Regional differences in alcohol consumption,alcohol addiction and drug use among Swedish adults

Abstract

Introduction: Alcohol consumption and drug use, as well as alcohol- and drug-related problems, vary considerably in different regions in Sweden, and between men and women of different ages. Aim: The aim of the present study was to examine the regional, gender and socioeconomic distribution of risk consumption of alcohol, alcohol dependency and drug use in a random sample in Sweden. Material and methods: In both May 2003 and 2004, 7200 gender-stratified adults (a total of 14,400), randomly selected from 12 regions in Sweden, were contacted by mail, and asked to fill out an enclosed questionnaire. The questionnaire concerned use of alcohol, alcohol-related problems, and use of illicit drugs. Results: Heavy alcohol consumption and cannabis use were more frequent in the south of Sweden than in the north, and the further north, the lower the frequency. Alcohol and drug use decreased with age, and was higher for men than for women. On average, 11.5% of all men and 5.0% of all women consumed alcohol intensively at least weekly, 8.6% of men and 4.5% of women had a generally high alcohol consumption, 4.1% of men and 2.5% of women were alcohol addicted, and 2.9% of men and 1.3% of women had used cannabis during the last 12 months. Conclusions: High alcohol consumption and use of illegal drugs seem to be more prevalent in those parts of Sweden that are closer to the European continent. In our opinion, this might be an effect of the closeness to other European countries with lower prices for alcohol, less strict alcohol control policies, and higher availability of drugs. Consideration of regional, gender and age differences in problems related to alcohol and drugs seem to be important in the planning and development of preventive activities.

Keywords

Adults alcohol alcohol dependency community characteristics drugs prevention

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

World Health Organization, Global status report on alcohol . Geneva: WHO; 2004.

European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Annual Report 2005: the state of the drugs problem in Europe. Lisbon: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction; 2005.

National Institute of Public Health - Sweden. Alcohol in the postwar Europe - consumption, drinking patterns, consequences and policy responses in 15 European countries. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell International; 2002.

National Institute of Public Health - Sweden. Den svenska supen i det nya Europa. Stockholm: Förlagshuset Gothia; 2002.

Spss Inc. SPSS base 8.0. Chicago: SPSS Inc .; 1999.

Brand DA , Saisana M. , Rynn LA , Pennoni F. , Lowenfels AB Comparative analysis of alcohol control policies in 30 countries. PLoS Med 2007;4:e151.

Ahlstrom S. , Bloomfield K. , Knibbe R. Gender differences in drinking patterns in nine European countries: descriptive findings. Substance Abuse 2001;22:69-85.

de Visser RO , Rissel CE , Smith AM , Richters J. Socio-demographic correlates of selected health risk behaviors in a representative sample of Australian young people. Int J Behav Med 2006;13:153-62.

Moore AA , Gould R. , Reuben DB , Greendale GA , Carter MK , Zhou K. , et al. Longitudinal patterns and predictors of alcohol consumption in the United States. Am J Public Health 2005 ;95:458-65.

10.

Caetano R. , Babor TF

Diagnosis of alcohol dependence in epidemiological surveys: an epidemic of youthful alcohol dependence or a case of measurement error?

Addiction 2006;101(Suppl. 1):111-14.

11.

Hemmingsson T. , Lundberg I. , Romelsjo A. , Alfredsson L. Alcoholism in social classes and occupations in Sweden. Int J Epidemiol 1997;26:584-91.

12.

Hemmingsson T. , Ringback Weitoft G. Alcohol-related hospital utilization and mortality in different occupations in Sweden in 1991-1995 . Scand J Work Environ Health 2001;27:412-19.

13.

Ågren ° G. , Romelsjö A. Mortality in alcohol-related diseases in Sweden during 1971-80 in relation to occupation, marital status and citizenship in 1970. Scand J Soc Med 1992;20:134-42.

14.

Droomers M. , Schrijvers CT , Mackenbach JP Educational differences in starting excessive alcohol consumption: explanations from the longitudinal GLOBE study. Soc Sci Med 2004;58:2023-33.

15.

Hemstrom O. Alcohol-related deaths contribute to socioeconomic differentials in mortality in Sweden. Eur J Public Health 2002;12:254-62.

16.

Hemmingsson T. , Lundberg I. , Diderichsen F. The roles of social class of origin, achieved social class and intergenerational social mobility in explaining social-class inequalities in alcoholism among young men. Soc Sci Med 1999;49: 1051-9.

17.

Sommers MS , Dyehouse JM , Howe SR , Lemmink J. , Volz T. , Manharth M. Validity of self-reported alcohol consumption in nondependent drinkers with unintentional injuries. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2000;24:1406-13.

18.

Babor T. , Caetano R. , Casswell S. , Edwards G. , Giesbrecht N. , Graham K. , et al. Alcohol: no ordinary commodity - research and public policy . New York: Oxford University Press ; 2003.