Suicide, Violence and Child Abuse: A Review of the Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Social Problems

Abstract

The literature on empirical studies of alcohol consumption and its impact on three categories of social problems—suicide, violence, and child abuse—is reviewed. A large literature on alcohol consumption and its impact on suicide and violence comprises empirical studies applying various methods and designs. The rather consistent findings across these studies show that more drinking is associated with a higher risk of experiencing suicidal behavior or violence. Moreover, frequent intoxication seems to be a key factor in alcohol's role in suicide and violence. The empirical studies on alcohol consumption and child abuse are less extensive, the findings are less consistent in demonstrating an association, and many studies have been met with methodological criticism. This is clearly an area where more research, applying various and strong designs, is needed. More knowledge on how and why alcohol consumption is associated with these social problems should also be among future research challenges.