IMPACT OF BANNING ALCOHOL ON OUTPATIENT VISITS IN BARROW, ALASKA

Context.-Community availability of alcohol affects alcohol consumption patterns and alcohol-related health and social problems. In Barrow, A laska, an isolated community at the northernmost reaches of the United States, during a 33-month period, possession and importation of alcoh ol were legal, completely banned, made legal again, and then banned ag ain. Objective.-To determine the impact of these public policy changes on alcohol-related outpatient visits at the area hospital. Design.-Re trospective review of outpatient records; time-series analysis of alco hol-related visits with respect to community alcohol policy. Main Outc ome Measures.-Total monthly outpatient visits for alcohol-related prob lems. Results.-There was a substantial decrease in the number of alcoh ol-related outpatient visits when the ban on possession and importatio n was imposed compared with baseline. When the ban was lifted, outpati ent visits increased; when the ban was reimposed, the number of outpat ient visits again decreased. Interrupted time-series analyses confirm that the alcohol ban, its lifting, and its reimposition had a statisti cally significant and negative effect on the number of alcohol-related outpatient visits (P<.05). Conclusion.-In a geographically isolated c ommunity, the prohibition of alcohol can be an effective public health intervention, reducing the health problems associated with alcohol us e.