Williams G D, Grant B F, Stinson F S, Zobeck T S, Aitken S S, Noble J
Alcohol Epidemiologic Data System, CSR, Incorporated, Washington, DC 20005.
Public Health Rep. 1988 Nov-Dec;103(6):592-7.
Two major trends regarding alcohol use and consequences of alcohol abuse in the United States are showing significant improvement. Continued declines are evident in age-adjusted rates of liver cirrhosis mortality, and per capita alcohol consumption is at its lowest level in 15 years. Two other trends, however, are less clear. After declining in 1982 and continuing through 1984, alcohol-related morbidity--as measured by principal diagnoses listed on short-stay, community hospital discharges--showed a slight increase in 1985. Similarly, after declining every year but one since 1981, alcohol-related motor vehicle fatalities showed a significant increase in 1986. The downward trends suggest that progress is being made in efforts to reduce alcohol-related deaths and morbidity, but there are no easy explanations for any of the trends. Reductions in liver cirrhosis death rates may reflect coding changes in liver disease categories, less chronic heavy drinking, or better medical care. Lower per capita alcohol consumption may indicate the public's increased awareness of drinking risks or the aging of the U.S. population. Ironically, the recent increase in alcohol-related motor vehicle fatalities may reflect stronger enforcement of drunk driving laws and increased BAC (blood alcohol content) testing.
在美国，关于酒精使用及酒精滥用后果的两大主要趋势正呈现出显著改善。年龄调整后的肝硬化死亡率持续下降，人均酒精消费量处于15年来的最低水平。然而，另外两个趋势则不太明朗。在1982年下降并持续至1984年后，以短期社区医院出院诊断清单衡量的与酒精相关的发病率在1985年略有上升。同样，自1981年以来除一年外每年都在下降的与酒精相关的机动车死亡人数在1986年显著增加。下降趋势表明在减少与酒精相关的死亡和发病率方面正在取得进展，但对于任何一个趋势都没有简单的解释。肝硬化死亡率的下降可能反映了肝病分类的编码变化、慢性重度饮酒减少或医疗护理改善。人均酒精消费量降低可能表明公众对饮酒风险的认识提高或美国人口老龄化。具有讽刺意味的是，近期与酒精相关的机动车死亡人数增加可能反映了对酒驾法律的更强有力执行以及血液酒精含量（BAC）检测的增加。
