Guest Editor:
Bernie Pauly, RN, PhD, University of Victoria, Canada
Worldwide, alcohol carries a high morbidity and mortality: it is implicated in more than 200 disease and injury conditions with more than 3 million deaths per year (5.3% of the population) (1). Alcohol related harms are exacerbated by health and social inequities (e.g. sex/gender, racism, socio economic disparities). The Covid-19 epidemic has had impacts on use and patterns of drinking as well as related harms. The pragmatism underlying harm reduction for illicit drugs applies equally to alcohol. The field of alcohol harm reduction runs from macro- and meso-level policies to targeted programs and micro-level practices, with a need to understand and inform action to reduce alcohol related morbidity and mortality. Understanding universal and tailored harm reduction responses is important in the wake of Covid-19 and beyond.
In this recent thematic series, we sought to include a broad range of articles providing evidence of macro-, meso- and micro-level alcohol harm reduction policies, programs and practices across the social gradient that aim to enhance population health and the health of groups impacted by health inequities. Research that spans a range of different geographical contexts as well as well as reflecting current issues, policies, programs and practices related to age, gender, sexual orientation and cultural identity were particularly interesting.
Submissions are now closed and were invited until September 2021. For further information, please contact the Editors.