Hvor mange alkoholikere har vi? Alkoholproblemer i Oslos befolkning
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5324/nje.v6i1.271Abstract
SAMMENDRAG
I de siste tiårene har bekymringen for alkoholproblemer vært knyttet til begreper som "alkoholiker" eller "de som
har alkoholproblemer". Begrepene impliserer at de fleste problemene er langvarige tilstander hos en avgrenset,
behandlingstrengende gruppe. Den foreliggende undersøkelsen var lagt opp som en post-enquete. Skjemaene ble
sendt til et representativt utvalg Oslo-borgere i alderen 18-59 år. En mottok 2051 skjemaer og oppnådde en svarprosent
på 77. Respondentene ble spurt om de hadde opplevet 8 typer skadevirkninger knyttet til sin alkoholbruk.
Avhengig av antall skadevirkninger ble personens alkoholproblemer definert som moderate, betydelige eller store.
Hvis "alkoholisme" defineres som å ha opplevet et visst antall av de 8 problemene, varierer antall "alkoholikere"
dramatisk avhengig av antall skadevirkninger som kreves: Hvis det kreves 7 problemer, er færre enn 1% av denne
befolkningen alkoholikere. Hvis det kreves 3 problemer er 21% alkoholikere. Hyppigheten av alkoholproblemer
reduseres gradvis med økende alder, fra 29% mellom 18 og 25 års alder til 8% mellom 45 og 60 år. De aller fleste
alkoholproblemer er ikke knyttet til daglig drikking eller til et svært høyt forbruk pr. år. De fleste som noen gang
har opplevet betydelige eller store problemer synes å "modne ut" av problemdrikking uten å stoppe å drikke og
uten noen form for behandling. De fleste som har betydelige eller store problemer har ikke ønsket å kutte sin
alkoholbruk ut eller sterkt ned. Blant dem som har ønsket det, har over 90% klart det helt eller delvis. Undersøkelsen
bekrefter tidligere befolkningsstudier som indikerer at de fleste alkoholproblemer er spredt blant en stor
andel av den yngre mannlige befolkningen som stort sett synes å ha kontroll over sin alkoholbruk, ikke kan kalles
avhengige og ikke kommer til alkoholistbehandling. Artikkelen drøfter hvilke konsekvenser dette har for
samfunnets strev for å redusere problemene.
Fekjær HO.
How many alcoholics do we have? Alcohol problems in the population of Oslo.
Nor J Epidemiol
ENGLISH SUMMARY
For the last decades, the concern for alcohol problems has been associated with the words "alcoholism" or
"alcohol dependence", implying that most problems are long-lasting conditions within a delimited group in need
of treatment. The present study used a mail questionnaire sent to a representative sample of Oslo's population in
the age group 18-59 years. With a respondent rate of 77 percent, 2051 questionnaires were returned. The respondents
were asked whether they had experienced 8 types of problems related to their alcohol use. Depending on the
number of problems, the individual's alcohol problems were defined as moderate, substantial or major. If
"alcoholism" is defined as having experienced a certain number of the 8 problems, the number of "alcoholics"
varies dramatically with the number of problems required: If 7 problems are required, less than 1% of this population
are alcoholics. If 3 problems are needed, 21% are alcoholics. The frequency of alcohol problems gradually
decreases with increasing age, ranging from 29% between 18 and 25 years of age to 8% between 45 and 60 years.
The vast majority of alcohol problems are not related to daily drinking or to a very high level of consumption per
year. Most people who have experienced substantial or major problems during their lifetime seem to "mature out"
of problem drinking without ceasing drinking and without any kind of treatment. The majority with substantial or
major problems have not wanted to drastically reduce their consumption. Among those having wanted to do so,
more than 90% have succeeded completely or partially. This study confirms earlier population studies which
indicate that most alcohol problems are scattered within a large proportion of the younger male population, most
of whom seem to be in control of their drinking habits, cannot be labelled dependent and do not seek alcoholism
treatment. The implications for society's struggle to reduce alcohol problems are discussed.
1996; 6 (1): 23-28.Downloads
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