Alcohol Problems and Interest in Self-help: A Population Study of Alberta Adults

Background: We quantified the prevalence of alcohol problems among Alberta adults and determined relationships between sociodemographic characteristics, problem drinking status, and interest in self-help materials to reduce alcohol use. Methods: A computer-aided telephone interview was administered to a stratified random sample of 10,014 Albertans, 18 years of age or older (5,621 women and 4,393 men; M age = 43.3 years, SD = 16.0), with a response rate of 65.4%. Measures included: 1) current drinking status, 2) prior alcohol treatment, 3) problem drinking status (using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test; AUDIT), and 4) interest in receiving free selfhelp materials to encourage safe drinking. Data were weighted to reflect age, sex, and regional Alberta population. Results: Of the total sample, 19.3% abstained from drinking in the past year, 4.2% had received treatment for alcohol problems at some point in their lives, and 80.7% were current drinkers (i.e., consumed alcohol in the previous year). Some 15.2% (n=1,193) of current drinkers were classified as having a drinking problem. Logistic regression analyses showed that problem drinkers had 3.5 times greater odds of being male and 2.3 times greater odds of being interested in self-help interventions, compared to other current drinkers. Being single, of younger age, and not being exposed to post-secondary education also significantly predicted problem drinking status. Interpretation: Alcohol misuse is common among Alberta drinkers, but many of them are interested in receiving brief public health interventions designed to help them assert control over their behaviour. Contexte : Nous avons quantifié la prévalence des problèmes d'alcool chez les adultes de l'Alberta et déterminé les relations entre le profil sociodémographique, l'abus d'alcool et l'intérêt pour les outils d'autothérapie lorsqu'on veut réduire sa consommation. Méthode : Nous avons administré une entrevue téléphonique assistée par ordinateur à un échantillon aléatoire stratifié de 10 014 Albertains de 18 ans et plus (5 621 femmes et 4 393 hommes; âge moyen : 43,3 ans; déviation sensible : 16,0) et obtenu un taux de réponse de 65,4 %. Nos mesures étaient : 1) la consommation actuelle d'alcool, 2) les traitements antérieurs pour alcoolisme, 3) l'abus d'alcool (selon le test AUDIT - Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) et 4) l'intérêt à recevoir des outils d'autothérapie gratuits favorisant une consommation en toute sécurité. Les