Alcohol and suicide in Belarus

Abstract

Background: It is well recognized that both acute and chronic alcohol use arc among the major behaviorally modifiable factors that are associated with suicidal behavior. There is suggestive evidence that binge drinking pattern, i.e. excessive consumption of strong spirits results in quicker and deeper level of intoxication, increasing the propensity for alcohol-related suicide. Although alcohol seems to be an important contributor to the burden of violent mortality in Belarus, little systematic research has been undertaken on its impact on suicide mortality in this country. The aim of the present study was to address this particular deficit by using aggregate-level data on the suicide and alcohol poisoning rates from 1979 to 2007. Subjects and methods: Trends in suicides and alcohol poisoning mortality rate (as a proxy for binge drinking) from 1979 to 2007 were analyzed employing an ARIMA analysis in order to assess bivariate relationship between the two time series. Results: According to Bureau of Forensic Medicine autopsy reports the suicide rate increased by 41.2%, and fatal alcohol poisoning rate increased 2.1 times in Belarus. Alcohol in blood was found in 62% suicide victims for the whole period, with the minimum figure 49.3% in 1988 and maximum 68.5% in 1981. Alcohol-related suicides were more affected by the restriction of alcohol availability during the anti-alcohol campaign: between 1984 and 1986 the number of BAC-positive suicide cases drop by 54.2%, while number of BAC-negative suicides decreased by 7.1%). The results of time-series analysis indicated a statistically significant relationship between fatal alcohol poisoning rate and total suicides number, as well as number of BAC-positive suicides. Conclusion: The results of the present study, as well as findings from other settings indicate that a restrictive alcohol policy can he considered as an effective measure of suicide prevention in countries where rates of both alcohol consumption and suicide are high.