The Association between Hazardous Drinking Indicators and Drinking Problem Concerns among Sexual Minority Women

Sexual minority women (SMW) report high rates of hazardous drinking (HD), treatment utilization that is not commensurate with need, and low perceived alcohol use severity. This study examined SMW's drinking problem concerns by sexual identity and other demographic characteristics, and the strength of associations between endorsement of unique HD indicators and drinking problem concerns. Data were from a supplemental sample of SMW added in Wave 3 of the longitudinal, community-based Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women (CHLEW) study. HD was measured using a validated 13-item HD Index (HDI). Multivariable logistic regression models examined independent associations between past-five-year drinking problem concerns and each HD indicator. Twelve HD indicators were significantly associated with past-five-year drinking problem concerns, adjusting for age and sexual identity. Adjusted odds ratios varied from 2.44 for driving drunk to 15.52 for drinking first thing in the morning. After adjusting for number of HD indicators endorsed, associations were no longer significant, indicating that number of endorsed indicators was a more important predictor of drinking problem concerns than were individual HD indicators. Early intervention and harm reduction strategies could support SMW in addressing salient aspects of HD before progression to alcohol use disorder.

“I Wish I Had Help Earlier. We Could Have Been Happier Sooner.” Overcoming the Bystander Effect in the Care for Alcohol-Dependent Parents

Parental alcohol dependency is associated with risks for the well-being of their children. However, guiding these families to support is often complicated. We interviewed 10 alcohol dependent parents, and held 3 focus group interviews with child welfare social workers, and alcohol and other drug workers. We identified a reluctance to act among professional and non-professional bystanders. Family members, neighbours, teachers, and general practitioners are often aware of parental drinking problems, but are reluctant to discuss them with the parents or to alert services designed to support families. The aim of this paper is to share the experiences of parents and show that parents appreciate interventions if done in a certain manner. Although parents were reluctant to discuss their drinking problem, they considered these problems as symptoms of underlying severe distress. They were highly motivated to get help for these underlying problems and wondered why they were not questioned about their distress by those around them. The silence of others reinforced pre-existing feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. In this paper we analyse other's hesitation to intervene as a form of the bystander effect, and make suggestions on how this bystander effect can be overcome.

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Jayne and Matt's marriage falls apart in 1966, and her drinking problem escalates. Jayne performs in Bogotá, Columbia, and Caracas, and meets her last great love, married lawyer Sam Brody (who handled her very bitter divorce from Matt). They move back into the Pink Palace; Jayne befriends self-described Satanist Anton LaVey. In November 1966, her son Zoltan is mauled and critically injured by a lion at a petting zoo.

Alcohol Abuse

The article sets out to examine the correlation between the drinking problem that has beset youth of Central Kenya and the oaths that were taken by residents in the region in the wake of the struggle for socio-political and economic independence (in 1950s). It is worthwhile to recall that the Mau Mau philosophy discouraged the abuse of drugs, and especially alcohol. It was the belief that the breach of oaths spelt calamity. The youth might disassociate themselves from beliefs of their fathers and forefathers. However, since most of them are Christians, nominal or practical, they should be awed because the bible has it that, ‘’. . . I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation . . .’’ (Deuteronomy 5:9). Characteristically, the communities in Central Kenya share many aspects of culture, especially beliefs and religious practices. For example, breach of oaths was a taboo. The article seeks to establish the connection between the high degree of alcohol abuse to the violation of oaths that the Mau Mau (freedom fighters) patriots took before and during the State of Emergency (1952-1960). Certainly, anything taboo was ominous. Mau Mau agitated for independence, and more importantly, the return of land, the bond that bound together the living, the dead and the unborn. Land was seen in our indigenous society as sacred and it was not to change hands in any way. Mau Mau took oaths to the effect that whoever breached it would attract catastrophe, including death. In view of this, the article would seek to establish if the drinking problem in the Mount Kenya (central) region is a consequence of breaching Mau Mau oaths.

Tobacco use and associated mental symptoms and health risk behaviours amongst individuals 15 years or older in South Africa

Background: Tobacco use may deteriorate mental health and increase health risk behaviours.Aim: The aim of this investigation was to identify associations between tobacco use and mental illness symptoms and health risk behaviours in individuals 15 years or older in South Africa.Setting: Community-based national population sample in South Africa.Methods: Cross-sectional data were analysed from the ‘South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1) 2012’, using a sample of 15 310 individuals 15 years or older (median age 33 years). Measures included information on tobacco use, sociodemographic factors, mental symptoms and health risk behaviour.Results: Compared to non-tobacco users, daily tobacco users were associated with psychological distress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adjusted logistic regression analysis, and with sleeping problems in unadjusted analysis. Past tobacco use, less than daily, and daily tobacco use were highly associated with a drinking problem. In terms of dietary variables, less than daily and daily tobacco use increased the odds of inadequate fruit intake and salty food intake, and daily tobacco use decreased the odds of fast food consumption. Past tobacco use, less than daily, and daily tobacco use were inversely associated with physical inactivity, and daily tobacco use was associated with not always washing hands before eating.Conclusions: The study showed that compared to non-tobacco users, daily tobacco users had significantly poorer mental health (psychological distress and PTSD) and increased odds for several health risk behaviours (drinking problem, inadequate fruit intake, salty food consumption and not always washing hands before eating) as compared to non-tobacco users.

Risk Factors for Problematic Alcohol Use Among Male Waste Pickers and Caddies in Johannesburg, South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study

BackgroundInformal workers may be prone to problematic substance use due to many factors, including adverse working conditions and low income. Therefore, research must be conducted to improve the lifestyle of this vulnerable group of workers. This research aimed to assess problematic alcohol use and risk factors among male informal workers in Johannesburg.MethodsTwo groups of informal workers, waste pickers, and golf caddies were included. Alcohol use was measured using the World Health Organization (WHO) Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) tool. The WHO self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ) for common mental health disorders (CMD) was used to assess mental health. Data analysis included demographic analysis of the participants, assessment of substance use, and the ascertainment of drinking problem risk factors.ResultsThe study consisted of 514 participants, of which 48.4% were golf caddies and 51.6%, waste pickers. Most participants were younger than 40 years (50.9%). Over half of the participants (54.7%) were alcohol consumers and 74.1% were smokers. Over 60% of the participants who were alcohol consumers had a probable drinking problem. The prevalence of mental distress in the study group was 27% mental distress. Unstratified regression results showed that informal workers positive for mental distress were more likely to have a probable drinking problem (aOR=1.06; 95%CI: 1.01 – 1.11). Informal workers aged 30 – 40 years (aOR=2.06; 95%CI: 1.13 – 3.75), and those who were smokers (aOR=2.25; 95%CI: 1.33 – 3.80) were also more likely to have a probable drinking problem.ConclusionProblematic drinking amongst informal workers in this study was common along with smoking. Problematic alcohol use was associated with the type of informal work, mental distress, age, and smoking. Measures such as providing counselling services to informal workers and improvement of working conditions are needed to change the behaviours of this vulnerable group.