Patient and Public Risks of Powdered Alcohol: A Citywide Case Study to Prevent Abuse
Authors: Katherine E. Warren, Shirli Tay, Leana S. Wen
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2016)

Ideas and Opinions17 May 2016Patient and Public Risks of Powdered Alcohol: A Citywide Case Study to Prevent AbuseKatherine E. Warren, BA, Shirli Tay, BA, and Leana S. Wen, MD, MScKatherine E. Warren, BAFrom the Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore, Maryland.Search for more papers by this author, Shirli Tay, BAFrom the Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore, Maryland.Search for more papers by this author, and Leana S. Wen, MD, MScFrom the Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore, Maryland.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M15-2291 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail From the quadrupling of heroin-related overdoses to the alarming rise in synthetic drug use, the past decade has sparked paradigmatic change for substance use and addiction. In March 2015, federal approval of the sale of powdered alcohol paved the way for marketing and distribution of Palcohol (Lipsmark) in the United States. Although its public health implications have been reviewed elsewhere (1), less attention has been paid to its potential effect on clinical practice, patient care, and local regulation. This article presents a case study from Baltimore, Maryland, on the efforts of physician and public health coalitions to restrict access to ...References1. Naimi TS, Mosher JF. Powdered alcohol products: new challenge in an era of needed regulation. JAMA. 2015;314:119-20. [PMID: 26075642] doi:10.1001/jama.2015.6450 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Schmidt S. State alcohol regulation shifts. Presented at 2014 National Conference of State Legislatures Fall Forum, Washington, DC, 11 December 2014. Accessed at www.ncsl.org/Portals/1/Documents/forum/Forum_2014/Powdered_Alcohol_Dec2014.pdf on 11 December 2015. Google Scholar3. Palcohol. Lipsmark. 2016. Accessed at www.palcohol.com on 8 September 2015. Google Scholar4. Choi C. Powdered alcohol gets green light from feds. The Huffington Post. 11 March 2015. Accessed at www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/11/powdered-alcohol-gets-fed_n_6846776.html on 15 January 2016. Google Scholar5. Harrington PM, Jones SK. Getting serious about Palcohol: powdered alcohol. The National Law Forum. 31 August 2015. Accessed at http://nationallawforum.com/2015/08/31/getting-serious-about-palcohol-powdered-alcohol on 8 September 2015. Google Scholar6. Metzner C, Kraus L. The impact of alcopops on adolescent drinking: a literature review. Alcohol Alcohol. 2008;43:230-9. [PMID: 17942436] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Stogner J, Baldwin JM, Brown T, Chick T. Perceptions of powdered alcohol and intentions to use: an exploratory qualitative assessment of potential Palcohol use by young adults. Beverages. 2015;1:329-40. CrossrefGoogle Scholar8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fact sheets—underage drinking. 12 November 2015. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/underage-drinking.htm on 15 January 2016. Google Scholar9. Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. 2013 Maryland Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Annapolis, MD: Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. 18 June 2014. Accessed at http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/OIDPCS/CSTIP/CSTIPDocuments/MD-YRBS-Report.pdf on 15 January 2016. Google Scholar10. National Conference of State Legislatures. Powdered alcohol 2015 legislation. 10 November 2015. Accessed at www.ncsl.org/research/financial-services-and-commerce/powdered-alcohol-2015-legislation.aspx on 15 January 2016. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From the Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore, Maryland.Disclosures: Authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M15-2291.Corresponding Author: Leana S. Wen, MD, MSc, Baltimore City Health Department, 1001 East Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21202; e-mail, health.[email protected]gov.Current Author Addresses: Ms. Warren, Ms. Tay, and Dr. Wen: Baltimore City Health Department, 1001 East Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.Author Contributions: Conception and design: K.E. Warren, L.S. Wen.Analysis and interpretation of the data: K.E. Warren.Drafting of the article: K.E. Warren, L.S. Wen.Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: K.E. Warren, L.S. Wen.Final approval of the article: K.E. Warren, L.S. Wen.Administrative, technical, or logistic support: S. Tay.Collection and assembly of data: K.E. Warren.This article was published at www.annals.org on 16 February 2016. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byPublic Perceptions of Powdered Alcohol Use and Misuse: Narrative Perspectives from YouTube2017 ASTHO President's Challenge: Public Health Approaches to Preventing Substance Misuse and AddictionUS State Statutes Banning Powdered Alcohol: Exceptions and Penalties 17 May 2016Volume 164, Issue 10Page: 685-686KeywordsAdolescentsAlcohol consumptionAlcoholicsAlcoholsBeveragesDrug regulationLegislationPrevention, policy, and public healthResearch laboratoriesTaxes ePublished: 16 February 2016 Issue Published: 17 May 2016 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2016 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...