Alcohol Use Disorders (54) The single most important cause of harm to others? (3)

15 February, 2024

[Re: https://www.hifa.org/dgroups-rss/alcohol-use-disorders-45-single-most-im... ]

Dear Neil,

You have raised some very provocative questions, based on the phrase I included in my first welcome message.

I must confess that I took that phrase from an article (that I cannot locate now, despite having tried hard) and it caught my attention powerfully.

I agree with you that “I can argue” this assertion, but it is very difficult to prove.

I have tried to look for causes of damage to the health of others, even through artificial intelligence, but I have not gotten satisfactory answers.

In addition to the causes you mentioned, there are many other behaviors and consumption that can harm others, such as:

- Environmental pollution, including SHS.

- The spread of Infectious diseases due to not having responsible behaviors such as washing hands, wearing face masks, or not going to work or going to public places when having an infectious process

I hope that some other colleague can provide us with information regarding your questions.

Now, returning to the topic of alcohol, there is no doubt that it is a significant cause of damage to the physical and mental health of others, due to the mechanisms that we have mentioned before. And this is relevant as a reason for the justification of HCP interventions: people with AUD are not just damaging to them, but also to others, including to those they love the most.

Regards,

Eduardo

Dr. Eduardo Bianco

Director, Addiction Training Program for Health Professionals (ATHP)

Email: ebianco@nextgenu.org

Web: NextGenU.org

HIFA profile: Eduardo Bianco is a medical doctor and Cardiologist, Certified Tobacco Cessation Expert with a Masters in Prevention and Treatment of Addictive Disorders. Currently, he is Chair of the World Heart Federation Tobacco Expert Group. Dr. Biancos research examines tobacco control and cessation, and he is a prominent member of several organizations that address tobacco control in Latin America. Dr. Bianco has worked for 25 years in Uruguay and Latin America to promote and train in smoking cessation treatment and tobacco control policies. He is also the former Regional Coordinator for the Americas of the Framework Convention Alliance and former Technical Director of the MOH Center for International Cooperation for Tobacco. ebianco AT nextgenu.org