Rural Alcohol Misuse and Pregnancy

Alcohol misuse is a large issue in many countries across the world.   The World Health Organization reports that there are an estimated 140 million alcoholics around the globe.  A recent study found that 1 in 25 deaths around the world can be attributed to alcohol in one way or another.  Alcoholism is especially prevalent amongst rural youth. It is relevant to this class because there is much to be done regarding policies and funding related to law enforcement and resources available for people seeking treatment. Rural residents often have to travel far distances to seek help in hospitals or health facilities that are frequently understaffed.

Strategies for targeting alcoholism would vary depending on each specific rural community. The interventions would need to be specific and target the major issues of each area. I learned from a previous course in public health design and analysis, that engaging local communities in program design will generate a program that meets local needs, but will also establish greater community support. Strategies may include establishing various recreational activities that could replace alcohol use or even developing a community wide initiative with education and treatment services provided.

 Alcoholism presents many public health challenges not only here in America, but around the world.  It is an underlying cause of disease, injury, violence, disability, and mental health.  It contributes to both social and health inequalities.  Underage drinking is becoming a major issue around the world and is an issue that needs addressed.  Globally, 320,000 young people aged 15-29 years of age die annually from alcohol-related causes, resulting in 9% of all deaths in that age group.  Enforcement of underage drinking is sometimes lacking with lack of resources as a main cause.

Another public health concern regarding alcoholism is the amount of women who have babies born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.  Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are a serious public health concern because it not only affects the mother, but their children are left with permanent consequences such as physical and mental defects. These children do not have the opportunity for a normal life. There is no cure for these disorders, only treatment, which many children go without due to lack of resources available to them. Given the addictive power of alcohol, many women still drink heavily during pregnancy despite knowing the consequences. I see this as a major issue. You can give people all of the knowledge on a topic, but you can’t make them change their behaviors. I would like to see mothers being prosecuted and charged for knowingly disabling their children. However, this would spark another public health issue because the children would be left without a mother.

Improvements in FASD prevention, identification and care can be enhanced through systematic efforts to educate medical and allied health students and practitioners about these issues.  These efforts will contribute toward the goals of better alcohol screening and care for women at risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy and identification, diagnosis, and referral to treatment for individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure. 

WHO.  Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2011.  http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/global_alcohol_report/en/index.html.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs).  December 2013.  http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/index.html.