TREATMENT, ALCOHOLICS-ANONYMOUS AND ALCOHOL CONTROLS DURING THE DECREASE IN ALCOHOL-PROBLEMS IN ALBERTA - 1975-1993

In this study, the trends in alcohol consumption, alcohol-related prob lems, alcohol availability and treatment efforts were examined for the province of Alberta, for the period 1975-1993. Most of the trends pre viously observed in Ontario were also observed in Alberta. We found: ( 1) stabilization followed by important declines in per capita consumpt ion of alcohol; (2) large decreases in most measures of problems such as cirrhosis mortality and traffic fatalities related to drinking; (3) increases in treatment and Alcoholics Anonymous membership rates; (4) increases in measures of physical availability of alcohol. One proble m, impaired driving arrest rate, increased substantially during the ye ars examined.