Positive association between neighborhood retail alcohol outlet access and hospital admissions for alcohol withdrawal syndrome in New Orleans

Abstract

Objectives: We 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 (AOR = 1.15).

Conclusion/impact: These data inform public policy initiatives to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol by regulating the neighborhood alcohol environment.

Keywords:

• Alcohol withdrawal syndrome
• neighborhood alcohol environment
• alcohol retail density
• alcohol related morbidity