AI Article Synopsis
- Alcohol misuse is a significant problem within the US Armed Services, particularly in the Marine Corps, influenced by various environmental, social, and policy factors that are not often studied.
- A case study examined the relationship between objective community factors (like alcohol sales and availability) and alcohol-related issues at three Marine Corps installations, analyzing data on alcohol services, domestic violence, and DUI arrests.
- Results indicated that younger Marines and those in enlisted pay grades, especially when stationed overseas, experience higher alcohol-related problems, with more on-base sales and a greater density of alcohol-serving establishments correlating with increased misuse; thus, limiting alcohol sales on bases could reduce harm.
Article Abstract
Background: Alcohol misuse has been an ongoing issue for the US Armed Services, with the Marine Corps maintaining the highest levels of problematic drinking. Broad environmental, social, and policy factors play an important role in alcohol misuse but are rarely studied as objective measures.
Methods: This case study used a pattern-matching approach to examine the associations between objective on- and off-base community environmental risk and protective factors and 4 objective alcohol-related outcomes at 3 large Marine Corps installations. The study utilized existing aggregated data from Marine Corps electronic data sources and information from internet searches of installation and community services and characteristics. Installation-level alcohol misuse outcomes included the rates of personnel receiving non-medical alcohol services, combined inpatient and outpatient alcohol-related primary diagnoses, alcohol-related domestic violence, and driving under the influence arrests. Installation-level environmental correlates included dollars spent on alcohol sales, density of alcohol outlets, extent of alternative activities, and installation and off-base sociodemographic factors.
Results: In general, younger age, enlisted pay grade, and being stationed overseas were related with higher rates of alcohol-related problems among Marines. Greater on-base alcohol sales (both in bars and stores), as well as a greater density of restaurants and bars that serve alcohol, were associated with alcohol misuse outcomes. Several community factors were also associated with alcohol misuse. The hypothesized protective effects of alternative activities were inconsistent.
Conclusions: Findings suggest that environmentally-oriented strategies, particularly restricting on-base sales of alcohol, may help to reduce alcohol-related harm in the Marine Corps.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6053706 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5843-5 | DOI Listing |
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