Patterns of dringking in Thai men
Sawitri Assanangkornchai, Asst. Prof., D. of Psychiatry, F. of Medicine, PSU.
John B. Saunders, Prof., Royal Brisbane Hospital, Australia
Katherine M. Conigrave, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
Corresponding e-mail : asawitri@ratree.psu.ac.th
Grant : National Research Council of Thailand 2540
Presented : Alcohol & Alcoholism 2000, 35(3) : 263-269
Key words : drinking patterns, drinking setting, alcohol dependence,
hazardous alcohol consumption
Alcohol problems have increased considerably in Thailand in recent years, in common with many other countries in South-east Asia. Little is known about the patterns or context of alcohol consumption in these countries, and so efforts to develop preventive strategies have been hampered. To identify current problems related to alcohol consumption, we recruited 91 alcohol dependent persons, 77 hazardous or harmful drinkers, and 144 abstainers or light drinkers. A structured interview incorporating the WHO "tri-level" method to determine the amount and frequency of drinking, and
the AUDADIS to diagnose alcohol dependence and harmful drinking was used. Median alcohol intake was 75g and 49g per drinking day in the alcohol dependent and harmful/hazardous groups. The former group drank on average 25 days while the harmful/hazardous drinkers drank 10 days per month. Drinking alone was common in the alcohol dependent group (67%), while harmful-hazardous
drinkers typically drank with friends (58%), and infrequent drinkers drank only at social functions (61%). Only 28% of alcohol dependents perceived themselves as dependent on alcohol. The alcohol dependents and hazardous-harmful drinkers were more likely to currently smoke cigarettes and have a history of marijuana use than were non-infrequent-light drinkers. Antisocial personality disorder
was more commonly associated with alcohol dependence. In conclusion, alcohol dependence was characterised by continual drinking, hazardous/harmful consumption by intermittent consumption. Other forms of substance use, and personality disorder were associated with alcohol dependence. Clearer understanding of these factors would be of great benefit in planning an intervention program for excessive drinking in Thailand.
BACK