TREATMENT, ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS AND ALCOHOL CONTROLS DURING THE DECREASE IN ALCOHOL PROBLEMS IN ALBERTA: 1975–1993.

In this study, the trends in alcohol consumption, alcohol-related problems, alcohol availability and treatment efforts were examined for the province of Alberta, for the period 1975–1993. Most of the trends previously observed in Ontario were also observed in Alberta. We found: (1) stabilization followed by important declines in per capita consumption of alcohol; (2) large decreases in most measures of problems such as cirrhosis mortality and traffic fatalities related to drinking; (3) increases in treatment and Alcoholics Anonymous membership rates; (4) increases in measures of physical availability of alcohol. One problem, impaired driving arrest rate, increased substantially during the years examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]