[Prevalence of alcoholic beverage consumption and alcoholism in a metropolitan region of Brazil].

An epidemiological survey was carried out for the purpose of estimating the use of psycho-active substances and the prevalence of alcoholism. The target population consisted of people over 13 years old living in a district of Rio de Janeiro city-Brazil. A random sample of 1,459 people was researched. Data on the use of alcohol and on alcoholism are presented. The diagnosis of this latter, based upon the CAGE Test, showed that 51% used alcohol and 3% were suspected of alcoholism: 4.9% and 1.7% among men and women, respectively. The greatest prevalence of the use of alcohol and of alcoholism was found among men between 30 and 49 years of age. Abstinence from alcohol was more frequent among widowed, Evangelical and low-income groups.