U.S. alcohol-related deaths have doubled, study says

Post by theatraine » Tue, Jan 14, 2020, 12:18 AM UTC

DanBC wrote: post #275

samcodes wrote: post #273

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought the latest studies hypothesized that there was a hidden variable - social interaction. Moderate drinkers were more likely to have consistent social interaction, which is strongly correlated with positive outcomes - enough to cancel out the negative health effects from drinking.

I agree with you. Here's a recent well run study, in a respected journal, paid for by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6... > Alcohol use is a leading risk factor for global disease burden and causes substantial health loss. We found that the risk of all-cause mortality, and of cancers specifically, rises with increasing levels of consumption, and the level…

This study uses an inscrutable statistical model to arrive at this conclusion. On the other hand I have yet to see an epidemiological study that shows abstaining results in a lower hazard ratio than moderate drinking.

Consider the following study: https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736... This study only calculates HRs between current drinkers, finding that the lowest mortality rates occur below 100g/week of alcohol. The issues with the conclusions of this study (issues which are apparent in many other alcohol studies) are addressed in the follow-up here: https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736...

I'm sure that similar issues exist with "Alcohol use and burden for 195 countries and territories" but the statistical model is too complicated to really see what's going on. I agree that at a population level alcohol is bad for longevity but at an individual level there seems to exist no evidence to suggest that moderate drinking is.

Post by mirimir » Thu, Jan 23, 2020, 7:36 AM UTC

wallace_f wrote: post #298

acjohnson55 wrote: post #293

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep. I can't be totally sure the extent to which I've unpacked my issues versus improved my ability to mask them. I'm positive I do both, but a great deal of good fortune means that I'll have to wait for the inevitable dark times to find out.

Very true. In fact, I doubt few people would be content being alone with themselves and their thoughts and nothing to distract them.

I reread Burroughs when I get like that. From Wild Boys, in the chapter "Dead Child":

I held out my hands no more power left in them head against a tree it was cold on my eyes moon that night solid I could touch almost couldn't get the leg was broken and teeth tore past the bones at me begging for help pictures all cut up knife had fallen I lay there my pieces moved and shifted against a tree I spit up from my stomach green when day came and mist steamed up to the top of the high tree just under the leaves at the top and looking down I could see my body lying there the leg all twisted and the face caved in lips drawn back showing teeth I could see and hear but I couldn't talk without a throat without a tongue sun moon and stars on the face down there worms in the leg weeds growing through the bones.

Re: U.S. alcohol-related deaths have doubled, study says

Re: U.S. alcohol-related deaths have doubled, study says