Abstinence from alcohol: some implications for epidemiology of alcohol problems

This study examines the utility of abstinence from alcohol use for epidemiological estimations of alcohol problems and characteristics of those who report total abstinence. The data are derived from a national probability sample of adults (18 years of age and older). The results indicate that proportionate abstinence at the regional level shows very strong negative relationships with estimated alcoholism rates and per capita alcohol consumption. Although all the attributes of respondents examined are found to be statistically significant, the three most significant predictors of abstinence are religious attendance, family income, and geographic region. The epidemiological implications for estimating alcohol problems from abstinence data are discussed.