Abstract Text: Methods: This study is part of a larger study that employed a systematic random sample to interview via a telephone survey of 6798 households in North Dakota in 1997 using a nationally standardized questionnaire. Of the 28% who responded to the question whether they had ever tried to quit or cut down on alcohol use, 62% said no and 17% said yes. Among those who tried to quit or cut down, 17% said they were unable to quit or cut down while 83% said they were able to either quit or cut down alcohol use. Binary logistic regression models were developed with attempts and success behaviors as dependent variables and socio-demographic, user type, and health variables as independent variables. Results: Attempts to quit, and success or failures in quitting or cutting down alcohol use were associated with gender, marital status, age, location, emotional health status, and self assessment of drinking problem or addiction to alcohol. The two models tested explained 24% and 20% respectively of the variations in the dependent variables attempt to quit and success in quitting. Conclusion: Gender, marital status, emotional status, and self evaluation of drinking problems are by far the most important variables in explaining attempts to or success or failure in quitting problem alcohol use. This presentation will discuss the findings and its implications for alcohol treatment and public health policies.
Learning Objectives: To show the significance of socio-demographic, health status, and self assessment of drinking problem variables in explaining attempts to quit or cut down on alcohol use behavior.
Keywords: Alcohol Use,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.