P01-332 - An update: prevalence of Alcohol use and Related Problems in Belarus

Abstract

This study reviews recent data on the rate of alcohol use and related problems in the general population in Belarus. In recent times the rate of alcohol use and related problems like liver diseases, psychoses, etc are on a significant increase. It has been suggested that the increase in the rate of problems associated with alcohol use in this country is partly due to the behavioral peculiarities of young and middle adults. Current epidemiological data show that over 90% of the young and middle adult population use alcohol. The data of the adult population is rather contradictory. Some surveys show a greater proportion of the adults (age >50 yrs) population engaged in drinking, compared to the young and middle adults. Others show lower prevalence. Our analysis shows that, although alcohol use in significantly high in the adult population, it is still lower compared to the young and middle adults. Problems of alcohol use are also lower among the adults by a significant margin. These differences might be due to the peculiarities of socialization, as well as neurobiological mechanisms underlying age-related changes with alcohol use in the different population groups.