Drug and alcohol review
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Drug and alcohol review · Mar 2018
CommentAccuracy of alcohol and breast cancer risk information on Drinkaware's website.
A recent paper in Drug and Alcohol Review analysed the information on cancer disseminated by 27 alcohol industry funded organisations. The independent UK alcohol education charity Drinkaware was among the organisations whose information was studied, and based on the analysis claims were made of misrepresentation of evidence about the alcohol-related risk of cancer and alcohol industry influence. ⋯ Furthermore, it is argued that the public has a right to be provided with relevant evidence-based information about cancer risk. It is critical that Drinkaware's important public health function is not compromised by unjustified allegations of inaccuracy and by unwarranted attacks on its independence and integrity.
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Drug and alcohol review · Mar 2018
Smokeless tobacco consumption and stillbirth: Population-based case-control study in rural Bangladesh.
To investigate the association between smokeless tobacco consumption (STC) during pregnancy and risk of stillbirth. ⋯ STC during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of stillbirth. This finding adds to the urgency of need for smokeless tobacco control strategies to be implemented in South Asia. [Hossain MS, Kypri K, Rahman B,Milton AH. Smokeless tobacco consumption and stillbirth: Population-based case-control study in rural Bangladesh.
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Drug and alcohol review · Mar 2018
How alcohol industry organisations mislead the public about alcohol and cancer.
Alcohol consumption increases the risk of several types of cancer, including several common cancers. As part of their corporate social responsibility activities, the alcohol industry (AI) disseminates information about alcohol and cancer. We examined the information on this which the AI disseminates to the public through its 'social aspects and public relations organizations' and related bodies. The aim of the study was to determine its comprehensiveness and accuracy. ⋯ The AI appears to be engaged in the extensive misrepresentation of evidence about the alcohol-related risk of cancer. These activities have parallels with those of the tobacco industry. This finding is important because the industry is involved in developing alcohol policy in many countries, and in disseminating health information to the public, including schoolchildren. Policymakers, academics, public health and other practitioners should reconsider the appropriateness of their relationships to these AI bodies.