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Hazardous alcohol consumption is highly prevalent for men who have sex with men (MSM). The 4 treatments currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for alcohol use are reaching an alarmingly low percentage of people who would benefit from a reduction in their alcohol use. There is increasing interest in alternative methods of treatment, such as herbal supplements, to address hazardous drinking. However, research on the acceptability of alternative pharmacotherapies among MSM remains limited. We examined the prevalence and correlates of expressing interest in using herbal supplements for alcohol treatment among MSM with hazardous alcohol consumption. We conducted a secondary data analysis from a cross-sectional study of MSM who use alcohol, conducted from March 2015 to July 2017 in San Francisco, California, to assess the overall prevalence of interest in using herbal supplements to help reduce alcohol consumption. Associations between expressing interest in herbal supplements and demographic, social, and clinical characteristics were examined using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models. One-third (66/200, 33%) of the participants expressed interest in an herbal supplement for reducing alcohol consumption. In the multivariable analyses, weekly binge drinking (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.85, 95% CI 1.17-6.93), interest in abstaining from alcohol use (aOR 5.04, 95% CI 1.46-17.40), higher severity of alcohol dependence score (aOR 1.22, 95% CI 1.04-1.41), and interest in naltrexone (aOR 3.22, 95% CI 2.12-4.91) were independently associated with higher odds of being interested in using an herbal supplement to reduce alcohol consumption, adjusting for age, race or ethnicity, and education. We found that MSM who have hazardous drinking habits, more severe alcohol dependence, and interest in pharmacotherapy were more likely to express interest in using an herbal supplement for reducing alcohol consumption. To our knowledge, this is the first study that has evaluated correlates of interest in herbal supplements for alcohol use among MSM. As researchers implement novel alcohol treatment studies, they should focus on recruitment efforts among MSM with a motivation to reduce their alcohol use patterns.

PurposeTraumatic brain injury (TBI) and potentially traumatic events (PTEs) contribute to increased substance use, mental health issues, and cognitive impairments. However, there's not enough research on how TBI and PTEs combined impact mental heath, substance use, and neurocognition.MethodsThis study leverages a subset of The National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA) multi-site dataset with 551 adolescents to assess the combined and distinctive impacts of TBI, PTEs, and TBI+PTEs (prior to age 18) on substance use, mental health, and neurocognitive outcomes at age 18.ResultsTBI, PTEs, and TBI+PTEs predicted greater lifetime substance use and past-year alcohol and cannabis use. PTEs predicted greater internalizing symptoms, while TBI+PTEs predicted greater externalizing symptoms. Varying effects on neurocognitive outcomes included PTEs influencing attention accuracy and TBI+PTEs predicting faster speed in emotion tasks. PTEs predicted greater accuracy in abstraction-related tasks. Associations with working memory were not detected.ConclusionThis exploratory study contributes to the growing literature on the complex interplay between TBI, PTEs, and adolescent mental health, substance use, and neurocognition. The developmental implications of trauma via TBIs and/or PTEs during adolescence are considerable and worthy of further investigation.

Heavy alcohol drinking is a major, preventable problem that adversely impacts the physical and mental health of US young adults. Studies seeking drinking risk factors typically focus on young adults who enrolled in 4-year residential college programs (4YCP) even though most high school graduates join the workforce, military, or community colleges. We examined 106 of these understudied young adults (USYA) and 453 4YCPs from the National Consortium on Alcohol and NeuroDevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA) by longitudinally following their drinking patterns for 8 years from adolescence to young adulthood. All participants were no-to-low drinkers during high school. Whereas 4YCP individuals were more likely to initiate heavy drinking during college years, USYA participants did so later. Using mental health metrics recorded during high school, machine learning forecasted individual-level risk for initiating heavy drinking after leaving high school. The risk factors differed between demographically matched USYA and 4YCP individuals and between sexes. Predictors for USYA drinkers were sexual abuse, physical abuse for girls, and extraversion for boys, whereas 4YCP drinkers were predicted by the ability to recognize facial emotion and, for boys, greater openness. Thus, alcohol prevention programs need to give special consideration to those joining the workforce, military, or community colleges, who make up the majority of this age group.

ObjectiveIndividuals with unhealthy alcohol use and comorbid depression or anxiety may be vulnerable to alcohol use escalation in times of stress such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Among a cohort of individuals with pre-pandemic unhealthy drinking, we compared changes in alcohol use by whether people had a depression or anxiety diagnosis, and examined whether mental health treatment was related to these changes.MethodsUsing electronic health record data from Kaiser Permanente Northern California, we analyzed drinking changes during the pandemic (3/1/2020-6/30/2022) among adults identified in primary care with unhealthy alcohol use (exceeding daily/weekly recommended limits) pre-pandemic (1/1/2019-2/29/2020). Outcomes were mean changes in number of heavy drinking days (prior three months), drinks/week, drinks/day, and drinking days/week. Multivariable linear regression models were fit to: 1) compare outcomes of patients with depression or anxiety diagnoses to those without, and 2) among patients with depression or anxiety, estimate associations between mental health treatment and outcomes.ResultsThe sample included 62,924 adults with unhealthy alcohol use, of whom 12,281 (19.5%) had depression or anxiety. On average, alcohol use significantly decreased across all measures during the pandemic, but patients with depression or anxiety had greater decreases in drinks/week (adjusted mean difference [aMD] [CI]=-0.34 [-0.55, -0.12]) and drinking days/week (-0.15 [-0.20, -0.10]). No associations were found between mental health treatment and changes in drinking.ConclusionsContrary to expectations, patients with unhealthy alcohol use and depression or anxiety decreased alcohol use more than those without depression or anxiety during COVID-19, whether or not they accessed mental health services.

BackgroundSocial media can influence alcohol initiation behaviors such as sipping, which can lead to future adverse alcohol-related outcomes. Few studies have examined the role of problematic social media use, characterized by addiction, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse, especially in early adolescence.ObjectiveTo examine the prospective association between social media use and sipping alcohol in a nationwide sample of early adolescents, and the extent to which problematic social media use mediates the association.MethodsWe analyzed prospective data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (N = 7514; ages 9-10 years at baseline; 2016-2018) to estimate associations between social media time (Year 1) and alcohol sipping (Year 3) using modified Poisson regression, adjusting for confounders and testing problematic social media use (Year 2) as a mediator.ResultsSocial media time (Year 1) was prospectively associated with 1.31 (95% confidence interval 1.20-1.43) times higher risk of new-onset sipping (Year 3). The association between social media time and new-onset alcohol sipping was partially mediated by problematic social media use at Year 2 (25.0% reduction in the association between the former two factors after adding problematic social media use, p = 0.002).ConclusionsTime spent on social media was associated with a higher risk of alcohol sipping in a diverse national sample of early adolescents, and the association was partially mediated by problematic social media use. Media literacy education and family media use plans could advise early adolescents about exposure to alcohol content on social media and warning signs for problematic use.

Adolescent traumatic brain injury (TBI) has long-term effects on brain functioning and behavior, impacting neural activity under cognitive load, especially in the reward network. Adolescent TBI is also linked to risk-taking behaviors including alcohol misuse. It remains unclear how TBI and neural functioning interact to predict alcohol experimentation during adolescence. Using Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study data, this project examined if TBI at ages 9-10 predicts increased odds of alcohol sipping at ages 11-13 and if this association is moderated by neural activity during the Emotional EN-Back working memory task at ages 11-13. Logistic regression analyses showed that neural activity in regions of the fronto-basal ganglia network predicted increased odds of sipping alcohol by ages 11-13 (p

One promising avenue of research is the use of neuroimmune modulators to treat substance use disorders (SUDs). Neuroimmune modulators target the interactions between the nervous system and immune system, which have been found to play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of SUDs. Multiple classes of substances produce alterations to neuroimmune signaling and peripheral immune function, including alcohol, opioids, and psychostimulants Preclinical studies have shown that neuroimmune modulators can reduce drug-seeking behavior and prevent relapse in animal models of SUDs. Additionally, early-phase clinical trials have demonstrated the safety and feasibility of using neuroimmune modulators as a treatment for SUDs in humans. These therapeutics can be used as stand-alone treatments or as adjunctive. This review summarizes the current state of the field and provides future directions with a specific focus on personalized medicine.

AIM: The 2023 ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation provides recommendations to guide clinicians in the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted from May 12, 2022, to November 3, 2022, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline. Additional relevant studies, published through November 2022, during the guideline writing process, were also considered by the writing committee and added to the evidence tables, where appropriate. STRUCTURE: Atrial fibrillation is the most sustained common arrhythmia, and its incidence and prevalence are increasing in the United States and globally. Recommendations from the 2014 AHA/ACC/HRS Guideline for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and the 2019 AHA/ACC/HRS Focused Update of the 2014 AHA/ACC/HRS Guideline for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation have been updated with new evidence to guide clinicians. In addition, new recommendations addressing atrial fibrillation and thromboembolic risk assessment, anticoagulation, left atrial appendage occlusion, atrial fibrillation catheter or surgical ablation, and risk factor modification and atrial fibrillation prevention have been developed.

BackgroundEpigenome-wide association studies have identified multiple DNA methylation sites (CpGs) associated with alcohol consumption, an important lifestyle risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that an alcohol consumption epigenetic risk score (ERS) is associated with blood pressure (BP) traits.ResultsWe implemented an ERS based on a previously reported epigenetic signature of 144 alcohol-associated CpGs in meta-analysis of participants of European ancestry. We found a one-unit increment of ERS was associated with eleven drinks of alcohol consumed per day, on average, across several cohorts (p

Worldwide, health professionals from all specialties are encouraging patients to reduce alcohol use if not abstain, and abstinence is clearly encouraged for tobacco. However, for users of substances that meet diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder (addiction), reducing use or abstaining will be difficult without appropriate addiction treatment. Moreover, this group is the most at risk and the most likely to benefit from reducing use. We propose research-based arguments to better combine encouragement to reduce or abstain from alcohol and tobacco to systematic screening for addiction and facilitated access to addiction treatment to make alcohol and tobacco preventable deaths truly preventable.

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use (tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis) are highly comorbid. Many factors affect this relationship, including sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics, other prior traumas, and physical health. However, few prior studies have investigated this prospectively, examining new substance use and the extent to which a wide range of factors may modify the relationship to PTSD. METHODS: The Advancing Understanding of RecOvery afteR traumA (AURORA) study is a prospective cohort of adults presenting at emergency departments (N = 2,943). Participants self-reported PTSD symptoms and the frequency and quantity of tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use at six total timepoints. We assessed the associations of PTSD and future substance use, lagged by one timepoint, using the Poisson generalized estimating equations. We also stratified by incident and prevalent substance use and generated causal forests to identify the most important effect modifiers of this relationship out of 128 potential variables. RESULTS: At baseline, 37.3% (N = 1,099) of participants reported likely PTSD. PTSD was associated with tobacco frequency (incidence rate ratio (IRR): 1.003, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.01, p = 0.02) and quantity (IRR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.001, 1.01, p = 0.01), and alcohol frequency (IRR: 1.002, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.004, p = 0.03) and quantity (IRR: 1.003, 95% CI: 1.001, 1.01, p = 0.001), but not with cannabis use. There were slight differences in incident compared to prevalent tobacco frequency and quantity of use; prevalent tobacco frequency and quantity were associated with PTSD symptoms, while incident tobacco frequency and quantity were not. Using causal forests, lifetime worst use of cigarettes, overall self-rated physical health, and prior childhood trauma were major moderators of the relationship between PTSD symptoms and the three substances investigated. CONCLUSION: PTSD symptoms were highly associated with tobacco and alcohol use, while the association with prospective cannabis use is not clear. Findings suggest that understanding the different risk stratification that occurs can aid in tailoring interventions to populations at greatest risk to best mitigate the comorbidity between PTSD symptoms and future substance use outcomes. We demonstrate that this is particularly salient for tobacco use and, to some extent, alcohol use, while cannabis is less likely to be impacted by PTSD symptoms across the strata.

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol expectancies predict subsequent alcohol use and related problems among adolescents, although predictors of alcohol expectancies remain unclear. This study examined the longitudinal association between family conflict, a sociocultural factor strongly implicated in adolescent alcohol use, and positive and negative alcohol expectancies of adolescents of diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds. METHODS: Data were from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study 4.0 release, a multisite longitudinal study (N = 6,231, baseline age 9-10). Linear mixed-effects regression, with interactions between race/ethnicity and family conflict, tested the association between family conflict and alcohol expectancies, for each racial/ethnicity (e.g., Black vs. non-Black; White vs. non-White). RESULTS: Interactions of family conflict with race/ethnicity in predicting negative and positive alcohol expectancies were statistically significant for models testing Black and White adolescents, but not for Asian, Hispanic, and Other. Family conflict at baseline predicted lower negative alcohol expectancy for Black adolescents (B = -.166, p = 0.033) and positive alcohol expectancy for White adolescents (B = 0.71, p = 0.023) at the year 3 follow-up. All models controlled for sex, age, family socioeconomic status, alcohol expectancies at year 1, and family conflict at year 3. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that family conflict is a potential risk factor for problematic alcohol expectancies for Black and White adolescents. Although we did not directly compare Black and White adolescents, our findings indicate that family conflict may operate differently for Black and White adolescents. Prevention and intervention efforts targeting family conflict may be relevant for different aspects of alcohol expectancies in Black and White families.

Background and aimsRecently, we demonstrated that a distinct pattern of structural covariance networks (SCN) from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived measurements of brain cortical thickness characterized young adults with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and predicted current and future problematic drinking in adolescents relative to controls. Here, we establish the robustness and value of SCN for identifying heavy alcohol users in three additional independent studies.Design and settingCross-sectional and longitudinal studies using data from the Pediatric Imaging, Neurocognition and Genetics (PING) study (n = 400, age range = 14-22 years), the National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA) (n = 272, age range = 17-22 years) and the Human Connectome Project (HCP) (n = 375, age range = 22-37 years).CasesCases were defined based on heavy alcohol use patterns or former alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnoses: 50, 68 and 61 cases were identified. Controls had none or low alcohol use or absence of AUD: 350, 204 and 314 controls were selected.MeasurementsGraph theory metrics of segregation and integration were used to summarize SCN.FindingsMirroring our prior findings, and across the three data sets, cases had a lower clustering coefficient [area under the curve (AUC) = -0.029, P = 0.002], lower modularity (AUC = -0.14, P = 0.004), lower average shortest path length (AUC = -0.078, P = 0.017) and higher global efficiency (AUC = 0.007, P = 0.010). Local efficiency differences were marginal (AUC = -0.017, P = 0.052). That is, cases exhibited lower network segregation and higher integration, suggesting that adjacent nodes (i.e. brain regions) were less similar in thickness whereas spatially distant nodes were more similar.ConclusionStructural covariance network (SCN) differences in the brain appear to constitute an early marker of heavy alcohol use in three new data sets and, more generally, demonstrate the utility of SCN-derived metrics to detect brain-related psychopathology.

Ireland has regulated for all packaged alcohol products to include a health warning that states that ‘there is a link between alcohol and fatal cancers’. This warning is being opposed in the World Trade Organization by 12 member states who are raising that the warning is an unnecessary barrier to trade. The World Health Organization is supporting Ireland. Countries should not oppose Ireland's warning which is defensible from legal and public health perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical conversion of CO2 into valuable chemicals is a promising route for renowable energy storage and the mitigation of greenhouse gas emission, and production of multicarbon (C2+) products is highly desired. Here, we report a 1.4 %Pd−Cu@CuPz2 comprising of dispersive CuOx and PdO dual nanoclusters embedded in the MOF CuPz2 (Pz=Pyrazole), which achieves a high C2+ Faradaic efficiency (FEC2+) of 81.9 % and C2+ alcohol FE of 47.5 % with remarkable stability when using 0.1 M KCl aqueous solution as electrolyte in a typical H‐cell. Particularly, the FE of alcohol is obviously improved on 1.4 %Pd−Cu@CuPz2 compared to Cu@CuPz2. Theoretical calculations have revealed that the enhanced interfacial electron transfer facilitates the adsorption of *CO intermediate and *CO−*CO dimerization on the Cu−Pd dual sites bridged by Cu nodes of CuPz2. Additionally, the oxophilicity of Pd can stabilize the key intermediate *CH2CHO and promote subsequent proton‐coupled electron transfer more efficiently, confirming that the formation pathway is skew towards *C2H5OH. Consequently, the Cu−Pd dual sites play a synergistic tandem role in cooperatively improving the selectivity of alcohol and accelerating reductive conversion of CO2 to C2+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policies vary substantially in terms of providing sources of psychosocial enrichment. Behavioral economic models of substance use and addiction emphasize that deficits in access to substance‐free sources of reward increase substance reinforcing value and risk for addiction. The current study used an alcohol demand curve approach to test the hypothesis that various indices of reward deprivation would be associated with elevated alcohol reinforcing efficacy. We examined associations between alcohol demand indices and several facets of reward deprivation in a sample of young adults (N = 1,331; ages 19–25 years) recruited from the United States and Canada who reported recent binge drinking. Additionally, we created an index of cumulative reward deprivation that integrated the various reward facets and examined its association with alcohol demand intensity and maximum expenditure on alcohol. Our findings indicate that reward deprivation is associated with elevated alcohol demand and provide support for alcohol prevention and intervention approaches that emphasize environmental enrichment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol is the most consumed and abused psychoactive drug globally, but the molecular mechanisms driving alcohol action and its associated behaviors in the brain remain enigmatic. Here, we have discovered a transmembrane protein TMEM132B that is a GABA A receptor (GABA A R) auxiliary subunit. Functionally, TMEM132B promotes GABA A R expression at the cell surface, slows receptor deactivation, and enhances the allosteric effects of alcohol on the receptor. In TMEM132B knockout (KO) mice or TMEM132B I499A knockin (KI) mice in which the TMEM132B-GABA A R interaction is specifically abolished, GABAergic transmission is decreased and alcohol-induced potentiation of GABA A R-mediated currents is diminished in hippocampal neurons. Behaviorally, the anxiolytic and sedative/hypnotic effects of alcohol are markedly reduced, and compulsive, binge-like alcohol consumption is significantly increased. Taken together, these data reveal a GABA A R auxiliary subunit, identify the TMEM132B-GABA A R complex as a major alcohol target in the brain, and provide mechanistic insights into alcohol-related behaviors. [Display omitted] • Single-pass transmembrane protein TMEM132B is a GABA A R auxiliary subunit • TMEM132B promotes GABA A R expression at the cell surface and slows receptor deactivation • TMEM132B enhances the allosteric effects of alcohol on various GABA A Rs • Genetic inactivation of TMEM132B in mice alters alcohol-related behaviors Identification of TMEM132B as a GABA A R auxiliary subunit that modulates alcohol action in the brain at both the molecular and behavioral levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well established that alcohol use is associated with homicide (e.g. Kuhns et al. 2014; Parker et al. 2011). However, much of our knowledge of alcohol-involved homicide is based on official data. Self-report data obtained directly from offenders about their consumption of alcohol immediately prior to committing homicide provide valuable information that complements data from official sources such as details emerging from police investigations and court proceedings. However, such data are rare. This study analyzes self-report data collected through face-to-face interviews with 205 men and women convicted of murder or manslaughter in Australia, of whom almost half (43.4%) reported use of alcohol prior to the homicide. The strongest predictor of alcohol-involved homicide was ongoing alcohol problems, speaking to the importance of prevention strategies targeting the entrenched nature of substance misuse. Furthermore, alcohol-involved homicides were nighttime events, committed in public places by older offenders using knives. Though such variables appear indicative of impulsiveness, a measure of self-control did not distinguish between alcohol-involved and not alcohol-involved homicide. Further investigations into the role of self-control on alcohol and violence are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Methods Results Conclusions Alcohol use is prevalent among hepatology clinic patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). We explored factors associated with the importance and confidence dimensions of motivation to reduce drinking.Participants (N = 121) with unhealthy alcohol use (i.e., over NIH guidelines) receiving care in hepatology clinics from a safety‐net hospital (SN, N = 54) and two Veterans Affairs Healthcare Systems (VA, N = 67) were enrolled in an alcohol intervention trial from March 2022 through October 2023. Baseline assessments included Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD‐7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐8), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), COVID‐19 stress; and measures of importance and confidence to decrease alcohol use (readiness rulers, scales of 1–10). Liver disease aetiology and severity were extracted from electronic health records. We performed multivariable linear regression models with forward selection to assess pre‐specified variables' associations with importance and confidence.The sample was 84% male, 40% Latino, 31% White, 18% Black and 11% other races; median age was 61 years. Median (Q1–Q3) AUDIT score was 16 (12–24), importance was 9 (6–10) and confidence was 8 (5–9). On multivariable analysis, VA site (vs. SN) participants had a 0.97‐point lower importance score (p = 0.02); higher symptoms of depression (PHQ‐8 score ≥ 10 vs. < 10) and AUDIT scores (for each point increase) were associated with higher importance score (estimates 1.2 and 0.08, p < 0.05, respectively). Liver disease aetiology and severity were not significantly associated with outcomes.Depression, alcohol problem severity and treatment site may influence motivation to reduce alcohol use and could inform future hepatology‐based interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Alcohol use disorder is a chronic disorder with significant limitations in pharmacological treatments, necessitating the exploration of non-pharmacological interventions. Methods: We used a model of alcohol self-administration (10% v/v) to analyze behavioral, neurochemical, and signaling mechanisms. Results: Our findings demonstrate that stimulation of the HT7 acupuncture point significantly decreased the frequency of active lever presses in rats self-administering alcohol (p < 0.05). Alcohol self-administration increased microglial activity and sigma 1 receptor expression in the habenula (Hb), while HT7 stimulation mitigated these effects, decreasing microglial activity and sigma 1 receptor levels (p < 0.05). Additionally, alcohol self-administration reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) levels in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) (p < 0.05). HT7 stimulation reversed these alterations by increasing BDNF expression in the mPFC and decreasing TH levels in the VTA (p < 0.05). Further investigation revealed that BDNF microinjection into the mPFC inhibited sigma 1 receptor activity in the Hb, while microglial inhibition in the Hb decreased TH expression in the VTA (p < 0.05). The administration of the microglial inhibitor MINO to the Hb also reduced alcohol self-administration (p < 0.05). Discussion: These results suggest that HT7 stimulation regulates the mPFC-Hb-VTA circuit, leading to decreased alcohol-seeking behavior. Our study demonstrates that HT7 acupuncture can modulate the mPFC-Hb-VTA circuit, providing a potential non-pharmacological treatment for alcohol-seeking behavior by influencing microglial activity, sigma 1 receptor expression, and TH levels. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying acupuncture's therapeutic effects on alcohol use disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods Results Discussion Conclusion Despite the bidirectional relationship between alcohol use and STB, the two issues are often treated separately in adolescent inpatient psychiatric hospitals, highlighting the need for brief interventions that address both alcohol use and STB in an integrated fashion.This study tested the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a brief integrated Alcohol and Suicide Intervention for Suicidal Teens (iASIST) with a post‐discharge mHealth booster for adolescents in inpatient psychiatric treatment.We conducted an RCT of iASIST relative to an attention‐matched comparison condition with adolescents hospitalized following STB (N = 40).iASIST demonstrated feasibility and acceptability and mixed models indicated that both groups had significant decreases in substance use over the 3‐month follow‐up, but post‐intervention group differences were not significant. In terms of cannabis use, however, iASIST participants significantly improved over time. Intervention group participants showed a significant decrease in suicide plans from baseline to follow‐up, which was not the case for control group participants.Study findings suggest a larger RCT is warranted to test the effectiveness of the iASIST intervention.iASIST shows promise in its ability to target the public health problems of alcohol use and STB in an integrated fashion with a high‐risk adolescent population receiving acute psychiatric care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Suicide is a serious public health problem that affects our entire country. The aim of this research was to study the variation in completed suicide rates between 2010 and 2022 in Spain and their relationship with the consumption of addictive substances. Methods: Completed suicide data from the Spanish Statistical Office (INE) were analyzed with a joinpoint regression model to determine time trends. The relationship between the variation in completed suicide rates with sociodemographic variables, including depression rates, obtained from the Spanish Statistical Office and variables related to the consumption of substances obtained from the survey on alcohol and other drugs in Spain (EDADES) of the Government Delegation for the National Plan on Drugs (DGPNSD) was also studied using an exploratory analysis and also performing a Generalized Additive Model. Results: The joinpoint regression model did reveal a point of significant change in the period studied for Spain showing a trend of increased suicide death rates for the studied period. The following variables correlated positively with the variation in completed suicide rates in the Generalized Additive Model: alcohol use in the past 12 months, alcohol use in the last 30 days, daily alcohol use in the last 30 days, binge drinking in the last 12 months, binge drinking in the last month, positive Alcohol Use Disorder Test for risky alcohol use, benzodiazepine use in the last 12 months, benzodiazepine use in the last month, daily benzodiazepine use in the last month, use of illegal substances in the last 12 months, use of illegal substances in the last month, mean age and depression rates. Conclusion: Applying preventive strategies on the risky consumption of alcohol, benzodiazepines and illegal substances would help reduce the rates of completed suicide in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The substitution of cannabis for alcohol and other drugs has been conceptualised in a harm reduction framework as where cannabis is used to reduce the negative side-effects, addiction potential, and social stigma of other drugs. There is currently mixed evidence with recent reviews suggesting cannabis co-use patterns may vary by age and ethnicity. Yet few studies have had large enough samples to examine this demographic variation in detail. Aims: To explore the co-use of cannabis with alcohol and other drugs within demographic subgroups of a large sample of people who use cannabis. Specifically: (1) whether cannabis is being substituted for other drugs, and (2), whether cannabis use leads to more, less or the same level of other drug use. Method: Online convenience survey promoted via Facebook™ completed by 23,500 New Zealand respondents. Those who had used cannabis and any of eight other substances in the same six-month period were asked if their use of cannabis had any impact on their use of each other substance ("a lot more", "little more", "no impact/same", "little less", "a lot less"). Frequency and quantity used of each other drug was compared by co-use group. Generalised logistic regression models were developed to predict co-use categories. Results: Significant proportions reported cannabis use led to "less" alcohol (60%), synthetic cannabinoid (60%), morphine (44%) and methamphetamine (40%) use. Those who reported using "less" had lower frequency and amount used of other drugs. Approximately seven-out-ten reported cannabis use had "no impact" on LSD, MDMA, and cocaine use. One-in-five reported using cannabis led to "more" tobacco use. Young adults (21–35-years) were more likely to report cannabis use led to "less" drinking and methamphetamine use. Adolescent co-users (16–20 years) reported mixed impacts. Māori were more likely to report cannabis use resulted in "less" alcohol, tobacco, methamphetamine, and LSD use. Students and those living in cities were less likely to report cannabis use lowering use of other substances. Conclusion: Cannabis and other drug co-use patterns are moderated by life stages, lifestyles, cultural perspectives, and urbanicity. Harm reduction initiatives and policy reforms should take account of these moderating factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: External causes of death, such as accidents, substance use, and suicide, contribute substantially to mortality during adolescence and early adulthood and show marked sex differences. Individuals born preterm are at increased risk of mental disorders, and impaired cognitive and executive functions, potentially increasing their vulnerability to death from external causes. We investigated sex-specific associations between gestational age at birth and mortality from external causes during late adolescence and early adulthood. Methods: Individual level data from national health registries in Denmark (1978–2001), Finland (1987–2003), Norway (1967–2002), and Sweden (1974–2001) were linked to form nationwide cohorts. In total, 6,924,697 participants were followed from age 15 years to a maximum of 50 years in 2016–2018. Gestational age was categorized as "very/moderately preterm" (23–33 weeks), "late preterm" (34–36 weeks), "early term" (37–38 weeks), "full term" (39–41 weeks), and "post term" (42–44 weeks). Outcomes were mortality from external causes overall and from the largest subgroups transport accidents, suicide, and drugs or alcohol. We estimated sex-specific hazard ratios (HRs), with full term as the reference, and pooled each country's estimates in meta-analyses. Results: Across gestational ages mortality was higher for males than females. Individuals born very/moderately preterm had higher mortality from external causes, with HRs 1.11 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99–1.24) for males and 1.55 (95% CI 1.28–1.88) for females. Corresponding estimates for late preterm born were 1.11 (95% CI 1.04–1.18) and 1.15 (95% CI 1.02–1.29), respectively. Those born very/moderately preterm had higher mortality from transport accidents, but precision was low. For females, suicide mortality was higher following very/moderately preterm birth (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.34–2.32), but not for males. Mortality from drugs or alcohol was higher in very/moderately and late preterm born males (HRs 1.23 [95% CI 0.99–1.53] and 1.29 [95% CI 1.16–1.45], respectively) and females (HRs 1.53 [95% CI 0.97–2.41] and 1.35 [95% CI 1.07–1.71], respectively, with some heterogeneity across countries). Conclusions: Mortality from external causes overall was higher in preterm than full term born among both males and females. A clear sex difference was seen for suicide, where preterm birth was a risk factor in females, but not in males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The current study aims to (i) examine differences in hazardous alcohol consumption across different industries in Sweden and (ii) assess to what degree any such difference can be attributed to a differential distribution of nicotine use, health, and work environments among individuals working in these industries. Methods A pooled cross-sectional study was conducted including all participants of the survey of Health, Work Environment, and Lifestyle Habits between 2012 and 2023 (n  = 54 378), collected by an occupational health service company (Feelgood). The survey contained self-reported information on alcohol use, industry, nicotine use, health, and work environment. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were obtained by pooled logistic regression analyses. Results Hazardous alcohol use was highly prevalent in the current study population (37%), especially among individuals in the accommodation/food service, arts/entertainment/recreation, and the construction industry. Compared to individuals working in education, individuals in these industries had >1.6-fold increased odds of reporting hazardous alcohol consumption. Differences in nicotine use and physical work environment between the industries explained some of the differences in hazardous alcohol consumption between industries, while differences in health and psychosocial work environment had limited effects on the estimates. Conclusion We identified several industries in the Swedish workforce where hazardous alcohol use is highly prevalent. While differences in nicotine use, health, and work environment explained a part of these risk differences, most of the risk differences remained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is widely recognized as the most common form of hair loss and can significantly affect individuals' quality of life. The association between alcohol consumption and AGA remains uncertain and controversial. Our primary objective is to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and AGA. Methods We identified studies from multiple databases, including Embase, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science, up to March 2024. For alcohol consumption, we included studies where it was defined as a categorical variable, such as Yes/No or classified by grams. For AGA, only cases that were clinically diagnosed were included. Odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were extracted from the included studies. Subgroup analyses were conducted, considering factors such as gender and study design. Results Our findings indicated that individuals who consume alcohol had an OR of AGA compared to those who do not drink alcohol (OR, 1.40; 95% CI:.95–2.06; k = 6; I2 = 77%). In the subgroup analysis focusing on men, an OR for alopecia was observed (OR, 1.31; 95% CI:.85–2.01; k = 4; I2 = 78%). Additionally, a subgroup analysis based on study design revealed ORs of 1.93 (95% CI: 1.32–2.82; k = 3; I2 = 47%) for cross-sectional studies, and 1.69 (95% CI: 1.33–2.14; k = 2; I2 = 0%) for case–control studies. Conclusions Our results suggest that the effect of alcohol consumption on AGA may be less than initially assumed. Future research will require large, carefully planned cohort studies that incorporate standardized diagnostic criteria to provide more definitive insights. Systematic review registration CRD42022303374. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This study described the burden of alcohol-related morbidity and mortality among those who had been enrolled in residential treatment for drug use disorders in Denmark and investigated whether self-reported information on alcohol use provided at treatment admission can be used to assess risk for future serious alcohol-related harms. Methods At baseline (entry in drug use disorder treatment during 2000–10), clients completed a European adaptation of the Addiction Severity Index-5. We tracked 4981 clients through 2018 using multiple national registers to identify fully (100%) alcohol-attributable hospital contacts and deaths. Results The death rate due to fully alcohol-attributable causes was 411 per 100 000 person-years, with an average of 0.18 fully alcohol-attributable hospital contacts per person-year. Using the Addiction Severity Index-5 alcohol composite score as a predictor in an adjusted competing risks regression model, a higher score was associated with a higher risk of alcohol-related death. The alcohol composite score was a significant predictor of alcohol-related hospital contacts in an adjusted recurrent events model. Conclusions A substantial proportion of people originally identified as experiencing drug use disorders have alcohol problems that need to be monitored and managed to prevent serious complications. By demonstrating the predictive power of self-reported data, our study concludes that the Addiction Severity Index-5 can be used to identify individuals with drug use disorders at risk for severe long-term alcohol-related health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tobacco use is one of the greatest public health problems in the world. Prevalence of alcohol and tobacco use among lactating women ranged between 35.9–83.0% and 1.4–6.1%, respectively, in various parts of the world. Both alcohol and nicotine pass quickly into breast milk. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of alcohol and tobacco use in lactating women and its association with having underweight, stunted, and wasted nursing children in India. The study also draws comparisons to identify the common associated socio-economic factors for alcohol and tobacco use among lactating women and having underweight, stunted, and/or wasted children. A cross-sectional analytical study involving secondary data from the National Family Health Survey-5. A cross-sectional analytical study involving secondary data from the National Family Health Survey-5 conducted nationally in community settings in two phases during 2019–2021. Alcohol and tobacco use among lactating women was self-reported, and the nutritional status of children was assess anthropometrically during the survey and categorised into under-weight, stunted, and wasted as per standardised growth charts. prevalence of tobacco use among currently lactating mothers in India was 3.24%. Prevalence of alcohol use among currently lactating mothers was 0.57%. Nursing children of mothers consuming alcohol had significantly higher odds of being wasted [OR = 1.44; (95% CI = 1.07–1.92)]. Richer wealth index {compared to poor, poorer [OR = 0.74; (95% CI = 0.59–0.91)], rich [OR = 0.64; (95% CI = 0.50–0.84)], richer [OR = 0.46; (95% CI = 0.33–0.65)], richest [OR = 0.19; (95% CI = 0.11–0.33)]}, higher education status {compared to illiterate, secondary education [OR = 0.79; (95% CI = 0.63–0.97)], higher education [OR = 0.38; (95% CI = 0.24–0.62)]}, and non-tribal ethnicity [OR = 0.40; (95% CI = 0.33–0.50)] were found to be significantly associated with lower odds of alcohol and tobacco use among lactating mothers. Age, religion, residence, and occupation were also found to be significantly associated. Lactating women with lower education status or belonging to lower income groups needs to be prioritised for further qualitative assessment of alcohol and tobacco use during lactation. Our study reflects the national and state-level prevalence of alcohol and tobacco use among lactating women, which often masks the local and community-level intricacies. There is a need to further explore local and community-level factors affecting alcohol use during lactation and its association with child nutrition. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with substance use disorders are common in general medical practice and are a major risk factor for several non-communicable diseases. Appropriate screening is a vital step for providing brief interventions which can provide a good opportunity to tackle this crisis and in achieving target 3.5 of the sustainable development goal which includes strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. Objectives: To study the magnitude of substance use and factors associated with it among people seeking health care services at primary care settings. Methods: The cross-sectional study recruited people seeking services at primary care settings to screen for substance users (SU) and determine the associated factors. The data was collected using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire including socio-demographic characteristics, health status and the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test tool. Results: The study showed that 43.4% of the participants were SU. The current use of smokeless tobacco was higher compared to tobacco smoking (21.3% and 4.7%). The multivariate logistic regression showed that advancing age (AOR: 2.61 and 95% CI of 1.01–6.79), male gender (AOR: 705 and 95% CI of 4.25–11.70), primary and middle school (AOR: 3.24 and 95% CI of 1.52–6.92) literacy status, unemployed (AOR: 0.49 and 95% CI of 0.25–0.95), religion and other backward caste (AOR: 2.42 and 95% CI of 1.37–4.30) were significant correlates of SU. Conclusion: Substance use was reported by two-fifths of the participants seeking services at primary care centres in our study and stresses the need for incorporating brief interventions to prevent higher degrees of dependence and its complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: 'Drunkorexia' is characterized by compensating for alcohol-related calories using physical activity (PA). Drunkorexia is common on college campuses but little is known about the PA behaviors within the drunkorexia paradigm. Methods: First-year college students living on campus completed an online survey collecting drunkorexia, PA, and alcohol consumption data. A total of 127 participants reported engaging in drunkorexia behaviors. Results: Fifty-three participants were classified as preemptively physically active (e.g., PA and drink on Tuesday) compared to 74 as non-preemptively physically active. Preemptively physically active participants consumed more alcohol on Fridays and Saturdays than those non-preemptively physically active. Preemptively physically active participants engaged in significantly greater amounts PA. Females accounted for all significant differences between groups. Discussion: Among drunkorexia-positive participants, many made preemptive efforts to control their calories before consuming alcohol, which may predispose them to higher incidences of adverse outcomes such as alcohol poisoning, unwanted sexual advances, and death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the influence of specific COVID-19 impacts on college student depression, loneliness, and alcohol and cannabis use, and to investigate if resilience moderates these relationships. Participants: Data were collected from students (N = 1849, 80.9% white, 66.6% female) at a midwestern university during the 2021 winter/spring semester. Methods: Data were gathered cross-sectionally through an online survey platform. COVID-19 impacts and resilience's relationships with mental health variables were analyzed with multiple regression analysis. Moderation analyses were conducted using PROCESS. Results: The COVID-19 impacts measured in this study were significantly related to student depression and cannabis use. Resilience moderated the association between COVID-19 impacts and (a) depression and (b) cannabis use. Conclusion: Resilience may mitigate the effect of pandemic-related impacts on depression and cannabis use in college students, but not loneliness and alcohol use. These findings hold important implications for further research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This qualitative phenomenological study explored alcohol habits, behaviors, and motivations of Gen Z students (born 1996-2010). Participants: Thirteen participants met selection criteria: aged 18-24 years (thus, part of Gen Z), enrolled as at either the University or community college, and able to share experiences. Maximum variation was sought for race/ethnicity, Greek life/sorority involvement and hometown regional area. Methods: Semi-structured interviews elicited detailed descriptions of lived experiences. Saldana's First Cycle/Second Cycle constant comparative method was used for data analysis. Results: Five themes were identified: Motivations to Drink, Know My Limits, Exceeding Limits Leads to Risky Behaviors, Hangover Anxiety ("Hangxiety"), and Greek Life Influence. Additionally, the subtheme Internal Thoughts and Rationalizations was identified. Conclusion: Unique characteristics and unprecedented times contribute to alcohol consumption behaviors of Gen Z students. These findings hold an awareness to assist in the provision of education, support, and needed resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: College campuses report alcohol and other drug policy violations as the most frequent reason students receive disciplinary referrals and, thus, are mandated to programming. This study sought to determine predictors of mandated students' alcohol use frequency, and the likelihood of early-onset alcohol using college students enrolled in mandated programming engaging in current polysubstance use. Methods and participants: Employing a purposive sampling method, n = 822 participants were recruited from a pool of students who violated their university's alcohol policy between October 2019 and July 2021. Results: Data analysis revealed early-onset alcohol use (p <.001), gender ID (p <.01), Greek Affiliation (p <.001), ethnicity (p <.05), and perceived norms (p <.001) significantly predicted alcohol frequency. Analysis also revealed engaging in early-onset alcohol use significantly predicted current participation in polysubstance use (p < 0.01), outside of controls. Conclusions: University programs should consider exploring polysubstance use targeted interventions to mitigate these harmful behaviors and associated negative consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined acculturation with positive alcohol expectancies (PAE) and alcohol use intentions among college-bound Latinas using a bidimensional (ie U.S. acculturation/enculturation) and bidomain (ie behaviors/values) acculturation framework. Participants: A total of 298 Latina young adults between 18 and 20 years old were included in this analysis. Methods: Data were collected the summer before participants began college for the first time. We used an online survey to assess acculturation, PAE, and alcohol use expectancies. Results: Path analyses showed that U.S. acculturation values were related to more PAE and alcohol use intentions. U.S. acculturation behaviors were related to more alcohol use intentions, and the pathway was moderated by PAE. There was also an interaction between U.S. acculturation and enculturation behaviors predicting alcohol use intentions. Conclusion: This study sheds light on how acculturating Latina young women think about alcohol use prior to beginning college, which is an opportune window for targeted prevention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Food service employment is associated with substance use, risk of substance use disorders and various negative consequences. Previous research has not examined the substance use patterns of students employed in food service positions. Method: During Fall of 2018, 276 undergraduates completed an anonymous online survey regarding current employment status and substance use. Results: Compared to students employed in other positions, students in food service positions reported higher levels of drinking to cope with negative affect, negative urgency, workplace substance use, marijuana use, marijuana-related problems, and motives. Food service employment was also a significant predictor of marijuana use and related consequences. Conclusions: Students in food service positions, relative to other employment positions, report elevated substance use behavior, risk factors, and negative consequences. Food service employment also contributed variance to models accounting for marijuana use and related consequences. Prevention and intervention strategies should be investigated to mitigate risk for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was designed to assess the relationship between mental health service utilization and heavy episodic drinking (HED) after controlling for demographic and student-level variables. Participants: A national sample of college undergraduate respondents to the 2017–2018 Healthy Minds Study survey (n = 67,427). Methods: Hierarchical logistic regression entering all variables on a single step. Subsequent logistic regression was used to assess interactions between mental health service variables and select demographic and student level variables. Results: Twenty-two demographic and student-level variables were associated with current HED (9 protective and 11 risk factors). Current mental health therapy was associated with a lower risk of current HED while mental health medication use in the past 12 months (but not currently) was associated with a higher risk of HED. Conclusions: Findings provide guidance to college/university community professionals given the responsibility of designing and implementing programs for mitigation of alcohol misuse on their campus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High intensity (HI) binge drinking has emerged as a high-risk drinking phenotype in young adult drinkers, yet few studies have evaluated clinically meaningful correlates of HI binge drinking among young adults at risk for co-occurring psychopathologies, such as interpersonal trauma-exposed drinkers. The present study compared three groups (i.e., HI binge, standard binge, non-binge drinkers) of interpersonal trauma-exposed college student drinkers (N = 221) on alcohol and interpersonal trauma characteristics. Results of one-way ANOVAs indicated that the HI binge group endorsed significantly greater negative alcohol-related consequences relative to the other two groups. The HI binge group endorsed significantly greater enhancement motives compared to the non-binge group, and no group differences were detected for PTSD and interpersonal trauma characteristics. Individuals who engage in HI binge drinking may experience greater alcohol problems due to their use of alcohol to enhance positive mood. HI binge drinking does not differentiate individuals on the basis of interpersonal trauma experiences or related psychopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poor sleep is common in the context of cannabis use, but experimental and daily‐life studies provide mixed evidence for whether cannabis use helps or disturbs same‐night sleep. Despite a high prevalence of co‐use of alcohol and cannabis, most studies of cannabis use and sleep do not consider alcohol use. We sought to add to this literature by examining associations between cannabis and sleep in the context of alcohol co‐use and to examine these associations bidirectionally using ecological momentary assessment. Methods: Participants were 88 adults reporting cannabis use at least 3×/week and simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use at least 2×/week. For 14 days, participants completed morning surveys assessing hours slept and perceived sleep quality from the night before. In morning surveys, random surveys, and substance‐specific surveys, participants also reported on alcohol and cannabis craving, use, and amounts. Results: Primary results from multilevel models demonstrated that cannabis use was not independently associated with sleep (duration or quality). However, cannabis use attenuated alcohol's negative effects on sleep quality. Conclusions: Results question the utility of cannabis use to improve sleep but highlight the attenuated negative effects of alcohol as a potential reinforcer of alcohol‐cannabis co‐use. Future work should continue to consider polysubstance use and integrate additional self‐report and objective measures of sleep health to further clarify how cannabis use affects sleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unhealthy alcohol use is prevalent among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) and contributes to impaired functioning, diminished quality of life, and poorer HIV outcomes. Common cooccurring conditions such as chronic pain may be associated with negative outcomes both directly and through its influence on unhealthy drinking itself. However, there is relatively little known about how pain influences unhealthy drinking among PLWH over time. The current study examined whether pain was associated with indices of unhealthy alcohol use, namely heavy drinking and alcohol use disorder (AUD) assessed 12 months later. Methods: The study sample (n = 207) was from the Boston Alcohol Research Collaboration on HIV/AIDS (ARCH) Cohort, a prospective cohort of PLWH with a history of illicit substance or unhealthy alcohol use. We conducted logistic regression analyses to examine the associations between pain and both heavy drinking and AUD status (DSM‐5 criteria) (yes/no) over time. In secondary analyses, we examined whether pain was associated with greater AUD severity and whether pain interference was associated with heavy drinking and AUD outcomes. Results: We found that pain at baseline was associated with greater odds of AUD [aOR = 2.29 (95% CI: 1.13, 4.64), p = 0.02] but not heavy drinking [aOR = 0.91 (95% CI: 0.44, 1.88), p = 0.79] at 12 months. Pain was also associated with more severe AUD. Analyses of pain interference showed similar results. Conclusions: Pain is prospectively associated with higher odds of AUD among PLWH with a substance/unhealthy alcohol use history. Providers should routinely address pain among PLWH to improve AUD outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent sensitivity to alcohol is influenced by genetic background. Data from our laboratory suggested that adolescent C57BL/6J and DBA/2J inbred mice differed in susceptibility to alcohol‐induced deficits in dorsal hippocampus‐dependent contextual fear learning. Methods: To investigate the biological underpinnings of this strain difference, we examined dorsal hippocampus gene expression using RNA‐sequencing after alcohol or saline administration followed by Pavlovian fear conditioning across male and female C57BL/6J and DBA/2J adolescents. Results: Strains exhibited dramatic differences in dorsal hippocampus gene expression. Specifically, C57BL/6J and DBA/2J strains differed by 3526 transcripts in males and 2675 transcripts in females. We identified pathways likely to be involved in mediating alcohol's effects on learning, including networks associated with Chrna7, a gene encoding the nicotinic cholinergic receptor alpha 7 subunit, and Fmr1, a gene encoding the fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein. Conclusions: These findings provide insight into the mechanisms underlying strain differences in alcohol's effects on learning and suggest that different biological networks are recruited for learning based on genetics, sex, and alcohol exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite intervention efforts, negative alcohol‐related consequences continue to impact young adults. Most alcohol interventions focus on reducing alcohol consumption; however, previous research indicates that focusing solely on alcohol use may not decrease consequences. Additionally, many alcohol interventions have diminishing engagement, and few are designed with young adults involved in the development process. Drawing on user‐centered design, this study sought to understand young adult perceptions, preferences, and needs for electronic interventions specifically aimed at reducing alcohol consequences. Methods: Using semi‐structured qualitative interviews, 21 young adult drinkers (ages 18–24; 57.1% female) shared their opinions regarding the need for electronic interventions (i.e., mobile or web‐delivered) to reduce alcohol consequences as well as their preferences for content, features, and ways to increase engagement. Interviews were coded and analyzed using a multi‐step thematic analysis approach. Results: As part of our discovery phase of intervention development, content coding revealed four main themes. Participants perceived several benefits of interventions focused on alcohol consequences, such as promoting mindful alcohol use and reducing alcohol‐related harms. Participants also discussed perceived limitations of such programs, including believing consequences from drinking are unavoidable, necessary for learning, and associated with peer pressure. Preferences for features included real‐time tracking, personalized feedback, and psychoeducation along with preferences for design including non‐judgmental framing, interactive content, and a user‐friendly platform. Conclusions: Engaging end users early in the development process is a valuable approach to increase intervention relevancy with the target population. This can also inform intervention content and design to maximize engagement and satisfaction (e.g., framing, features, and interactivity) while also reducing barriers identified early on (e.g., peer pressure). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive impairments are common in alcohol use disorder (AUD), but only a few studies have investigated the accuracy of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in this population. We examined the accuracy and precision of the MoCA in detecting cognitive impairment in a sample of patients with AUD. In addition, we investigated whether the MoCA predicts premature discontinuation from treatment. Method: A sample of 126 persons with AUD undergoing treatment in specialist health services were administered the MoCA and a battery of 12 neuropsychological tests. Five cognitive domains were derived from the reference tests. A composite total score from these tests was used as a reference criterion for determining correct and incorrect classifications for the MoCA. We analyzed the optimal cut‐off score for the MoCA and the accuracy and agreement of classification between the MoCA and the reference tests. Results: Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyzes yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.77 (95% CI [0.67, 0.87]). Applying 25 as the cut‐off, MoCA sensitivity was 0.77 and specificity 0.62. The PPV was 0.53. The NPV was 0.84. Using a cut‐off score of 24 yielded a lower sensitivity 0.60, but specificity was significantly better i.e., 0.79. PPV was 0.68. The NPV was 0.82. Kappa agreement between MoCA and the reference tests was fair to moderate, 0.38 for the cut‐off of 25, and 0.44 for the cut‐off of 24. MoCA did not predict discontinuation from treatment. Conclusions: Our findings indicate limitations in the classification accuracy of the MoCA in predicting cognitive impairment in AUD. Achieving the right balance between accurately identifying impaired cases without including too many false positives can be challenging. Further, MoCA does not predict discontinuation from treatment. Overall, the results do not support MoCA as a time‐efficient screening instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insomnia symptoms are pervasive and persistent in alcohol use disorder (AUD), though little is known about the mechanisms that underlie this association. We previously found that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT‐I) reduced alcohol‐related problems among veterans by improving insomnia severity (NCT03806491). In this planned secondary analysis of the same clinical trial data, we tested negative emotionality as one potential mechanism to explain this effect. Specifically, we tested the change in negative emotionality as a mediator of the association between change in insomnia symptoms and alcohol‐related outcomes (craving, heavy drinking frequency, and alcohol‐related problems). Methods: Participants were 67 veterans in treatment for AUD who also met the criteria for insomnia disorder (91% male, 84% White, average age = 46.3 years). Participants were randomized to five sessions of CBT‐I or a single‐session sleep hygiene control. Assessments occurred at baseline, immediately posttreatment (~6 weeks after baseline), and at 6‐week follow‐up. Measures included the Insomnia Severity Index, Penn Alcohol Craving Scale, Timeline Followback, and Short Inventory of Problems. We created a latent negative emotionality indicator based on five validated and reliable measures of negative emotionality. Results: Contrary to hypotheses, CBT‐I did not improve negative emotionality relative to sleep hygiene control. However, across both treatment conditions, decreases in insomnia symptoms from baseline to posttreatment were associated with concurrent decreases in negative emotionality, which in turn predicted reductions in alcohol craving and heavy drinking. Conclusion: Negative emotionality may help explain links between insomnia symptoms and alcohol‐related outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among communicable and noncommunicable diseases, and its prevalence is going to rise even more by 2030. The discovery of different "functional" foods containing a plethora of bioactive compounds is considered an ally in the effort to reduce the global CVD burden in the context of primary prevention. It has been about 3 decades since the observation that red wine consumption in French population could lead to lower coronary heart disease risk despite the high dietary consumption of saturated fats, known as the "French paradox." Since then, numerous epidemiological studies, mainly observational, have emerged in order to investigate this association with great enthusiasm. However, due to the nature of these studies, the scientific community has raised concerns about the methodological approach of the studies and thus the generalization of their results. Therefore, the current review aims to summarize some of the major methodological issues deriving from observational studies on the association between red wine consumption and cardiovascular health and to highlight the importance of higher quality study design in the general effort of drawing safer conclusions on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We examined the prevalence of price promotions (i.e., proportion of products on price promotion) and the magnitude of price promotions (i.e., size of the price discount compared to the regular price) among online alcohol retailers. Methods: In August 2023, we web‐scraped product information for all alcoholic beverages available for sale in the online stores of two leading alcohol retailers in Sydney, Australia. Products were classified into five primary alcohol categories: wine, spirits, beer, cider and premix drinks. We considered three types of price promotion: temporary price discounts (e.g., 'was $5 now $4'), multi‐buy discounts (e.g., buy one get one free) and 'any six' discounts (e.g., 5% off when purchased in a bundle of any six similar products). The prevalence and mean magnitude of price promotions were estimated overall and by product category and price promotion type. Results: In total, data for 11,184 products were collected. Of these, 62% were the subject of at least one of the assessed forms of price promotion. The most frequently price‐promoted category was wine (91% of products), followed by spirits (35%), premix drinks (30%), cider (28%) and beer (21%). Of all price promotions, 61% were 'any six' discounts, 31% were temporary price discounts, and 7% were multi‐buy discounts. Across all price promotions, the mean magnitude of price discount relative to the regular price was 11% and ranged from less than 1% to 71%. Discussion and Conclusions: Policymakers should consider restricting price promotions as part of a suite of strategies to reduce alcohol‐related harms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The impact of alcohol‐free and low‐alcohol (no/lo) drinks on public health and health inequalities depends on who consumes them and how they are consumed. This study aimed to estimate: (i) the proportions of adults in Great Britain who consume no/lo drinks at different frequencies and in different settings; and (ii) the associations between no/lo drink consumption and individual characteristics. Method: Pooled data (N = 7691) from four waves of a repeat cross‐sectional survey on alcohol use completed in 2022–2023 by adults (16+) resident in Great Britain were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression models. Results: In all, 31.3% of adults reported ever consuming no/lo drinks and 9.8% reported drinking them weekly. Ever consumption of no/lo drinks was associated with: being an increasing risk drinker of alcohol relative to not drinking (ORadj: 3.96, 95% CI 3.27–4.80), being aged 16–24 compared with 65+ (ORadj:1.29, 95% CI 1.07–1.57), having previously smoked compared with having never smoked (ORadj:1.19, 95% CI 1.05–1.34) and living in a rural rather than urban area (ORadj:1.14, 95% CI 1.00–1.29). It was less likely among those in lower social grades or with lower educational qualifications; those living in Yorkshire and the Humber, and Scotland, compared with the South‐East of England; and those using nicotine products. Discussion and Conclusions: A third of adults in Great Britain have consumed no/lo drinks and approximately one in 10 do so weekly. Consumption is more common among riskier drinkers of alcohol and among more advantaged social groups, which may contribute to the sustaining or widening of health inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We aimed to assess: (i) trends in alcohol‐specific — that is, fully attributable — morbidity and mortality in the German adult population aged 15–69 between 2000 and 2021; and (ii) changes in alcohol‐attributable disease burden — that is, fully and partially alcohol‐attributable categories — for 2006, 2012, 2018 and 2021. Methods: Morbidity data was pulled from hospitalisation and rehabilitation statistics and mortality data was pulled from the causes of death registry. Alcohol use, adjusted for unrecorded consumption, was estimated using the Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse and triangulated with per capita consumption from annual sales data. For major disease categories, alcohol‐attributable fractions were estimated for males and females by age groups (15–29, 30–49, 50–69 years) using the comparative risk assessment methodology. Results: For males and females, the age‐standardised rate of alcohol‐specific morbidity peaked in 2012 and decreased thereafter showing a steep decline from 2019 to 2021. The rates of alcohol‐specific mortality decreased constantly from 2000 to 2019 but increased from 2019 to 2021. Compared to 2006 the age‐standardised alcohol‐attributable morbidity and mortality rates in males and females were lower in 2021. For both sexes, the age‐standardised alcohol‐attributable morbidity and mortality rates and the proportions of morbidity/mortality rates relative to all‐cause morbidity/mortality decreased between 2006 and 2021. Discussion: The declines in alcohol‐attributable morbidity and mortality are in line with decreases in consumption and signal that the importance of alcohol in health service utilisation and mortality has weakened. Sex ratios in morbidity and mortality do not indicate a strong converging trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Identifying subgroups of Temporary (alcohol) Abstinence Challenge (TAC) participants may offer opportunities to enhance intervention effectiveness. However, knowledge about such subgroups is missing. This study aimed to (i) describe a TAC population; (ii) identify subgroups of participants based on determinants of changes in drinking behaviour; and (iii) characterise subgroups in terms of sociodemographic and other characteristics. Methods: Data from 3803 Dutch TAC participants were analysed to identify subgroups using three‐step Latent Class Analysis. Classes were based on determinants of changes in drinking behaviour (i.e., drinking refusal self‐efficacy, craving and behavioural automaticity) and were characterised by sociodemographic characteristics, drinking behaviour, previous participation in TACs, self‐reported health and life satisfaction. Results: The majority of TAC participants were female, highly educated, employed, 53 years old on average, participated in previous TACs and reported relatively high alcohol use. Four classes of participants were identified: (i) 'ordinary drinkers' (49.0%); (ii) 'drinkers in control' (21.4%); (iii) 'habitual drinkers with perceived control to refuse' (18.4%); and (iv) 'drinkers not in control' (11.2%). Class 2 drank least often and non‐excessive volumes, while other classes typically drank 4 or more days per week and 3 to 4 glasses per drinking day, with the highest alcohol use found in class 4. Discussion and Conclusions: Different configurations of determinants in this study's four subgroups may require different intervention approaches and might inform personalised support. Future research is needed to examine the predictive value of these subgroups on post‐challenge drinking behaviour to assess support needs and participation value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Helplines are often the first contact with the alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment system. We examined call data from an AOD helpline in Victoria, Australia, to explore the association between COVID‐19 lockdown measures and frequency of calls. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of AOD helpline data collected between January 2018 and September 2020, for alcohol, methamphetamine and cannabis use concerns. Linear and logistic regression analyses examined differences in pre‐COVID‐19 (January 2018 to March 2020) and during COVID‐19 (March 2020 to September 2020) caller characteristics, and interrupted time‐series analyses examined changes in frequency of calls relative to lockdown measures. Results: There were 14,340 calls for alcohol (n = 10,196, 71.10%), methamphetamine (n = 2522, 17.59%) and cannabis (n = 1622, 11.31%). Relative to pre‐COVID‐19, during COVID‐19 there was an increase in the rate of change over time in number of alcohol calls (b = 0.39), increase in first‐time alcohol callers (OR = 1.29), and reduction in first‐time methamphetamine callers (OR = 0.80). During COVID‐19, alcohol callers had lower Socio‐Economic Indicators for Areas scores (b = −3.06) and cannabis callers were younger (b = −2.07). During COVID‐19, there were reductions in alcohol calls involving counselling/support (OR = 0.87) and information provision (OR = 0.87), cannabis calls involving information provision (OR = 0.71) and methamphetamine calls involving referral (OR = 0.80). Discussion and conclusions: In the first 6 months of the pandemic, frequency of alcohol‐related calls increased over time, and first‐time alcohol‐related callers increased. The number of calls for cannabis and methamphetamine remained stable. Results suggest the helpline was not used to its full capacity, suggesting a role for further promotion during times of crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]