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Effects on alcohol related fatal crashes of a community based initiative to increase substance abuse treatment and reduce alcohol availability

Boston University School of Public Health and Center to Prevent Alcohol-related Problems Among Young People, Boston, MA, USA

Correspondence to:
Professor R Hingson
Boston University School of Public Health and Center to Prevent Alcohol-related Problems Among Young People, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118; rhingson{at}mail.nih.gov

Objective: This analysis tested whether comprehensive community interventions that focus on reducing alcohol availability and increasing substance abuse treatment can reduce alcohol related fatal traffic crashes.

Intervention: Five of 14 communities awarded Fighting Back grants by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to reduce substance abuse and related problems attempted to reduce availability of alcohol and expand substance abuse treatment programs (FBAT communities). Program implementation began on 1 January 1992.

Design: A quasi-experimental design matched each program community to two or three other communities of similar demographic composition in the same state.

Main outcome measures: The ratio of fatal crashes involving a driver or pedestrian with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.01% or higher, 0.08% or higher, or 0.15% or higher were examined relative to fatal crashes where no alcohol was involved for 10 years preceding and 10 years following program initiation.

Results: Relative to their comparison communities, the five FBAT communities experienced significant declines of 22% in alcohol related fatal crashes at 0.01% BAC or higher, 20% at 0.08% or higher, and 17% at 0.15% or higher relative to fatal crashes not involving alcohol.

Conclusions: Community interventions to reduce alcohol availability and increase substance abuse treatment can reduce alcohol related fatal traffic crashes.

Abbreviations: BAC, blood alcohol concentration; FARS, Fatality Analysis Reporting System; FB, Fighting Back; RWJF, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Keywords: alcohol availability; alcohol related traffic fatalities; coalitions; substance abuse treatment