Alcohol habits in a suburban male cohort

Using data from a prospective birth-to-maturity project, the study presents normally occurring variations in alcohol involvement of alcohol-related problems among a representative cohort of Swedish males in young middle age, born in a Swedish metropolitan area (n = 106).

Description and classification were based on an analysis of self-reported information (collected at about 36 years of age) about frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption (four-week timeline), self-reported alcohol-related symptoms, and registry data.

According to a broad, operationally defined classification of "harmful drinking" (at least three alcohol-related symptoms, including alcohol-related crimes), 43 subjects (41%) had experienced a substantial drinking problem during their lifetime, to an extent that might warrant labels such as "alcoholism" or "hazardous drinking". About one-third of these misusers were currently using other drugs. Of the 106 subjects, 80 (75%) reported having had at least one alcohol-related symptom or problem at some time during their life. Taking various life events into account, including sociomedical circumstances and heavy consumption at 18 and 25 years, 23 subjects (22%) were classified as having a lifetime prevalence of alcohol abuse/dependence according to DSM-III criteria.

Problem drinking was largely unknown to the healthcare system and only a few subjects had received treatment. The results are discussed in the light of data from other national and international epidemiological surveys.