Oral

This session will present new research from 5-yearly National Alcohol Surveys and archival findings on alcohol-related trends to the present. Alcohol affordability has been generally measured in terms of the relationship between the price of alcohol and individual income with the key measurement issues being which price and income measures are the most appropriate. As the older population increases rapidly, alcohol use may become more problematic within this cohort. Racial/ethnic disparities in problem drinking are of high significance generally and particular interest currently, given that so little is known about the effects of the 2008-9 recession on the population distribution of alcohol problems. To update trends in alcohol- and drug-related emergency department and primary care visits over the last 15 years in the U.S., a trend analysis was conducted on substance-related health services visits, based on self-reported alcohol or drug use within six hours prior to an injury and/or illness.

Session Objectives: 1. Define alcohol affordability as a ratio of real price to real income. 2. Compare the heavy drinking and problem drinking of those aged 60-69 and 70 or more. 3. Identify some risk factors deferentially affecting ethnic minorities. 4. Describe trends in alcohol- and drug-related ED and primary care visits. 5. Evaluate the alcohol policy contribution of trend studies on alcohol-related patterns and problems.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)