The effects of alcohol-related harms to others on self-perceived mental well-being in a Canadian sample.

OBJECTIVES: To examine (1) the harms related to the drinking of others in five Canadian provinces, stratified by socio-demographic variables, and (2) the relationship between these harms and mental well-being. METHODS: A telephone survey sampled 375 adults from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. Harms related to the drinking of others were measured through 16 questions in the domains of psychological, physical, social, and financial harms. Self-perceived mental well-being was measured with his or her mental well-being. RESULTS: In 2012, 40.1% of Canadian adults surveyed experienced harm in the previous year related to the drinking of another person. These harms were more frequent among people who had a higher education level, were widowed, separated, divorced or never married, and were employed. Psychological, physical, and financial harms related to the drinking of others were significantly correlated to a person's mental well-being. CONCLUSIONS: Harms related to the drinking of others are prevalent in this Canadian survey. Furthermore, the psychological, physical, and financial harms related to the drinking of others negatively impact the mental well-being of the affected individuals.

Estimation of Unrecorded Alcohol Consumption in Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Economies for 2010.

BACKGROUND: Consumption of unrecorded alcohol is prevalent, especially in low-income countries (LIC). Monitoring and reduction of unrecorded consumption have been asked for in the World Health Organization (WHO) global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. To date, only a few countries have installed monitoring systems, however. METHODS: As part of the WHO global monitoring, an expert survey using the nominal group technique, a variant of Delphi studies, was conducted to assess level and characteristics of unrecorded consumption in 46 member states. One hundred experts responded. Descriptive statistics and repeated analysis of covariance were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The study showed feasibility of the chosen methodology to elicit information of unrecorded consumption with experts responding for 74% of the countries. Response rate was lower for LIC. Compared to prior WHO estimates, experts tended to estimate higher unrecorded consumption for LIC, and lower unrecorded consumption for high-income countries. Unrecorded consumption was seen as a financial, public health, and social problem by the majority of experts. Homemade alcohol was the most prevalent subcategory of unrecorded consumption globally. CONCLUSIONS: The chosen methodology was feasible, and new information about consumption of unrecorded consumption could be gathered. There is still a need for increasing efforts of national monitoring, especially in LIC.