Election bans and alcohol banes: The impact of elections on treatment referrals at a tertiary addiction treatment facility in India

Venkata Lakshmi Narasimha; Diptadhi Mukherjee; Lekhansh Shukla; Vivek Benegal; Pratima Murthy

doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2018.10.019

Election bans and alcohol banes: The impact of elections on treatment referrals at a tertiary addiction treatment facility in India

Asian J Psychiatr. 2018 Dec:38:27-28. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2018.10.019. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Authors

Venkata Lakshmi Narasimha¹, Diptadhi Mukherjee¹, Lekhansh Shukla¹, Vivek Benegal¹, Pratima Murthy²

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Addiction Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Hosur road, Bengaluru 560029, India.
² Centre for Addiction Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Hosur road, Bengaluru 560029, India. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 30388459
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2018.10.019

Abstract

Pattern of alcohol use and its related complications is determined by multiple factors. We studied the effects of sudden ban of alcohol during elections in a state of India. We found that unexpected election bans could lead to severe complications in alcohol dependent individuals. Impact of sudden policy changes needs to be thought prior to implementation.

Keywords: Alcohol; Election; India.

MeSH terms

Adult
Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology*
Alcohol Drinking / legislation & jurisprudence*
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / epidemiology
Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures / epidemiology
Alcoholic Beverages / supply & distribution*
Alcoholism / epidemiology*
Humans
India / epidemiology
Male
Politics*
Referral and Consultation / statistics & numerical data
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / epidemiology*
Tertiary Care Centers / statistics & numerical data