Disordered alcohol and substance use in Irish farmers: A cross-sectional survey.

Autor: O'Connor S; School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland., Malone SM; School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland., Firnhaber J; School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland., O' Shaughnessy BR; School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland., McNamara JG; Teagasc - Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Farm Health and Safety, Knowledge Transfer Unit, Kildalton, Ireland., O'Hagan D; School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association [J Rural Health] 2024 Jan; Vol. 40 (1), pp. 173-180. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Jul 22.
DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12783
Abstrakt: Purpose: Farming is a high-pressure occupation. Populations of farmers face significant health risks, including injury, mental illness, and in some cases, heavy alcohol use. However, there is little research on farmers' use of substances beyond alcohol. This study examines factors relating to Irish farmers' disordered alcohol and substance use.
Methods: In accordance with STROBE guidelines for cross-sectional research and reporting, we examined disordered alcohol and substance use in 351 Irish farmers using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Tool (AUDIT) and Drug Use Disorders Identification Tool (DUDIT).
Findings: While 28% of farmers did not drink, 40% of those who did drink exceeded the AUDIT threshold for disordered use. Similarly, while 95% of farmers did not use substances, 78% of farmers who did use substances exceeded the DUDIT threshold for disordered use. Age was the most important risk factor for disordered alcohol and substance use and correlated with other main risk factors: lower income, no children, part-time farmer, and full-time off-farm roles. Disordered drinking was highest in farmers engaged in full-time education.
Conclusions: This population of Irish farmers report broadly healthy alcohol and substance use behaviors. Irish farmers may serve as a model group whose strengths can be utilized in interventions within and beyond the Irish farming community. Our results confirm the importance of analyzing demographic factors in farmers' drinking and identify younger farmers as especially at-risk for harmful alcohol and substance use.
(© 2023 The Authors. The Journal of Rural Health published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of National Rural Health Association.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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