Resumo

CORTES AMADOR, Ernesto. Theoretical and methodological contributions to assess the health impact associated with the harmful use of alcohol. Rev. costarric. salud pública [online]. 2012, vol.21, n.1, pp.23-30. ISSN 1409-1429.

Harmful use of alcohol is associated with more than sixty chronic and acute health conditions, and is one of the main risk factors for morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in the American continent. Objective: This paper intends to shed light on morbidity and mortality associated with alcohol use, and to propose a measurement methodology for Costa Rican society, as part of an effort to construct an epidemiological surveillance system regarding harmful use of alcohol. Main thesis: In Costa Rica there is a variety of evidence and information sources to measure the impact of alcohol on public health, but there are still gaps in the quality of the produced data, which hinders analysis. Conclusion: It is clear that alcohol has a great impact on public health in the Costa Rica population, especially on men, both for young adults with acute conditions and the elderly due to chronic illness.

Palavras-chave : alcoholism; alcohol drinking; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Alcohol-Induced Disorders; epidemiology.

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