Drug and alcohol review
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Drug and alcohol review · Mar 2012
The basis for Canada's new low-risk drinking guidelines: a relative risk approach to estimating hazardous levels and patterns of alcohol use.
Low-risk drinking guidelines have been developed independently in a number of jurisdictions resulting in different sets of advice with different definitions of 'low risk'. This paper discusses some of the fundamental issues addressed by an expert advisory panel during the course of developing national guidelines for Canadians and summarises key sets of evidence that were influential. ⋯ It was estimated that total compliance with these guidelines at a national level would result in substantially reduced per capita alcohol consumption and approximately 4600 fewer deaths per year.
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Drug and alcohol review · Mar 2012
Responses to risk: public submissions on Australian alcohol guidelines for low-risk drinking.
In 2007 the National Health and Medical Research Council issued the draft of the revised Australian alcohol guidelines. The document presented guidelines explicitly in terms of risk. This paper seeks to explore the public response to this document by analysing the submissions received during the 60 day period for public feedback. ⋯ The diversity of views expressed seems to have had little effect in the revision of the guidelines. Disseminating the low-risk drinking guidelines message poses many challenges.
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Drug and alcohol review · Mar 2012
My cup runneth over: young people's lack of knowledge of low-risk drinking guidelines.
If young people are to consume alcohol in accordance with government guidelines, they must possess the relevant knowledge and skills. No previous research has examined correlations between different forms of knowledge of alcohol guidelines or how they are related to personality variables and beliefs. ⋯ Many young people may lack the knowledge required to monitor their alcohol consumption or give accurate self-reports in research. Future research should evaluate using a drink-pouring task as part of interventions designed to improve knowledge and skills and encourage moderate consumption of alcohol.
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Drug and alcohol review · Mar 2012
ReviewGuidelines for pregnancy: what's an acceptable risk, and how is the evidence (finally) shaping up?
The lack of consensus about whether low to moderate levels of prenatal alcohol exposure are a risk factor for fetal development has generated considerable debate about what advice policies and guidelines should provide. ⋯ The policy advice that 'the safest choice for pregnant women is to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy' should be maintained. However, the abstinence message needs to be presented in a balanced and rational manner to prevent unintended negative consequences.