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Cited by 74Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesGlobal Public Health Policies and Epidemiology

Alcohol Policies and Suicide: A Review of the Literature

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Xuan, Ziming, Naimi, Timothy S., Kaplan, Mark S., Bagge, Courtney L., Few, Lauren R., Maisto, Stephen, Saitz, Richard, Freeman, Robert·2016·Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
DOI 10.1111/acer.13203PMC PMC5048547
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Abstract

Both intoxication and chronic heavy alcohol use are associated with suicide. There is extensive population‐level evidence linking per capita alcohol consumption with suicide. While alcohol policies can reduce excessive alcohol consumption, the relationship between alcohol policies and suicide warrants a critical review of the literature. This review summarizes the associations between various types of alcohol policies and suicide, both in the United States and internationally, as presented in English‐language literature published between 1999 and 2014. Study designs, methodological challenges, and limitations in ascertaining the associations are discussed. Because of the substantial between‐states variation in alcohol policies, U.S. ‐based studies contributed substantially to the literature. Repeated cross‐sectional designs at both the ecological level and decedent level were common among U.S. ‐based studies. Non‐U.S. studies often used time series data to evaluate pre–post comparisons of a hybrid set of policy changes. Although inconsistency remained, the published literature in general supported the protective effect of restrictive alcohol policies on reducing suicide as well as the decreased level of alcohol involvement among suicide decedents. Common limitations included measurement and selection bias and a focus on effects of a limited number of alcohol policies without accounting for other alcohol policies. This review summarizes a number of studies that suggest restrictive alcohol policies may contribute to suicide prevention on a general population level and to a reduction of alcohol involvement among suicide deaths.

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  • Ecologic studies indicate that restrictive alcohol policies contribute to lower suicide rates.

    “Ecologic studies, which can explain time trends within countries, suggest a contribution of restrictive alcohol policies in lowering suicide rates.5”

    From Suicide (2020) · cites this paper as [5]

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Babor T Caetano R Casswell S Edwards G Giesbrecht N Graham K Grube J Hill L Holder H Homel R Livingston M Österberg E Rehm J Room R Rossow I Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity—Research and Public Policy, revised 2010 Oxford, UK Oxford Univeristy Press
  2. Cook P Cook P Alcohol Control as Injury Prevention Paying the Tab: The Costs and Benefits of Alcohol 2007 Princeton, New Jersey Princeton University Press 82 106
  3. Lester D Maris R Berman A Silverman M Alcoholism, substance abuse, and suicide Comprehensive Textbook of Suicidology 2000 New York The Guildford Press 357 375

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Authors
Xuan, Z., Naimi, T. S., Kaplan, M. S., Bagge, C. L., Few, L. R., Maisto, S., Saitz, R., & Freeman, R.
Affiliations
  • Boston University (US)
  • Boston Medical Center (US)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
  • University of Mississippi Medical Center (US)
  • Washington University in St. Louis (US)
  • Syracuse University (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Xuan, Ziming
ORCID
Venue
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2016-09-12
Volume
40
Issue
10
Pages
2043-2055
ISSN
  • 0145-6008 (ISSN-L)
  • 1530-0277
DOI
10.1111/acer.13203
PMC
PMC5048547
OpenAlex
W2519087697
Cited by
74
References
71
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 3
FWCI
0.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health/NIAAA (AA023376, AA020063, AA021791, AA023693, AA16928, AA020784, AA021335)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology
Keywords
alcohol policy, suicide, alcohol consumption, suicide prevention, per capita alcohol consumption, alcohol policy evaluation, measurement bias, selection bias
MeSH terms
Suicide Prevention, Alcohol Drinking, Health Policy, Humans

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