Drinking Alcohol Surrogates Among Clients of an Alcohol-Misuser Treatment Clinic in Novosibirsk, Russia

Abstract

A pilot study was conducted in the Russian city Novosibirsk during 2006–2007 with 40 participants sampled from clients admitted to health services for drinking-related problems to explore surrogates for alcoholic beverage drinking using semistructured interviews. Types of surrogates consumed and reasons for their consumption were investigated. Results revealed that the most prevalent reported surrogate used was industrial spirit. The main reasons for drinking surrogates were the high affordability and physical availability of surrogates combined with the need to relieve severe withdrawal symptoms. The study limitations are described, and suggestions for future research are made.

RÉSUMÉ

Un avant-projet fut mené dans la ville russe de Novosibirsk durant 2006–2007, avec 40 participants sélectionnés parmi les clients de services de soins médicaux pour problèmes associés à l'alcoolisme, pour explorer des produits substitutifs de boissons alcooliques, basé sur des entretiens partiellement structurés. Les types de produits substitutifs consommés et les raisons pour leur consommation furent examinés. Les résultats on révélé que le produit substitutif le plus consommé est l'alcool industriel, les raisons principales étant le prix modique et la disponibilité des substitutifs, et le besoin de soulager les sévères symptômes de privation. Les limites de l'étude on été décrites et des suggestions pour les recherches futures ont été faites.

RESUMEN

Un estudio piloto fue realizado en la ciudad rusa de Novosibirsk durante 2006–2007 con 40 participantes selecionados de personas ingresados a servicios de salud para problemas de beber, para explorar el uso de sustitos para la bebida alcoholica utilizando entrevistas semi-estructuradas. Los tipos de sustitutos tomados y las razones para su consumo fueron investigados. Los resultados revelaron que el más predominante sustituto utilizado fue el alcohol industrial. Las razones principales para beber sustitos fue su precio tan accesible y su disponibilidad, combinado con la necesidad de aliviar los sintomas de abstinencia severos. Las limitaciones del estudio estan reportados y sugerencias para investigaciónes al futuro estan especificadas.

Keywords :

• alcohol
• surrogate alcohol
• drinking patterns
• Russia
• hazardous drinking

Notes

¹For a price of 500 mL of diluted spirit (20–25 roubles) in Novosibirsk, one could buy 1.5 loafs of bread or 500 mL of milk.

²The campaign was launched in 1985 and included among other measures reduction in vodka and wine production and sales, antialcohol propaganda aiming to eradicate public drunkenness and drinking in the workplace, and campaigns against home brewing and speculation in alcohol. The campaign was abolished in 1989 (White, 1996).

³Policy No. 32, 2.5.2006 of Novosibirsk Region Administration limited the products that could be sold in newspaper kiosks, specifically prohibiting the sale of Trojnoj cologne. And the Federal Service on Surveillance in Health Care and Social Development of Russian Federation (of Ministry of Health and Social Development) developed a policy (#2005-Pr06, 7.9.2006) according to which ethanol-containing substances in pharmacies should be sold in smaller containers: 25 mL instead of 100 mL, which made a purchase of such substances for consumption as alcohol beverage by heavy drinkers less cost-effective.