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Abstract #160999

Amy Wallace, MD, MPH, VA Outcomes Group REAP, VA Medical Center, 215 N. Main St, White River Junction, VT 05009, 802 291 6285, aew@dartmouth.edu and Edward P. Sheehan, MD, Addiction Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School, 215 N. Hartland Rd, White River Junction, VT 05009.

Background: Women working in traditionally male-dominated environments are at higher risk for alcohol use disorders (AUDs). The male-dominated U.S. military environment has additional risk factors associated with problem drinking including isolation from family and exposure to life-threatening stressors. In the 1980s, the military conformed to all U.S. states' 21-year minimum legal drinking age and established prevention and intervention policies for abusive drinking. We explored longitudinal trends in AUDs measured by treatment rates among female veterans versus civilians in the changing military environment. Methods: From the Department of Health's Treatment Episode Data Set, we extracted alcohol-related admissions from years 1992-2003 for female veterans and civilians in four age cohorts. Using age-specific population figures, we calculated alcohol treatment rates and odds ratios for female veterans versus civilians. Results: In 1992, odds ratios of alcohol treatment episodes for female veterans compared to civilians ranged from 1.9 for 25-29 year-olds to 4.2 for 40-44 year-olds (all p<0.01). Female veterans' alcohol treatment rates dropped substantially from 1992-2003, while rates for female civilians ages 25-34 dropped only marginally and those for civilians ages 35-44 increased. By 2003, odds ratios of alcohol treatment for female veterans compared to civilians fell to between 0.73 and 0.90 in all age groups (all p<0.01). Discussion: Prior to the military's efforts to reduce problem drinking, female veterans' alcohol treatment rates exceeded those of same-age civilians. However, with increasing exposure to a military environment which discourages abusive drinking, female veterans have reduced their rates of alcohol treatment to below same-age civilians' rates.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the risks of alcohol abuse for women in male-dominated work environments such as the military
• Articulate the policy-driven changes in the military envionment associated with reduction in problem drinking among female veterans.
• Understand how to apply and adapt these changes to other workplaces or environments to reduce the risk of later problem drinking for women

Keywords: Workplace Stressors, Alcohol Use

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization	Clinical/Research Area	Type of relationship
Allergan	cosmetic surgery	Stock Ownership
Janssen	psychiatry	Independent Contractor (contracted research and clinical trials)

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.