Harm to others from alcohol: the role of socio-cultural variables

Abstract

This paper describes the changes in alcohol research, from a traditional individual focus on individual bodily and mental effects, to a broader focus on harm to others. This shift has coincided with broader sequential definitions of the progression from normal through harmful alcohol dependence, both in the specialized epidemiological and also in the newer classificatory systems (DSM 5 and CIE 11 draft). After presenting updated global, regional and chilean data, an international collaborative Project (Alcohol Harm to Others, ATOH) is described, with the participating institutions: the local study and the chilean components of the research team, the conceptual framework of harm to others (families, children, women; neighbors, friends, co-workers; society at large). Ethical aspects and institutional approval are presented and the principal results outlined: socio-demographic data (with special focus on the role of gender, socio-economic level and religiosity/spirituality). The data is presented for the chilean sample, with examples from other participating countries. The complexity of the link between alcohol harm to others and religious and spiritual factors is studied comparing data from several of the participating countries, and the impact upon vulnerable populations, especially women and children. The discussion reviews some of the confounding and intervening factors that could influence the results. The conclusion about prevention and policy development closes the paper.Key words: alcohol epidemiology, harm to others, socio-cultural factors Daño a otros por causa del alcohol: la contribución de las variables socioculturales Resumen: Este artículo describe los cambios en investigación sobre el abuso de alcohol, desde un enfoque tradicional sobre los efectos corporales y mentales en el individuo, a un enfoque amplio sobre el daño a otros. Este cambio ha coincidido con definiciones secuenciales más amplias de la progresión desde el estado normal a la dependencia dañina al alcohol, ambas en la especialidad de la epidemiología y también en los nuevos sistemas de clasificación (DSM 5 y propuesta de CIE 11). Después de presentar datos actualizados globales, regionales y chilenos, se describe un proyecto internacional colaborativo (Daño a Otros por Causa del Alcohol, ATOH) con las instituciones participantes: el estudio local y los componentes chilenos del equipo de investigación, la estructura conceptual de daño a otros (familias, niños, mujeres; vecinos, amigos, compañeros de trabajo; la sociedad en general). Se presenta la aprobación institucional y aspectos éticos, así como se delinean los principales resultados: datos sociodemográficos (con enfoque especial en el rol de género, nivel socioeconómico y espiritualidad/religiosidad). Se presentan los datos de la muestra chilena, con ejemplos de otros países participantes. Se estudia la complejidad del vínculo entre el daño por alcohol a otros y factores religiosos y espirituales, comparando datos de varios de los países participantes, y el impacto sobre ...

Commentary on Room et al. (2019): Correlates of alcohol's harm to others across nations

“…For example, men's recurrent drinking to intoxication might be less likely to be perceived by female partners as a serious harm in some Asian cultures , while in western cultures such drinking patterns might be regarded as problematic within intimate relationships. Similarly, perception of AHTO from drinking by women could also be mediated by contextual factors, including patriarchal social arrangements or understandings of masculinity/femininity related to drinking alcohol and the religious beliefs of the population . A final concern is that self‐reported alcohol harms vary depending on survey methods, with participants potentially responding to interviewers in a socially desired manner .…”