Change in non-abstinent WHO drinking risk levels and alcohol dependence: a 3 year follow-up study in the US general population.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Alcohol dependence is often untreated. Although abstinence is often the aim of treatment, many drinkers prefer drinking reduction goals. Therefore, if supported by evidence of benefit, drinking reduction goals could broaden the appeal of treatment. Regulatory agencies are considering non-abstinent outcomes as efficacy indicators in clinical trials, including reduction in WHO drinking risk levels-very high, high, moderate, and low-defined in terms of mean ethanol consumption (in grams) per day. We aimed to study the relationship between reductions in WHO drinking risk levels and subsequent reduction in the risk of alcohol dependence.

Methods

In this population-based cohort study, we included data from 22 005 drinkers who were interviewed in 2001-02 (Wave 1) and re-

SUBMITTER: Hasin DS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5536861 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature