Alcohol use and self-reported violent events in Chile

The objective is to examine the association between binge drinking and frequency of alcohol consumption during the last month with self-reported episodes of violence committed by people under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. We carried out a cross-sectional study that uses data from the National Survey on Drug Use on the General Population of Chile of 2010. A sample of 16,000 subjects, from 12 to 64 years of age (mean 35.8 years), representing a population of 9,536,602 individuals (49.5% men and 50.5% women) was used. The dependent variables were: being a victim of assault, aggression or sexual violence. The independent variables were: binge drinking (six or more drinks on one occasion at least once in the month) and the monthly frequency of alcohol consumption. The adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) for men reporting binge drinking (vs. negative reporting) was of 1.85 (95% CI: 1.28 to 2.66) for assault, 2.0 for aggression (1.40 to 2.66), and 1.35 for sexual violence (0.43 to 4.23). Among women, the PR was 2.08 (0.97 to 4.50), 1.61 (0.78 to 3.35) and 1.37 times (0.48 to 3.91), respectively. Regarding the frequency of alcohol use, for each day a month of alcohol consumption the PR increases significantly for aggression among men and for the three victimization variables among women. Men and women who reported frequent alcohol consumption and/ or binge drinking had significantly a higher prevalence of episodes of aggression, assault or sexual violence; compared to those who did not report these consumption patterns.