ALCOHOL, GENDER, AND CULTURE:ALCOHOL, GENDER, AND CULTURE:Why are they important for policy?Why are they important for policy?

Sharon C. Wilsnack, Ph.D.Sharon C. Wilsnack, Ph.D.

University of North Dakota School of Medicine University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences& Health Sciences

Grand Forks, North Dakota, USAGrand Forks, North Dakota, USA

I Pan American Conference on Alcohol PoliciesI Pan American Conference on Alcohol Policies Brasilia, BrazilBrasilia, Brazil

November 29, 2005November 29, 2005

ALCOHOL, GENDER, AND CULTURE:ALCOHOL, GENDER, AND CULTURE:Why are they important for policy?Why are they important for policy?

Sharon C. Wilsnack, Ph.D.Sharon C. Wilsnack, Ph.D.

University of North Dakota School of Medicine University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences& Health Sciences

Grand Forks, North Dakota, USAGrand Forks, North Dakota, USA

I Pan American Conference on Alcohol PoliciesI Pan American Conference on Alcohol Policies Brasilia, BrazilBrasilia, Brazil

November 29, 2005November 29, 2005

GOALS OF PRESENTATIONGOALS OF PRESENTATIONGOALS OF PRESENTATIONGOALS OF PRESENTATION

• Why are gender and culture Why are gender and culture important for alcohol policy?important for alcohol policy?

GOALS OF PRESENTATIONGOALS OF PRESENTATIONGOALS OF PRESENTATIONGOALS OF PRESENTATION

• Why are gender and culture Why are gender and culture important for alcohol policy?important for alcohol policy?

• Brief history of GENACIS and Brief history of GENACIS and Multicentric StudyMulticentric Study

GOALS OF PRESENTATIONGOALS OF PRESENTATIONGOALS OF PRESENTATIONGOALS OF PRESENTATION

• Why are gender and culture Why are gender and culture important for alcohol policy?important for alcohol policy?

• Brief history of GENACIS and Brief history of GENACIS and Multicentric StudyMulticentric Study

• A few examples from Latin AmericaA few examples from Latin America

GENACISGENACIS

GenGender, der, AAlcohol, and lcohol, and CCulture: Anulture: AnIInternational nternational SStudytudy

With funding from: the European Union, With funding from: the European Union, the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the World Health Abuse and Alcoholism, the World Health Organization, and the Pan American Organization, and the Pan American Health Organization.Health Organization.

BUILDING ON PAST EXPERIENCE, BUILDING ON PAST EXPERIENCE, GENACIS USES . . .GENACIS USES . . .BUILDING ON PAST EXPERIENCE, BUILDING ON PAST EXPERIENCE, GENACIS USES . . .GENACIS USES . . .

• • New SurveysNew Surveys

• • Similar MethodsSimilar Methods

• • Comparable Comparable QuestionsQuestions

GENACIS SURVEYS CONDUCTED GENACIS SURVEYS CONDUCTED IN 36 COUNTRIESIN 36 COUNTRIES

(Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belize, Brazil, (Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland,

Isle of Man, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Isle of Man, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua,

Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Russia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Russia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda, UK, Uruguay, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda, UK, Uruguay,

USA)USA)

Multicentric Study of Gender, Multicentric Study of Gender, Alcohol, Culture and Harm: New Alcohol, Culture and Harm: New surveys insurveys in

Multicentric Study of Gender, Multicentric Study of Gender, Alcohol, Culture and Harm: New Alcohol, Culture and Harm: New surveys insurveys in

• BelizeBelize

• BrazilBrazil

• NicaraguaNicaragua

• PeruPeru

• BelizeBelize

• BrazilBrazil

• NicaraguaNicaragua

• PeruPeru

DRINKING PATTERNS IN FIVE DRINKING PATTERNS IN FIVE LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIESLATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES DRINKING PATTERNS IN FIVE DRINKING PATTERNS IN FIVE

LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIESLATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES

COUNTRY DATA FROM . . .COUNTRY DATA FROM . . . COUNTRY DATA FROM . . .COUNTRY DATA FROM . . .

Argentina:Argentina: Myriam Munné Myriam Munné

Brazil:Brazil: Florence Kerr-Corr Florence Kerr-Corrêêaa

Costa Rica:Costa Rica: Julio Julio BejaranoBejarano

Mexico:Mexico: Maria-ElenaMaria-Elena Medina-Mora Medina-Mora & Martha Romero & Martha Romero

Uruguay:Uruguay: Raquel Magri Raquel Magri

USA:USA: Thomas Greenfield Thomas Greenfield

CAUTIONCAUTION::

Some surveys represent regions, Some surveys represent regions, some entire countrysome entire country

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

• Gender and culture strong influences on Gender and culture strong influences on alcohol use/abusealcohol use/abuse

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

• Gender and culture strong influences on Gender and culture strong influences on alcohol use/abusealcohol use/abuse

• Gender- and culture-specific analyses help Gender- and culture-specific analyses help to identify:to identify:

* High-risk groups for prevention efforts* High-risk groups for prevention efforts * Potential strategies for prevention and * Potential strategies for prevention and

policy policy

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS• Gender and culture strong influences on Gender and culture strong influences on

alcohol use/abusealcohol use/abuse• Gender- and culture-specific analyses help Gender- and culture-specific analyses help

to identify:to identify: * High-risk groups for prevention efforts* High-risk groups for prevention efforts * Potential strategies for prevention and * Potential strategies for prevention and

policy policy

• PAHO’s Multicentric Study a valuable PAHO’s Multicentric Study a valuable resource for alcohol policy development in resource for alcohol policy development in the Americasthe Americas

THANK YOUTHANK YOUTHANK YOUTHANK YOU

Ben Taylor Ben Taylor Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Toronto, Ontario, CanadaToronto, Ontario, Canada

Arlinda KristjansonArlinda KristjansonUniversity of North Dakota University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences School of Medicine & Health Sciences Grand Forks, ND, USAGrand Forks, ND, USA

Contact InformationContact InformationContact InformationContact Information

Sharon C. Wilsnack Sharon C. Wilsnack (swilsnac@medicine.nodak.edu)(swilsnac@medicine.nodak.edu)

Department of Clinical NeuroscienceDepartment of Clinical NeuroscienceUniversity of North DakotaUniversity of North DakotaSchool of Medicine & Health SciencesSchool of Medicine & Health SciencesP.O. Box 9037P.O. Box 9037Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037USAUSA