@article{ref1,
title="Improved estimates for individual and population-level alcohol use in the United States, 1984-2020",
journal="International journal of alcohol and drug research",
year="2022",
author="Buckley, Charlotte and Brennan, Alan and Kerr, William C. and Probst, Charlotte and Puka, Klajdi and Purshouse, Robin C. and Rehm, Jürgen",
volume="10",
number="1",
pages="24-33",
abstract="AIMS: While nationally representative alcohol surveys are a mainstay of public health monitoring, they underestimate consumption at the population level. This paper demonstrates how to adjust individual-level survey data using aggregated alcohol per capita (APC) data for improved individual- and population-level consumption estimates. DESIGN AND METHODS: For the period 1984-2020, data on self-reported alcohol consumption in the past 30 days were taken from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) involving participants (18+ years) in the United States (US). Monthly abstainers were reallocated into lifetime abstainers, former drinkers, and 12-month drinkers using the 2005 National Alcohol Survey data. To correct for under-coverage of alcohol use, we triangulated APC and survey data by upshifting quantity (average grams/day) and frequency (drinking days/week) of alcohol use based on national- and state-level APC data. <br><br>RESULTS were provided for the US as a whole and for selected states to represent different drinking patterns. <br><br>FINDINGS: The corrections described above resulted in improved correspondence between survey and APC data. Following our procedure, national estimates of alcohol quantity increased from 45% to 77% of APC estimates. Both quantity and frequency of alcohol use were upshifted; by upshifting to 90% of APC, we were able to fit trends and distributions in APC patterns for individual states and the US. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: An individual-level dataset which more accurately reflects the alcohol use of US citizens was achieved. This dataset will be invaluable as a research tool and for the planning and evaluation of alcohol control policies for the US. The methodology described can also be used to adjust individual-level alcohol survey data in other geographical settings.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1925-7066",
doi="10.7895/ijadr.383",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.383"
}