Alcohol use disorders in Iran: Prevalence, symptoms, correlates, and comorbidity

Methods for calculation of per capita alcohol consumption in a Muslim majority country with a very low drinking level: Findings from the 2011 Iranian mental health survey

“… for partially correcting underreporting of consumption would have the opposite effect in this population; that is lead to even lower estimates of PCC. It is in line with the observation that a large proportion of those with alcohol use in Iran, answer positively when asked about their motivation and experience in cutting down their use . It is similar to what has been reported for other illicit drugs in Iran .…”

“…Because of low prevalence and low frequency of alcohol use in the general population of Iran, we inquired about past week use, instead of yesterday use, which is sometimes recommended as a supplementary question for high prevalence societies, because of quick administration and less recall bias . Estimates of the prevalence of alcohol use, alcohol use disorders and associated factors are published elsewhere .…”

A public health approach to alcohol use and its related harms in Iran

“…In Iran, alcohol consumption, production, and trade are criminalised for Muslim citizens (ie, about 99% of the population); 1 however, bootleg alcohol is common and alcohol consumption is associated with a number of harms (eg, violence, injuries). 2,3 A nation-wide household mental health survey suggested that 5•7% of the adult population had consumed alcohol in the previous year, 3 with a higher prevalence among men, young adults, single adults, urban areas, and some geographical regions. 3,4 Moreover, alcohol poisoning outbreaks due to the consumption of substandard alcoholic drinks are frequent and contribute to alcohol poisoning deaths and hospitalisations across the country.…”

“…2,3 A nation-wide household mental health survey suggested that 5•7% of the adult population had consumed alcohol in the previous year, 3 with a higher prevalence among men, young adults, single adults, urban areas, and some geographical regions. 3,4 Moreover, alcohol poisoning outbreaks due to the consumption of substandard alcoholic drinks are frequent and contribute to alcohol poisoning deaths and hospitalisations across the country. 5 For example, 768 cases of hospitalisation due to methanol poisoning were reported in eight provinces in Iran over the course of 4 weeks in late 2018; among these patients, 170 had dialysis, 16 were blinded, and 96 died.…”

Limitation of Studies on Food Intake and Dietary Pattern in Iran and other Middle East Countries: Lack of Alcohol Intake Assessment

“…Alcohol use is an understudied subject in Iran and other Middle Eastern Countries. A recent study reported that the 12-month prevalence of alcohol use and alcohol-related disorders in Iran is 5.7% and 1%, respectively [ 2 ], which is moderate compared with other Middle Eastern countries [ 3 , 4 ]. Nevertheless, the actual prevalence might be higher, as weak surveillance systems and the religious and legal barriers may have resulted in underestimation of the alcohol consumption.…”