. Multiple group path analysis was used to test sex differences.

Results: While sex differences were not observed in the overall model, there were differential associations with focal variables for each group. For women, greater proportions of ethnic density and greater distance to the nearest port of entry were both negatively associated with AUD. For both women and men, acculturative stress was positively associated with AUD, and neighborhood environment indicators were not related to acculturative stress nor ethnic identity.

Conclusions: These data may inform further studies to integrate social and cultural mechanisms in creation of place-based strategies for AUD prevention.

Consumption of alcohol-free mock beverages, attitude toward alcohol, and alcohol consumption among Muslim Youths in the Deep South of Thailand: A mixed-methods study

Muhammadfahmee Talek — 2025-07-15

Introduction: Alcohol-free mock beverages are consumed by Muslims in the deep south region of Thailand, but the extent to which such consumption was associated with attitude toward alcohol and subsequent alcohol consumption is unknown. The objectives of our study were: (1) to describe the extent to which the consumption of alcohol-free mock beverages is associated with alcohol consumption among Muslim youths in the deep south of Thailand; and (2) to describe the extent to which attitude towards alcohol mediates the stated association.

Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods cross-sectional study. We used convenience sampling to source self-identified Muslims aged 18 to 40 years from Pattani Province, Thailand. We invited them to participate in a face-to-face survey interview and/or a qualitative study, with either a focus group discussion or in-depth interviews. Quantitative survey data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. We then performed mediation analysis using the mediation package in R. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: A total of 407 persons participated in our study. Approximately 33% of the participants reported lifetime consumption of alcohol-free mock beverages and 6% reported a history of alcohol consumption. Current mock beverage consumers were significantly more likely to be current drinkers of alcohol than those who never consumed mock beverages (7.0% vs. 0.4%). Mediation analysis, however, showed that the association was not significantly mediated by attitude toward alcohol.

Discussion and conclusion: We found a strong association between alcohol-free mock beverage consumption and alcohol consumption. The findings have implications for stakeholders in public health, alcohol control, and religious leadership. However, limitations regarding the selection of participants and social desirability bias should be considered as caveats in the interpretation of the study findings.

Effect of health service integration on the health care use of patients with alcohol use disorders in North Karelia Finland 2016-2020: A comparative cross-sectional study

Elina Virolainen — 2025-08-06

Background: In North Karelia, Finland, a comprehensive integration of health and social services was implemented in 2017. This study sought to evaluate the impact of integration on the utilisation of health services among patients with alcohol use disorders (AUDs).

Methods: Data from 2016 to 2020 were gathered from the electronic health records, encompassing both primary and specialised care, for patients with AUDs (n = 4344). Patients were identified based on AUD-related International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) diagnosis codes. The data included information on the type of contact, reason for contact (ICD-10 code), and professional providing the service.

Results: The proportion of patients with any annual contact with health services was approximately 90%, and this proportion remained unaffected by the integration. Decreases in AUD contacts were noted across the entire patient cohort, except for those diagnosed with AUD already in 2016. Emergency care use increased among patients treated in substance abuse services after the integration of services. Remote online and telehealth contacts increased across service domains, but these changes were unrelated to the integration year.

Conclusion: The decrease in AUD contacts may be attributed to the improved identification of patients with less severe conditions, as the recording of diagnosis codes has improved. However, notable unmet care needs continue to exist.

Family burden among US adults experiencing secondhand harms from alcohol, cannabis or other drugs

Thomas Kennedy Greenfield — 2025-08-08

Background: Family burden has not been studied in relation to alcohol and other drug harms from others. We adapted a family burden scale from studies of caring for those with mental health conditions for use in the US Alcohol and Drug Harm to Others Survey (ADHTOS). We investigated associations between a seven-item summative burden scale and different types of harms attributed to someone else’s use of alcohol, cannabis, or another drug: (a) being assaulted/physically harmed; (b) having family/partner problems; (c) feeling threatened or afraid; and (d) being emotionally hurt/neglected due to others’ substance use.

Methods: A survey of adults aged 18 years and over conducted between October 2023 and July 2024 (n = 8,311), involved address-based sampling (n = 3,931 including 193 mail-backs) and web panels (n = 4,380), oversampling Black (n = 951), Latinx (n = 790) and sexual or gender minority (SGM) respondents (n = 309). Data from seven items on types of burdens experienced from other people’s alcohol or drug use were provided by those harmed by someone else’s alcohol or drug use and were used to create a burden scale. Analyses used negative binomial regression on burden sum adjusting for covariates, such as age, gender, race and ethnicity, marital status and years of education.

Results: The single factor burden scale showed good internal consistency (α = .91). Components assessing being emotionally drained/exhausted and family friction/arguments were endorsed by 38–39% of participants; finding stigma of the other’s substance use upsetting was affirmed by 33%. Fewer endorsed feeling trapped in caregiving roles (22%), problems outside the family (26%), neglect of other family members’ needs (16%), and having to change plans (14%). In adjusted regression models, seven of eight harm exposures were significantly associated with burden scores.

Discussion: People reported substantial burden from others’ use of alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs. Family support interventions and policy remedies to mitigate these burdens are needed.