A Study on Prevalence of Alcohol Dependence in Coimbatore District.

ABSTRACT

India is considered to be the largest market for alcoholic products in the world with estimated 62.5 million alcohol users in 2005. There has been a rapid proliferation of bars and people are fast shedding the inhibitions over alcohol as a lifestyle choice. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of alcohol dependence with relation to biopsychosocial factors as there is paucity in prevalence studies in India. MethodsThis is a cross sectional study, in which 500 people in 25 villages in 3 blocks out of 13 blocks in Coimbatore district were selected by multistage cluster sampling method. The study was conducted over a period of 3 months from November 2019 to January 2020. ResultsA total of 500 people was interviewed. Our study showed a prevalence of 44% of alcohol dependence and also has statistical significance with biopsychosocial factors. ConclusionsEnforcement of laws pertaining to drinking, focussing on supply reduction, legal limits for alcohol intake with age restriction and health promotion activities by community level awareness should be considered to lower the prevalence of alcohol dependence in future.