Area-Level Social Determinants of Alcohol-Related Mortality: Knowledge Gaps and Implications for Community Health

Katherine J. Karriker-Jaffe, La Sonya A. Goode, Shannon M. Blakey, Jamie L. Humphrey, Pamela A. Williams, Ivette Rodriguez Borja, Jessica Cance, and Georgiy Bobashev

Rates of alcohol-related mortality have been increasing in the United States, particularly for certain population subgroups, such as women. This review summarizes associations of area-level social determinants of health with alcohol-related mortality. These determinants, measured at the community, county, or state level, include alcohol control policies, health care availability, and a community’s socioeconomic environment. The findings suggest that alcohol control policies and socioeconomic conditions have a major impact on alcohol-related deaths. They also highlight numerous remaining research gaps to better understand why some population subgroups are at higher risk of alcohol misuse and alcohol-related deaths. Additional research may further help identify new strategies to reduce alcohol-related mortality, such as ameliorating the impact of racism and discrimination and strengthening community prevention programs and social services.

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