NCJ Number
141554
Journal
Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education Volume: 38 Issue: 2 Dated: (Winter 1993) Pages: 1-13
Date Published
1993
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article examines the relevance of the distribution of consumption model constructed by Sully Ledermann in terms of the Canadian population of heavy drinkers. Implications of his findings and key hypotheses for the community policy agenda are explored.
Abstract
This model uses a unimodal skewed curve to represent the distribution of consumption in a population, showing a positive relationship between the mean of consumption and the proportion of heavy consumers. This work is considered by some to be inaccurate in terms of specific estimates, but it does set the stage for research into how changes in access to alcohol bear on overall rates of alcohol consumption as well as the prevalence of heavy drinkers. Explanations of these relationships have focused on social networks and contagion hypotheses. However, the use by the scientific community of terms including absolute alcohol, range of consumers, and log normal distribution is not readily understood by the laypersons who formulate policy. These authors suggest the scientific community must use educational techniques including imagery, visual props, graphics, and stories to foster the convergence of the products of research and the needs of policy makers. 38 references