219251 New evidence on burden of disease from alcohol and epidemiological support for the WHO's Global Alcohol Strategy

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 8:45 AM - 9:00 AM

Jürgen Rehm, PhD , Social, Prevention and Health Policy Research Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
Alcohol consumption has been identified as major risk factor for global burden of disease. It has been shown to impact chronic disease categories (cancer, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disease) as well as acute diseases. In addition, by its effect of weakening the immune system and by its role in social drift alcohol exerts a causal role on the incidence of tuberculosis and pneumonia. Compared to the effects of other risk factors, the effects of alcohol occur relatively early in life. They are more pronounced per unit with higher economic disadvantage.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
To identify major acute and chronic problems associated with alcohol consumption. To compare variations in the distribution of alcohol-related burden by global regions. To demonstrate how epidemiological findings can inform the global alcohol strategy. To identify key components of a monitoring protocol for the WHO global alcohol strategy

Keywords: Alcohol Problems, Public Health Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the lead author on numerous publications on the contributions of alcohol to the global burden of disease and contribute epidemiological analyses as a substantial resource for WHO's Global Alcohol Strategy
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.