Consumption of Noncommercial Alcohol among Alcohol-Dependent Patients

Y E Razvodovsky

doi:10.1155/2013/691050

Abstract

This study explores types of alcohol and surrogates consumed, patterns of consumption, and reasons behind noncommercial alcohol consumption among alcohol-dependent patients in Belarus. The study was conducted in the Belarusian city Grodno in 2012 with 223 alcoholics admitted to narcological clinic using structured interviews. The results suggest that at least 20.2% of alcohol dependent patients regularly consume samogon and 11.8% of patients use surrogates, the most popular among which are medications with a high percentage of ethanol and industrial spirits. The belief that, according to quality criteria, samogon exceeds licensed vodka is the main motive for its consumption. The results of this study suggest the existence of the problem of consumption of noncommercial alcohol among alcohol dependent patients in Belarus.

Highlights

Noncommercial alcohol has recently become the subject of much attention from alcohol policy experts [1, 2]
The study was conducted in the Belarusian city Grodno in 2012 with 223 alcoholics admitted to narcological clinic using structured interviews
The results of this study suggest the existence of the problem of consumption of noncommercial alcohol among alcohol dependent patients in Belarus

Summary

Introduction

Noncommercial alcohol has recently become the subject of much attention from alcohol policy experts [1, 2]. Noncommercial alcohol in Belarus includes samogon, counterfeit vodka, industrial alcohol, alcohol-containing medicinal preparations, and cologne [11]. Samogon is produced both in homes and in remotely located minifactories that sell to others. Systematic studies devoted to the prevalence of illegal alcohol and surrogates consumption among the population of heavy drinkers in Belarus have not been conducted. The goal of this pilot study was to some extent to fill this gap by studying the prevalence, drinking pattern, types, reasons, and correlates of the consumption of noncommercial alcohol among alcohol abuse clinic patients

Materials and Methods

Results

Discussion