Introduction: Thailand’s alcohol control laws include an extensive ban on alcohol marketing. However, loopholes exist in online marketing, yet online marketing of alcohol targeting audiences in Thailand has not yet been systematically described. The objective of this study was to describe online alcohol marketing activities in the Thai language. Methods: We used an artificial intelligence (AI) platform to collect alcohol marketing content on the internet. We prepared a database of search terms related to alcohol marketing. The platform automatically searched and filtered alcohol marketing content that violated control and regulatory measures. We analyzed data using descriptive statistics. Results: Our analyses included data from 13,301 posts generated by 4,638 users. The most common violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of 2008 was the use of alcohol brand trademarks or symbols (70%). The most common content producers were restaurants, pubs, and bars, followed by wholesale/retail stores and influencers. Content materials focused on driving awareness and drinking methods. Content materials did not mention the location of sales, shipping methods, discounts, free products, or giveaways. Discussion: We found violations of regulations for alcohol control measures in Thailand among online media posts in the Thai language. Potential selection bias from search engine algorithms and the limited generalizability should be considered as caveats in the interpretation of the study findings.

Family burden has not been studied in relation to alcohol and other drug harms from others. We adapted a family burden scale from studies of caring for those with mental health conditions for use in the US Alcohol and Drug Harm to Others Survey (ADHTOS). We investigated associations between a seven-item summative burden scale and different types of harms attributed to someone else's use of alcohol, cannabis, or another drug: (a) being assaulted/physically harmed; (b) having family/partner problems; (c) feeling threatened or afraid; and (d) being emotionally hurt/neglected due to others' substance use. A survey of adults aged 18 years and over conducted between October 2023 and July 2024 (n = 8,311), involved address-based sampling (n = 3,931 including 193 mail-backs) and web panels (n = 4,380), oversampling Black (n = 951), Latinx (n = 790) and sexual or gender minority (SGM) respondents (n = 309). Data from seven items on types of burdens experienced from other people's alcohol or drug use were provided by those harmed by someone else's alcohol or drug use and were used to create a burden scale. Analyses used negative binomial regression on burden sum adjusting for covariates, such as age, gender, race and ethnicity, marital status and years of education. The single factor burden scale showed good internal consistency (α = .91). Components assessing being emotionally drained/exhausted and family friction/arguments were endorsed by 38-39% of participants; finding stigma of the other's substance use upsetting was affirmed by 33%. Fewer endorsed feeling trapped in caregiving roles (22%), problems outside the family (26%), neglect of other family members' needs (16%), and having to change plans (14%). In adjusted regression models, seven of eight harm exposures were significantly associated with burden scores. People reported substantial burden from others' use of alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs. Family support interventions and policy remedies to mitigate these burdens are needed.

Purpose: Trends in heavy drinking among Hispanic young adults are shifting in the United States. Despite elevated risks for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and related problems among Hispanic populations, little work has examined cultural mechanisms to alcohol outcomes in the context of their neighborhood environments. This study examines how neighborhood environment factors (ethnic density and distance to the nearest border port of entry) and cultural factors (acculturative stress and ethnic identity) relate to AUD. Methods: The sample of 575 Mexican American men and women (aged 18 to 30) was recruited from San Diego County, California, USA. We assessed indirect effects of Mexican American ethnic density and distance to the nearest border port of entry on AUD through acculturative stress and ethnic identity. Multiple group path analysis was used to test sex differences. Results: While sex differences were not observed in the overall model, there were differential associations with focal variables for each group. For women, greater proportions of ethnic density and greater distance to the nearest port of entry both were negatively associated with AUD. For both women and men, acculturative stress was positively associated with AUD, and neighborhood environment indicators were not related to acculturative stress nor ethnic identity. Conclusions: These data may inform further studies to integrate social and cultural mechanisms in creation of place-based strategies for AUD prevention.

Background: Family burden has not been studied in relation to alcohol and other drug harms from others. We adapted a family burden scale from studies of caring for those with mental health conditions for use in the US Alcohol and Drug Harm to Others Survey (ADHTOS). We investigated associations between a seven-item summative burden scale and different types of harms attributed to someone else’s use of alcohol, cannabis, or another drug: (a) being assaulted/physically harmed; (b) having family/partner problems; (c) feeling threatened or afraid; and (d) being emotionally hurt/neglected due to others’ substance use. Methods: A survey of adults aged 18 years and over conducted between October 2023 and July 2024 (n = 8,311), involved address-based sampling (n = 3,931 including 193 mail-backs) and web panels (n = 4,380), oversampling Black (n = 951), Latinx (n = 790) and sexual or gender minority (SGM) respondents (n = 309). Data from seven items on types of burdens experienced from other people’s alcohol or drug use were provided by those harmed by someone else’s alcohol or drug use and were used to create a burden scale. Analyses used negative binomial regression on burden sum adjusting for covariates, such as age, gender, race and ethnicity, marital status and years of education. Results: The single factor burden scale showed good internal consistency (α = .91). Components assessing being emotionally drained/exhausted and family friction/arguments were endorsed by 38–39% of participants; finding stigma of the other’s substance use upsetting was affirmed by 33%. Fewer endorsed feeling trapped in caregiving roles (22%), problems outside the family (26%), neglect of other family members’ needs (16%), and having to change plans (14%). In adjusted regression models, seven of eight harm exposures were significantly associated with burden scores. Discussion: People reported substantial burden from others’ use of alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs. Family support interventions and policy remedies to mitigate these burdens are needed.

Background: In North Karelia, Finland, a comprehensive integration of health and social services was implemented in 2017. This study sought to evaluate the impact of integration on the utilisation of health services among patients with alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Methods: Data from 2016 to 2020 were gathered from the electronic health records, encompassing both primary and specialised care, for patients with AUDs (n = 4344). Patients were identified based on AUD-related International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) diagnosis codes. The data included information on the type of contact, reason for contact (ICD-10 code), and professional providing the service. Results: The proportion of patients with any annual contact with health services was approximately 90%, and this proportion remained unaffected by the integration. Decreases in AUD contacts were noted across the entire patient cohort, except for those diagnosed with AUD already in 2016. Emergency care use increased among patients treated in substance abuse services after the integration of services. Remote online and telehealth contacts increased across service domains, but these changes were unrelated to the integration year. Conclusion: The decrease in AUD contacts may be attributed to the improved identification of patients with less severe conditions, as the recording of diagnosis codes has improved. However, notable unmet care needs continue to exist.

Introduction: Alcohol-free mock beverages are consumed by Muslims in the deep south region of Thailand, but the extent to which such consumption was associated with attitude toward alcohol and subsequent alcohol consumption is unknown. The objectives of our study were: (1) to describe the extent to which the consumption of alcohol-free mock beverages is associated with alcohol consumption among Muslim youths in the deep south of Thailand; and (2) to describe the extent to which attitude towards alcohol mediates the stated association. Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods cross-sectional study. We used convenience sampling to source self-identified Muslims aged 18 to 40 years from Pattani Province, Thailand. We invited them to participate in a face-to-face survey interview and/or a qualitative study, with either a focus group discussion or in-depth interviews. Quantitative survey data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. We then performed mediation analysis using the mediation package in R. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: A total of 407 persons participated in our study. Approximately 33% of the participants reported lifetime consumption of alcohol-free mock beverages and 6% reported a history of alcohol consumption. Current mock beverage consumers were significantly more likely to be current drinkers of alcohol than those who never consumed mock beverages (7.0% vs. 0.4%). Mediation analysis, however, showed that the association was not significantly mediated by attitude toward alcohol. Discussion and conclusion: We found a strong association between alcohol-free mock beverage consumption and alcohol consumption. The findings have implications for stakeholders in public health, alcohol control, and religious leadership. However, limitations regarding the selection of participants and social desirability bias should be considered as caveats in the interpretation of the study findings.

Background and aims: The aim of the present study is to examine the associations between parenting practices and adolescent alcohol use in a longitudinal sample of adolescents from Sweden. Data and methods: A prospective longitudinal sample of 3,999 adolescents in a nationwide study (2017-2019) in Sweden filled out questionnaires. Baseline data (T1) was collected at age 15/16 and a two-year follow-up (T2) was conducted at age 17/18. Alcohol use was measured with AUDIT-C. Parental support and monitoring was measured at both time points with two questions for each dimension. Cross-sectional and prospective associations are examined using linear regressions. Findings: A significant negative association was found for both support and monitoring at both time-points in the crude models. Only monitoring remained significant in the adjusted models. Monitoring at T1 had a significant negative association with alcohol use at T2. Increases in both parenting practices between T1 and T2 was significantly associated with lower alcohol use at T2. Conclusions: Parenting factors during adolescence are closely associated with adolescent drinking. These findings underscore the importance of ongoing parental engagement, particularly in terms of parental monitoring, throughout mid- and late adolescence to prevent drinking.

Abstract Introduction: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a threat to the health and well-being of women globally, and a key barrier to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 3.3 and 5.2. Harmful alcohol use is a recognised risk factor for the perpetration and experience of GBV, particularly, intimate partner violence, and for the severity of intimate partner violence. This paper seeks to explore the role of alcohol in women’s experience of severe intimate partner violence (SIPV) in South Africa. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study, using six focus group discussions and 20 in-depth interviews with 62 demographically diverse adult women from three provinces in South Africa (Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape) who sought help for SIPV. Findings: Women reported alcohol-related SIPV, frequently describing that her partner intentionally started arguments after he had been drinking. Their abuse included controlling and coercive behavior that restricted their movement and ability to participate in daily activities, economic abuse, and instances of severe physical and sexual intimate partner violence and attempted femicide. They viewed men's alcohol use as a ‘right’ associated with masculinity, that often intersected with expressions of masculinity, including controlling behavior, dominance, and aggression, and performing a provider role, especially among friends in taverns and bars. Conclusions: Planning for effective prevention, providing services and policy efforts requires an understanding of the complexity of the interaction between men's alcohol abuse and their perpetration of SIPV particularly in a context like South Africa, where both harmful alcohol use and GBV are prevalent.