Alcohol Control and Injury Death in Alaska Native Communities: wet, Damp and dry Under Alaska’s Local Option Law

This article tests whether different forms of community-level alcohol control significantly affect injury deaths in a population with extremely high injury mortality. Death rates in 97 Alaskan communities that passed restrictions between 1980-1993 were compared to rates in the same communities during periods when no restrictions were in place. Injury death rates were generally lower during periods when alcohol was restricted. More restrictive controls significantly reduced homicides; less restrictive control options reduced suicides. Implications of the study findings are discussed. (23 refs.)