Health Outcome HO.5 Hospitalization rate for alcohol abuse per 10,000

Adult alcohol abuse hospitalization rate per 10,000, 2007-2009
Zip Code Rate
94102 - Downtown Civic Center, Western Addition 17.8
94103 - South of Market, Mission, Financial District, Mission Bay 30.6
94104 - Financial District --
94105 - Financial District, South of Market 25.2
94107 - Potrero Hill, South of Market, Mission Bay 11.0
94108 - Nob Hill, Chinatown, Financial District, Downtown Civic Center 6.8
94109 - Russian Hill, Nob Hill, Downtown Civic Center, Pacific Heights, Western Addition 13.6
94110 - Mission, Bernal Heights 7.8
94111 - Financial District, North Beach 18.9
94112 - Outer Mission, Crocker Amazon, Ocean View, Excelsior, West of Twin Peaks, Bernal Heights 4.4
94114 - Castro/Upper Market, Noe Valley, Twin Peaks 6.2
94115 - Western Addition, Pacific Heights 8.1
94116 - Parkside, Outer Sunset, West of Twin Peaks, Inner Sunset 3.5
94117 - Haight Ashbury, Western Addition 7.1
94118 - Inner Richmond, Presidio Heights 5.8
94121 - Outer Richmond, Seacliff 4.1
94122 - Outer sunset, Inner Sunset, Golden Gate Park 5.7
94123 - Marina, Pacific Heights 6.1
94124 - Bayview 7.1
94127 - West of Twin Peaks, Ocean View, Outer Mission 4.4
94129 - Presidio --
94130 - Treasure Island --
94131 - Diamond Heights/Glen Park, Twin Peaks, Noe Valley, Inner Sunset, Outer Mission 3.5
94132 - Lakeshore, Ocean View 4.3
94133 - North Beach, Russian Hill, Nob Hill, Chinatown 4.0
94134 - Visitacion Valley, Excelsior, Bayview 4.5
94158 - Mission Bay, Potrero Hill --
Note:  Age-adjusted using the 2000 US Census standard population
Source:  California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development; available at: www.healthmattersinsf.org

Data Source

Hospitalization data by individual zip code for 2007-2009 were provided by the administrators of the Health Matters in San Francisco website: http://www.healthmattersinsf.org/index.php. Health Matters in SF compiled the data from California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD). For more information on these preventable hospitalizations, visit: http://www.oshpd.ca.gov/hid/products/preventable_hospitalizations/pdfs/PH_REPORT_WEB.pdf

Explanation and Limitations

This indicator shows San Francisco’s hospitalization rate due to acute or chronic alcohol abuse.  "Alcohol abuse" includes alcohol dependence syndrome, nondependent alcohol abuse, alcoholic psychoses, excessive blood level of alcohol, and fetal alcohol syndrome.  Rates were calculated using population figures from the 2000 U.S. Census. Data are age-adjusted per 10,000 population.  Age standardization allows comparisons across counties or by zip codes that differ in size or age composition. 

From the Health Matters in SF website, “Drinking alcohol has immediate effects that can increase the risk of many harmful health conditions. According to the CDC, excessive alcohol use, either in the form of heavy drinking (drinking more than two drinks per day on average for men or more than one drink per day on average for women), or binge drinking (drinking more than 4 drinks during a single occasion for men or more than 3 drinks during a single occasion for women), can lead to increased risk of health problems such as liver disease or unintentional injuries. There are approximately 75,000 deaths attributable to excessive alcohol use each year in the United States. This makes excessive alcohol use the 3rd leading lifestyle-related cause of death for the nation. In the single year 2003, there were over 2 million hospitalizations and over 4 million emergency room visits for alcohol-related conditions.”

This measure does not identify what were the social, environmental, physiological or mental causes for alcohol abuse, nor does it identify whether there are disparities in who is classified as abusing alcohol or barriers to accessing substance abuse treatment programs or health care.

Zip code level data should be interpreted with caution as they comprise a larger geographic area than neighborhood planning areas, census tracts and block groups. These units of analysis differ in important ways, including socioeconomic heterogeneity and stability.

Why is this a Community Health Indicator?

Excessive alcohol use creates immediate and long-term health risks.  According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, immediate effects of excessive alcohol use (such as binge drinking) include unintentional injuries (such as traffic injuries, falls, drownings, burns, and unintentional firearm injuries), violence (including intimate partner violence and child maltreatment), risky sexual behaviors, miscarriage and still birth among pregnant women, birth defects, and alcohol poisoning (which can result in loss of consciousness, low blood pressure and body temperature, coma, respiratory depression or death).  Long term use of excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases, neurological impairments, psychiatric problems, cardiovascular problems, and social problems (such as unemployment, lost productivity, and family problems).  For more information, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/quickstats/general_info.htm