Dickinson-Iron County Critical Health Indicators
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Alcohol Deaths
What Is It?
Alcohol-induced mortality includes deaths due to alcohol psychoses, alcohol dependence syndrome, non-dependent abuse of alcohol, alcohol-induced chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, and alcohol poisoning. It does not include deaths due to traumatic injury, such as motor vehicle crashes.
The health effects of alcohol abuse and dependency are significant. These effects are difficult to measure directly because the health problems associated with alcohol are often also associated with other diseases. In addition, the social stigma associated with alcohol abuse may lead to denial of alcohol abuse or dependency as a causal factor. One measure of the impact of alcohol abuse on health is the extent of alcohol-induced deaths.
How are Dickinson and Iron Counties doing?
Dickinson and Iron Counties have a combined alcohol-induced mortality rate that was fewer than 20 deaths per 100,000 population in 1998.
Click on the map below to show the County specific rates.
How is the State of Michigan doing?
In 1998, there were 641 deaths induced by alcohol in Michigan. The age-adjusted rate for alcohol-induced mortality was 5.6 deaths per 100,000 population. This represents a 34 percent reduction in the rate of death since 1989.
Related Link: Age-adjusted and Age-specific Alcohol-induced Mortality Rates by Race and Sex, Michigan Residents, 1989-1998.
How do Dickinson and Iron Counties compare with Michigan and the U.S.?
Our statistics appear to be under the Michigan and U.S. rates. However, just north of us, Marquette County has the states highest alcohol-induced mortality rate at 9.5 deaths per 100,000 population, nearly double the state average. Michigan's 1998 age-adjusted alcohol-induced mortality rate of 5.6 was similar to the U.S. rate of 6.1.
How are different populations affected?
The prevalence of problem drinking is highest in the 18-29 year-old age group. The rate of alcohol-induced deaths peaks for 55-64 year-old (20.2 in 1998) and then tapers off.
In 1998, the rate of alcohol-induced deaths in Michigan was 70 percent higher for African Americans (9.0) than for whites (5.2).
Michigan men (9.0) were over three times more likely than women (2.5) to die of alcohol-induced causes. However, women develop cirrhosis of the liver at a much lower cumulative dose of alcohol than do men and women remain at increased risk of disease progression even after abstinence. The death rate among women alcoholics is higher than among male alcoholics because of their increased risk for suicide, alcohol-related accidents, cirrhosis, and hepatitis.
What other information is important to know?
Alcohol contributes to approximately 100,000 U.S. deaths annually, making it the third leading cause of preventable mortality after tobacco and diet and activity patterns.
The victims of alcohol abuse and dependency extend far beyond the individuals who actually engage in the behavior. Alcohol abuse and dependency is associated with infant mortality and morbidity, traffic fatalities, domestic violence, and many other health conditions that lead to disability and death.
What are the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department and the Michigan Department of
Community Health doing to affect this indicator?
The Dickinson-Iron District Health Department co-coordinates a very active community coalition to reduce adolescent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use as well as promoting Healthy Lifestyles through Youth Asset Development. The Dickinson-Iron Healthy Youth Coalition meets monthly with the service providers, youth and the public. Experts on substance abuse prevention and other human service issues provide information and/or presentations to the coalition. In addition, all participants are asked to discuss their prevention activities in a program sharing format at meetings. This has resulted in an increase in the sharing of financial resources, staff time, and information as well as an opportunity to assist each other and collaborate on similar projects. The coalition funded through the Michigan Abstinence Partnership also serves as a key distributor of prevention information. Additionally, in 2000, the Coalition salvaged a MCRUD (Michigan Coalition to Reduce Under-age Drinking) grant and has become the Coalition of record for youth alcohol prevention activities.. Over 15,000 educational items were given out at public events in 2000.
The DIHYC held a MCRUD summit in December of 2000 with over 125 youth from all six school districts brainstorming youth alcohol related issues and developing a priority list of solutions that will guide the next few years of local MCRUD activities. This past fiscal year the Coalition through a MCRUD grant was able to assist SADD junior high chapters in start-up activities including a two county kick-off attended by over 100 advisors and youth. Other activities included developing a speakers bureau to staff a floating MCRUD booth for presence at community events. Teen dances and coffee house situations staffed by a counselor are planned for the next year. Additionally, funds are allocated to meet with Peer Educators on a regular basis.
The State of Michigan has initiated a new advertising campaign which is aimed at educating college students on the dangers of binge drinking. A campus mentoring program emphasizes an alcohol and drug-free approach to campus life. Northern Michigan University located 75 miles North is participating with this effort which will impact on a large number of our youth that attend NMU.
The Michigan Department of Community Health collects data on the frequency of consumption of alcoholic beverages, binge drinking, and drinking and driving by Michigan adults. This information is obtained through the Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and other research activities.
What are the communities of Dickinson and Iron Counties doing to affect this indicator?
The problems associated with alcohol has plagued society for millenniums! It requires constant diligence in preventing the problems from escalating. It takes the entire community to reduce these problems. Fortunately for residents of Dickinson and Iron Counties, a wide variety of prevention and treatment programs are available. Prevention programs begin for our children very early. School District's Michigan Model for Comprehensive School Health Education and Safe & Drug Free Schools Programs have been providing quality prevention services for students, parents and educators.
Police agencies continue to work with alcohol retailers to reduce underage purchases of alcohol.
There are also a wide variety of treatment programs available for individuals from prenatal care/Fetal Alcohol Prevention to Alcoholic Anonymous programs for seniors. The following programs are available:
The Dickinson-Iron Resource Directory can be found on-line for complete information on local alcohol treatment, assessment, etc. Contact the Dickinson Community Resource Center at 779-0075.
Fetal Alcohol Prevention and Diagnostic Services: Marquette General Hospital Behavioral Health at 225-3994 or 225-3985. MGH also has a wide variety of alcohol and drug treatment programs.
There are also several private providers of treatment and counseling services. They can also be located in the yellow pages or Resource Directory.
For local AA meetings, look in the yellow pages or Resource Directory.