The use of AUDIT as a screening tool for alcohol use in the police work-place
Open accessAbstract
Abstract There has been little research examining the use of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) as a work‐place screening tool. In the current study a large scale sample (n = 4193) of police personnel completed the 10 AUDIT questions and two readiness‐to‐change questions. The sample represented 67% of all members of an Australian State Police organization. Analysis of AUDIT scores showed that 65% of the sample scored in the low risk of hazardous alcohol consumption range, 32% (33% of males and 24% of females) scored in the at risk for harmful alcohol consumption range and 3% scored in the range indicating risk of alcohol dependence. Age emerged as a clear risk factor of hazardous drinking patterns. The 18–25‐year age group recorded higher average alcohol consumption, higher rates of risk of abnormal drinking behaviour, higher rates of adverse consequences from drinking alcohol and higher total AUDIT scores than other age groups. This was consistent for both males and females. Of those scoring in the at‐risk range, 72.5% reported that they did not have a drinking problem. Sixty percent also reported that it would be easy to stop drinking. This study exemplifies how the AUDIT can be used to provide strong evidence for the need for work‐based intervention programmes. Further, it can be used to target particular groups within the organization at risk of harmful alcohol use.
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Between one-third and two-thirds of emergency responders report engaging in hazardous alcohol use, which is associated with other mental health challenges and with sleep problems in this population.
“between one-third and two-thirds of emergency responders report engaging in hazardous alcohol use, which is associated with each of these other mental health challenges and with sleep problems in this population (19–21).”
From Pilot outcomes and exploration of treatment mechanisms using a culturally adapted version of the unified protocol for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders to improve mental health symptoms, alcohol misuse, functional outcomes, and sleep quality in emergency responders (2025) · cites this paper as [19]
The paper reports that 35% of its Australian police sample was at risk of harmful alcohol consumption (Readiness to Change; page unavailable), supporting the lower end of the stated range for police personnel. It does not establish that range for emergency responders generally or report an association between hazardous drinking and mental health challenges or sleep problems. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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- Authors
- DAVEY, J. D., OBST, P. L., & SHEEHAN, M. C.
- Affiliations
- Queensland University of Technology (AU)
- Corresponding author
- DAVEY, JEREMY D.
- Venue
- Drug and Alcohol Review
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2000-03
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 49-54
- ISSN
- 0959-5236 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-3362
- OpenAlex
- W2130854608
- Cited by
- 56
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 2.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Drug and Alcohol Review (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Workplace Health and Well-being
- Keywords
- Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, auditing, workplace alcohol screening, police officers, hazardous drinking, alcoholism, readiness to change, age as risk factor, gender differences in drinking, alcohol use disorder screening
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