Lifetime Burden of Alcohol-Attributable Disease
To estimate lifetime burden of alcohol-attributable
disease, current mortality and morbidity for each condition
were multiplied by published estimates of each
condition’s alcohol-attributable fraction (AAF) as documented
in Appendix A (available online at www.ajpmonline.
net). Mortality and morbidity have been reduced
by screening and counseling practices. In order
to estimate the total value of the service, the burden of
deaths and illness that would have happened in the
absence of screening was predicted first. Current mortality
was influenced by the portion of the population
screened and counseled, the effectiveness of counseling
in changing behavior, and the effect of changing
behavior in reducing burden. The estimates for these
variables are described elsewhere in this section. In the
Healthcare for Communities Survey, 8.7% of problem
drinkers reported having been asked about drinking
and receiving assistance beyond simple quit advice.