Citation

González R. MEDICC Rev. 2010; 12(4): 30-33.

Affiliation

Enrique Cabrera Medical School, Medical University of Havana, Havana, Cuba. isaric@infomed.sld.cu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, MEDICC)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

21048542

Abstract

In light of the World Health Organization's declaration that non-dependent drinking contributes more to the global burden of alcohol-related disease than does drinking by those who meet diagnostic criteria for dependence, this paper argues that clinicians, researchers and decision-makers need to consider microsocial and macrosocial impacts of alcohol use, not just addiction and clinical effects on individuals meeting diagnostic criteria at the extreme high end of the alcohol-use spectrum. It suggests some qualitative dimensions to further define social or low-risk drinking and proposes that all drinking beyond that be described as harmful, because of its impacts on personal, community and population health. KEYWORDS Alcohol-related disorders, burden of illness, International Classification of Diseases.

Language: en