Epidemiology of Alcohol Problems in Small Geographic Areas

The study of small geographic areas is a relatively recent addition to alcohol epidemiological research. Epidemiology has given us a great deal of information about alcohol use problems nationally, but the global understanding of alcohol problems from national studies does not always convey the information needed by local communities to understand their problems. A symposium was convened to explore ways in which existing epidemiological research methods could be adapted or new methodologies developed to look at alcohol problems locally as well as nationally. This monograph derives from this symposium. It will help people understand how data from such studies can be used to reduce the burden of alcohol problems in their jurisdictions.