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Alcohol and suicide in eastern Europe
1Centre for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. jonas.landberg@sorad.su.se
Drug and Alcohol Review
|June 28, 2008
Summary
Alcohol consumption significantly impacts suicide rates in Eastern Europe. The link between per capita alcohol consumption and suicide mortality is stronger in countries with higher spirit consumption, indicating the role of drinking culture.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Sociology
Background:
- Suicide remains a significant public health issue in Eastern Europe.
- Understanding the influence of societal factors, such as alcohol consumption, is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the impact of population drinking changes on suicide rates across seven Eastern European countries.
- To compare the relationship between alcohol consumption and suicide across different national drinking cultures.
Main Methods:
- Utilized time-series analysis (Box-Jenkins technique) on post-war data for Russia, Belarus, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, former Czechoslovakia, and former German Democratic Republic (GDR).
- Analyzed annual suicide mortality rates and per capita alcohol consumption, differentiating between 'spirits countries' and 'non-spirits countries'.
Main Results:
- A 1-liter increase in per capita consumption correlated with a 5.7-7.5% rise in overall suicide rates in spirits countries.
- Non-spirits countries showed a smaller, though significant, increase (2.7-4.7%) in suicide rates.
- Male suicide rates were more affected than female rates, with stronger effects observed in spirits-consuming nations.
Conclusions:
- Per capita alcohol consumption is a significant determinant of suicide mortality in the studied Eastern European nations.
- The strength of the alcohol-suicide relationship is influenced by national drinking patterns, being more pronounced in countries with detrimental consumption habits.
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