Alcohol Use Disorder News and Research

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Gene variant linked to liver cirrhosis in Caucasians

A new study by German researchers found that a variation in the PNPLA3 (adiponutrin) gene was associated with cirrhosis of the liver and elevated transaminase (liver enzyme) levels in alcoholic Caucasians. The risk of cirrhosis in alcoholics in the genetic high risk group might be as high as 25 to 50%. Full findings are published in the January 2011 issue of Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

16 Dec 2010

Alcohol treatment services underused due to perception of negative stigma

Despite the existence of effective programs for treating alcohol dependencies and disorders, less than a quarter of people who are diagnosed actually seek treatment. In a recent study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health researchers report that people diagnosed with alcoholism at some point in their lifetime were more than 60% less likely to seek treatment if they believed they would be stigmatized once their status is known.

3 Dec 2010

Health plans tackle cheap alcohol, teen smoking and other problems in UK

The British Government in a bid to stop common health problems is planning on banning teenage smoking and cheap alcohol and also wants to encourage mothers to breastfeed at work said Health Secretary Andrew Lansley. They are due to publish a public health white paper this week and Mr. Lansley confirmed that the Government had some plans up their sleeve to curb common health problems and health related inequalities. The ‘Tory’ right did not appreciate the move saying it amounted to “micromanaging” people’s lives.

28 Nov 2010

Northern Territory Law Society calls for ban on alcohol sponsorship of sports

According to the Northern Territory Law Society, pubs, bars and breweries should be stopped from sponsoring sport. The Society reports that alcohol abuse in the Territory has reached crisis point and is putting an enormous strain on the justice system.

23 Nov 2010

Australian university students a ‘stressed out’ bunch: Study

According to the latest findings the rates of serious mental illness are more than five times higher among university students than in the general population. The study conducted by researchers at University of Queensland was published in the latest issue of Australian Psychologist. It also found that rate of pyschological distress among university students is almost three times higher than in the general population.

22 Nov 2010

Hypernetworking and hypertexting bad for kids in more ways than one: Study

According to a new study adolescents who text excessively or who are hooked on social networking sites are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors like smoking and binge drinking than their peers who are not similar users. Scientists at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine surveyed 4,257 high school students from an urban county in the Midwest to look at the health effects of communications technology usage.

9 Nov 2010

Alcohol - the worst drug!

A new study shows that alcohol abuse is by far the worst habit to have when compared to other recreational drugs like crack or heroin. Neuropharmacologist David Nutt, of Imperial College London who is also a former British government drug advisor and his team rated 20 different drugs on a scale that takes into account the various harms caused by a drug. Drugs are rated on the nine harms a drug causes to an individual and seven harms a drug causes to the society. The scale was developed by a panel of experts called the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs (ICSD), ranges from 0 (no harm) to 100 (greatest possible harm). It is weighted so that a drug that scores 50 is half as harmful as a drug that scores 100.

1 Nov 2010

Genes and alcoholism link explored: Study

According to the latest research in the U.S., a genetic variation may protect against alcoholism, and this could lead to a novel preventative treatment. The researchers say that a gene variant known as CYP2EI is linked to people's response to alcohol.

19 Oct 2010

TV alcohol advertising ‘watershed’ called for in the UK

Protestors in Britain have called for a ‘watershed’ for alcohol advertising on TV amid claims that millions of children watched the ads during live World Cup games. Alcohol Concern UK says that children as young as four watched alcohol ads from brands such as Stella Artois, Magners, Fosters, Carling and WKD during the World Cup.

18 Oct 2010

Crackdown on liquor licensing breaches needed: Doctors

AMA Victoria has urged the State to look deeper into liquor licensing breaches and has alleged that there have been only four prosecutions out of the near 15,200 breaches. There were 1,200 venues who were reportedly supplying liquor “other than in accordance with the license”. AMA Victoria has asked the state government to introduce harsher penalties for venue operators that breach their liquor licensing conditions.

18 Oct 2010

FASD ONE releases three research papers on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

To mark Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day the 9th day of the 9th month, the FASD Ontario Network of Expertise (FASD ONE) is releasing three research papers focused on the pressing issues identified by Ontario families and service providers. The papers cover topics of respite care, education, and effective practices.

10 Sep 2010

Alcohol consumption by pregnant women can seriously harm unborn children

To kick off Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Week, the Pennsylvania Department of Health is reminding the public that alcohol consumption by pregnant women can seriously harm unborn children.

8 Sep 2010

Study finds factor behind alcohol use disorder after liver transplantation

Patients who receive a liver transplant due to alcoholic liver disease need to demonstrate periods of abstinence and often attend addiction treatment before transplantation. However, alcohol use disorders can recur, as can other diseases requiring transplantation, and thus alcohol use after liver transplantation is not uncommon.

19 Aug 2010

Education and screening of pregnant women recommended for prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Featured in the August edition of the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada is a new consensus clinical practice guideline which recommends that screening for alcohol consumption be done periodically for all pregnant women and women of child-bearing age.

13 Aug 2010

Australia ranks near top when it comes to alcohol abuse: Study

In a new study researchers have found that Australia ranks near the top when it comes to alcohol abuse. The study was conducted by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) and it found that one in five Australians has a drinking problem and four in five go untreated for these problems. Professor Maree Teesson and her team analyzed data collected from almost 9,000 Australians aged 16 to 85 years for the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing in 2007.

9 Aug 2010

Voluntary alcohol restriction changes a community for the better

Voluntary alcohol restrictions in the West Australian town of Norseman, south of Kalgoorlie, has resulted in a reported decrease in violence and alcohol-related hospital admissions.

11 Jul 2010

Children with FASD show high prevalence of developing epilepsy

Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder show a very high prevalence of developing epilepsy and having seizures, according to a national study by Queen's University researchers.

7 Apr 2010

Researchers establish Canadian norms for diagnosing FASD

Fetal Alcohol Research, the official journal of FACE, has published breakthrough research by Dr. Sterling Clarren, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of Canada Northwest FASD Research Network and colleagues, establishing Canadian norms which will allow more accurate diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

18 Feb 2010

AA attendance may alleviate depression

One of many reasons that attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings helps people with alcohol use disorders stay sober appears to be alleviation of depression.

29 Jan 2010

Strict adherence in taking HIV medication; extremely difficult for many individuals

Highly active antiretroviral therapy has increased the longevity and quality of life for people living with human immunodeficiency virus. But it requires strict adherence in taking the medicine, something that is extremely difficult for many individuals to do.

23 Oct 2009