Longitudinal Factors Associated with Increased Alcohol and Tobacco Use in Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Workers 32 Months After the Nuclear Disaster: The Fukushima News Project Study.

OBJECTIVES: To predict increased alcohol and tobacco use in Fukushima nuclear power plant (NPP) workers three years after a nuclear disaster.

METHODS: Surveys were conducted in two post-disaster waves (Wave 1: 2-3 months; Wave 2: 32 months). Adjusted risk ratio [aRR] was computed to assess the covariates of increased alcohol and tobacco use in Wave 2.

RESULTS: Increased alcohol use was associated with age ≤29 years (aRR [95%CI]: 1.26 [1.01-1.57]), major property loss (1.25 [1.02-1.55]), and high posttraumatic stress responses (PTSR) [1.34 [1.08-1.67] in Wave 1. Increased tobacco use was associated with age ≤29 years (1.46 [1.12-1.90]) and high PTSR (1.62 [1.25-2.10] in Wave 1 (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The workers' increased alcohol and tobacco use were predicted by major property loss (alcohol), age ≤29 years and high PTSR (alcohol/tobacco) in Wave 1.