Positive Association between Neighborhood Retail Alcohol Outlet Access and Hospital Admissions for Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome in New Orleans
Research article
Abstract
Objectives
The study used treatment for alcohol withdrawal syndrome as an objective surrogate marker to investigate the relationship between alcohol-related health outcomes and home neighborhood alcohol outlet density and alcohol advertising density.
Methods
Mixed effects logistic regression examined whether alcohol outlet density or alcohol advertisement density within either one-quarter mile or one-half mile of individuals’ home address was associated with treatment for alcohol withdrawal.
Results
Adjusted models showed outlet and advertising density, particularly off-sale outlet density within one-quarter mile of the home, increased the risk of hospital admission for alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Conclusion/impact
These data inform public policy initiatives to prevent and reduce the alcohol harm by regulating the neighborhood alcohol environment.