Non beverage alcohols in Russia: Were they still consumed for drinking in 2015–2017?

Abstract

Introduction Consumption of nonbeverage alcohols (NAs) for drinking has been a long-standing phenomenon in Russia, and constitutes a very important aspect of hazardous drinking impacting mortality from various causes of death. In a population-based study conducted in 2003–2005 in the city of Izhevsk 7% of working age Russian males were identified as consumers of NAs. 43% of all deaths in this population were attributable to hazardous alcohol drinking (problem drinking, or NAs consumption, or both). The main hazard associated with consumption of NAs is represented by contained in them highly concentrated rectified ethanol (up to 95% by volume). Back in 2006 Russia tightened legislation in an attempt to suppress nonbeverage alcohol drinking (NAD); however, during the past several years no systematic research was published to assess this risky behavior or to evaluate effectiveness of implemented regulations. Methods Between December 2015 and April 2017, we have conducted a cross-sectional survey aiming to identify the very fact of use of NAs for drinking, at any time during one-year preceding interview, by subjects with substance use disorders recruited from inpatient wards of the Republican Narcological Dispensary (the governmental narcology clinic) of the Ministry of Health of Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan, Russia. The prevalence of NAD, associated sociodemographic factors, types of NAs consumed and other aspects were investigated. Information was collected via interview with employment of structured questionnaire after obtaining informed consent to participate. Results Au total, 302 subjects agreed to participate. The response rate for survey was 53.2% among men and 73,7% among women. The mean age of surveyed participants was 41.6 ± 10.5 years. Among those who reported on status of their NAD (76.2%, 230/302) the prevalence of NAD was 75.8% (135/178) in men and 57.7% (30/52) in women. The highest prevalence in both genders was found among subjects who were in an irregular paid work: 84.0% (79/94); however among men in an irregular paid work it was even higher: 86.9% (73/84). Au total, 72 subjects who did not report if they were drinking NAs or not during the past year, did not differ by age, gender, education, marital or employment status (P > 0.05) from those who reported on their NAD status. On a univariate level males OR = 2.30(95% CI: 1.20–4.40), subjects living separately, divorced, widowers or widows OR = 2.22(1.13–4.37), subjects working on an irregular paid work OR = 5.90(2.73–12.76), or unemployed seeking work OR = 3.36(1.49–7.56) had higher odds of NAD in comparison with those in a registered or non-registered marriage and in a regular paid work, respectively. Adjusted positive association with NAD was seen for males OR = 2.48(1.14–5.43), subjects being on an irregular paid work OR = 5.0(2.16–11.56), and for unemployed seeking OR = 3.55(1.45–8.71), and not seeking work OR = 3.90(1.09–13.95). The spectrum of NAs, which were reported as consumed for drinking, was quite diverse. The major sorts included spirituous cosmetic lotions “Hawthorn” (27.5%) and “Red Pepper” (21.9%), eau-de-cologne “Troynoy” (9.3%), medicinal tinctures “Hawthorn” (36.8%) and “Red Pepper” (22.5%) sold in 25 and 100 mL bottles, Valerian(4.3%), Motherwort (3.6%), technical/medicinal ethanol(24.5%) and spirituous solutions for oral and body hygiene among others(16.5%). Lower price (61.7%) in comparison with conventional alcoholic beverages was reported as the main reason for purchasing NAs. Conclusions Given the magnitude of alcohol problem in Russia, our findings appear quite striking in a sense, that all major sorts of nonbeverage alcohols appeared to be consumed for drinking ten years after implementation of 2006 alcohol control legislation, which was specifically aimed at reduction of their consumption. Reinforcement of previously implemented restrictive measures, as well as the introduction of new regulations targeting NAs should be a priority in the Russian alcohol control policy.