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The article discusses the findings of the analysis of data from landline and cellular phones to the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BARFSS) to estimate the prevalence of binge drinking among adults in the U.S., and from the 2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to binge drinking among high school students and adults in 2009. The only way to reduce binge drinking among adolescents and adults is through the implementation of evidence-based interventions.

Numerous studies have examined risk factors that are associated with heavy alcohol use; however, much of this research has not addressed factors that specifically relate to women's alcohol use. The current study has extended the previous literature on women's alcohol-use behavior by examining factors associated with risky drinking in young women traveling abroad (n = 55). Using a pretest-posttest design, we examined the influence of disinhibition sensation-seeking and endorsement of social enhancement alcohol expectancies in relation to participation in risky alcohol use while abroad for three weeks. Analyses confirmed that disinhibition sensation-seeking and social enhancement alcohol expectancies were associated with participation in risky alcohol-use behaviors while abroad (controlling for alcohol-use at the pretest). Analysis of qualitative data reinforced the importance of social facilitation in women's alcohol risk-taking. Participants' qualitative data also emphasized characteristics of situational disinhibition relating to travel as well as culturally-specific motivations for alcohol-use behaviors. Further research examining women's personal need for disinhibition and the role of situational disinhibition in motivating alcohol risk-taking is warranted. In addition, the current findings suggest that interventions focusing on the connections between alcohol use and enhancement of social relationships and the potential isolating effects of non-use are necessary. KEYWORDS alcohol, risk-taking, disinhibition DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2010.480907

In this paper we examine the potential interdependence between early adolescent alcohol use and later role occupancy of such social roles as higher education attendance, parenthood, level of work intensity, and marriage. Data from a ten-year prospective study (1990-1993 & 2000-2003) were employed to examine these relationships among a sample of 523 young adult males who had previously attended a Miami-Dade County (Florida) middle or high school. Among the adult social roles considered, only being currently married was shown to be a significant predictor of having an inverse association with heavy alcohol use. However, an important conditional relationship was also observed: among those respondents who have a history of high early alcohol use, there is an association between work intensity and heavy alcohol use such that work intensity has a social amplification effect on young adult heavy alcohol use. The results presented here demonstrate that early risk factors need to be considered in conjunction with later social role occupancy when examining young problem drinking. The implications and limitations of these findings are discussed.

A study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between alcohol consumption on a regular basis and the increasing incidence of atrial fibrillation among women. Results indicated that consumption of 2 or more alcohol drinks per day was not associated with atrial fibrillation among women but more than 2 drinks showed a small but significant risk.

Research on the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on heavy drinking of alcohol has provided contradictory findings. A limitation of the literature is that studies have primarily measured SES at one point in time. Inspired by the life course perspective and sociological research on chronic stress, this study uses data from the US National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (1979-1992 wave) to examine whether the duration of poverty and unemployment is a risk factor for heavy drinking. Results from logistic and ordinary least squares regression analyses demonstrate that longer durations of poverty and involuntary unemployment across a span of 13 years significantly predict being a heavy drinker and more frequent heavy drinking at ages 27-35 years. These effects are independent of gender, age, race/ethnicity, marital status, prior heavy drinking, and present SES. Overall, this study contributes to the literature that histories of poverty and involuntary unemployment have lasting effects on heavy drinking. More studies should use longitudinal data to explore the temporal dimension of SES. Keywords: Heavy drinking Young adulthood Poverty duration Unemployment USA Alcohol

This study examines the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use within a religiously affiliated, conservative Christian university to assess whether risk and protective factors for substance use, which have been found to function in general society, also apply within a unique context which prohibits use and has overall lower prevalence rates. Variables examined included perception of normative use, personal religious behaviors, and need for adult approval. Self-reported substance use was low, while perception of normative use was high. Perception of use was positively related to self-reported use while personal religiosity and need for adult approval were inversely related to use. These data suggest that these risk and protective factors apply not only within general populations, but also within a specific subcultural context, supporting the importance of these models in a religious college context in understanding substance use patterns, variables related to those patterns, and possible prevention programs.

This study shows that alcohol consumption enhances the prediction of candy consumption by implicit attitudes and at the same time decreases the predictive validity of cognitive restraint standards. Female participants were assigned to either an alcohol or a control condition and were then given an opportunity to taste candies. For participants in the alcohol condition, candy consumption was uniquely predicted by previously assessed implicit attitudes toward the candy. In contrast, candy consumption was primarily predicted by cognitive restraint (Three Factor Eating Questionnaire) in the control condition. Moreover, participants who consumed alcohol ate significantly more candy at the group level. These results indicate that alcohol increases the behavioral impact of impulsive determinants on eating behavior while disrupting the behavioral impact of reflective determinants. They further demonstrate that measures of implicit attitudes toward tempting stimuli add incremental validity for the prediction of self-control outcomes. Keywords: alcohol, implicit attitudes, cognitive restraint, eating behavior, impulsive behavior

Objectives. We examined the effects of exposure to or interpersonal loss resulting from a terrorist attack on posttraumatic stress and alcohol consumption after we controlled for psychiatric history assessed before the attack. Methods. At baseline (1991-1992) and at 1- and 10-year follow-ups, an adult community sample of drinkers living approximately 12 mi (19.2 km) from the World Trade Center were evaluated for alcohol dependence and major depression. Of this group, 82.2% were assessed regarding the impact of the September 11, 2001, attacks, including proximity to the World Trade Center, interpersonal loss, posttraumatic stress, and alcohol consumption. Results. In regression models, interpersonal loss and past major depression, but not proximity to the World Trade Center, predicted posttraumatic stress symptoms. Proximity and past alcohol dependence, but not interpersonal loss, predicted high levels of post--September 11 alcohol consumption. Past alcohol dependence did not modify the proximity-drinking relationship, and past major depression did not modify the loss--posttraumatic stress relationship. Conclusions. Participants' responses to September 11 were specific to their type of exposure and not predetermined by their psychiatric history. A better understanding of responses to traumatic events should assist more-effective prevention and intervention efforts.

A study was conducted to examine the independent effect of alcohol and combined effects of drug and alcohol use on antiretroviral (ART) utilization, adherence, and viral suppression in an urban cohort of HIV-infected individuals. The findings suggest that hazardous alcohol use alone and combined with injection drug use (IDU) was associated with decreased ART uptake, adherence, and viral suppression.

College binge drinking is examined from the perspectives of two cultures. The traditional culture views binging as deviant; the second culture promotes it. In this context, logit regression is used to explore the effects of various factors, including student employment and parental education. Employed students are less likely to binge than are students who are not employed. Also, students whose mother is a college graduate, but whose father is not, are more likely to binge than other students. The prescriptions for reducing binge drinking are different when the behavior is perceived as mainstream rather than deviant. The research calls for the development of a process for promoting cultural change in an environment of continually changing student leadership. Keywords: Binge drinking, college students, I. INTRODUCTION Over 40% of college students have been found to engage in heavy episodic alcoholic use or binge drinking (1, 2). This heavy alcohol use poses a serious health [...]

Objectives To study the risk of non-fatal injury at low levels and moderate levels of alcohol consumption as well as the differences in risk across modes of injury and differences among alcoholics. Methods Data are from patients aged 18 years and older collected in 2001-02 by the WHO collaborative study on alcohol and injuries from 10 emergency departments around the world (n = 4320). We used a case-crossover method to compare the use of alcohol during the 6 hours prior to the injury with the use of alcohol during same day of the week in the previous week. Findings The risk of injury increased with consumption of a single drink (odds ratio (OR) = 3.3; 95% confidence interval = 1.9-5.7), and there was a 10-fold increase for participants who had consumed six or more drinks during the previous 6 hours. Participants who had sustained intentional injuries were at a higher risk than participants who had sustained unintentional injuries. Patients who had no symptoms of alcohol dependence had a higher OR. Conclusion Since low levels of drinking were associated with an increased risk of sustaining a non-fatal injury, and patients who are not dependent on alcohol may be at higher risk of becoming injured, comprehensive strategies for reducing harm should be implemented for all drinkers seen in emergency departments. Resume Etude multicentrique de la relation entre abus d'alcool et traumatismes non mortels : donnees fournies par une etude collective menee par l'OMS sur le theme alcools et traumatismes Objectits Etudier le risque de traumatisme non mortel associe a une consommation faible ou moderee d'alcool, ainsi que les variations de ce risque en fonction du type de traumatismes et de la consommation alcoolique. Methodes Les donnees concernent des individus de plus de 18 ans et ont ete recueillies sur la periode 2001-2002 dans le cadre d'une etude collective organisee par l'OMS sur la relation entre alcool et traumatismes dans 10 service d'urgence repartis dans le monde (n = 4320). Ces donnees ont ete soumises a une analyse de type case crossover pour comparer la consommation d'alcool pendant les 6 jours precedant le traumatisme a celle des memes jours de la semaine precedente. Resultats Le risque de traumatisme augmente des la premiere consommation (odds ratio = 3,3; intervalle de confiance 95 % = 1,9-5,7) et s'accroit d'un facteur 10 pour les sujets ayant pris six consommations et plus pendant les 6 jours precedents. Pour les sujets, le risque de traumatisme intentionnel est plus grand que celui de traumatisme involontaire. L'odds ratio (OR) est plus eleve pour les sujets ne presentant aucun symptome de dependance alcoolique. Conclusion Une association etant Constatee entre la consommation de faibles quantites d'alcool et l'augmentation du risque de traumatisme non mortel et les individus non dependants a l'egard de l'alcool pouvant etre exposes a un plus grand risque de traumatisme, des strategies completes de limitation des dommages doivent etre mises en place a l'intention de tous les buveurs accueillis dans les services d'urgence. Resumen Estudio multicentrico sobre consumo agudo de alcohol y traumatismos no mortales: datos de un estudio en colaboracion de la OMS sobre el alcohol y los traumatismos Objetivos Estudiar el riesgo de traumatismo no mortal a niveles moderados y bajos de consumo de alcohol, asi como el distinto riesgo asociado a cada tipo de traumatismo y las diferencias segun el grado de dependencia del alcohol. Metodos En 2001-2002, como parte del estudio en colaboracion de la OMS sobre el alcohol y los traumatismos, se reunieron datos sobre pacientes de 18 anos o mas atendidos en 10 departamentos de urgencias en todo el mundo (n = 4320). Utilizamos un metodo de casos cruzados para comparar el consumo de alcohol durante las 6 horas anteriores al traumatismo y el consumo de alcohol durante el mismo dia de la semana anterior. Resultados El riesgo de traumatismo aumentaba tras consumir una sola bebida (razon de posibilidades (OR) = 3,3; intervalo de confianza del 95% = 1,9-5,7), y se multiplicaba pot 10 entre quienes habian tomado seis o mas bebidas durante las 6 horas precedentes. Los participantes que habian sufrido traumatismos intencionales presentaban un riesgo mayor que el de los participantes que habian sufrido traumatismos no intencionales. Los pacientes sin sintomas de dependencia del alcohol presentaban una OR mas elevada. Conclusion Considerando que los niveles bajos de consumo de alcohol se asociaban ya a un mayor riesgo de traumatismo no mortal, y que los pacientes sin dependencia del alcohol presentan quiza un mayor riesgo de sufrir traumatismos, convendria aplicar estrategias integrales de reduccion de danos con todas las personas que sean atendidas en departamentos de urgencias y hayan bebido., [TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] Introduction Reports of alcohol use that used the case-crossover design have shown that alcohol use is a strong risk factor for all causes of non-fatal [...]

Over the past 30 years, studies have shown that survivors of community-wide disasters suffer from a variety of physical and mental health problems. Researchers also have documented increased substance use in the aftermath of these disasters. In the present study, we examined the relationship between alcohol use and mental health status within the context of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City (NYC). The data for the present report come from a 2-wave panel study of adults living in NYC on the day of the attacks. Wave 1 (W1) and Wave 2 (W2) interviews occurred one year and two years after the attacks, respectively. Overall, 2,368 individuals completed the W1 survey (cooperation rate, 63%) and 1,681 completed the W2 survey (reinterview rate, 71%). The alcohol use variables examined were binge drinking, alcohol dependence, increased days drinking, and increased drinks per day. The outcomes examined included measures of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, BSI-18-Global Severity and measures of SF12-mental and physical health status. After controlling for demographic, stress, and resource factors, multivariate logistic regressions indicated that all alcohol measures were related to one or more of these outcomes. In particular, binge drinking was related to partial PTSD, while alcohol dependence was associated subsyndromal PTSD, severity of PTSD, depression, BSI-18 global severity, and SF-12 poor mental health status. Increased post-disaster drinking was positively associated with subsyndromal PTSD and negatively associated with SF-12 physical health. We discuss reasons for these results and the negative consequences that heavy alcohol use may have on the postdisaster recovery process. Keywords: Community disasters, alcohol use, psychological well-being, mental health, stress and coping, post-traumatic stress disorder, INTRODUCTION Over the past 30 years, studies have shown that survivors of community-wide disasters suffer from both physical and mental health problems (1-7). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, respiratory [...]

Cardiovascular consequences of drinking eight or more drinks at a sitting and of usual drinking of alcohol in the Lung Health Study (LHS) is evaluated. The measure of eight or more drinks in these data appears to act as a surrogate for heavy drinking, and does not provide a suitable test of the effect of drinking pattern in men.

Objectives. We examined relations between early alcohol use and subsequent alcohol and sexual risk behaviors among urban adolescents. Methods. A total of 1034 African American and Hispanic youths completed surveys assessing alcohol and sexual behaviors at 7th and 10th grade. After we controlled for early sexual initiation, we examined relations between early drinking and subsequent alcohol and sexual behaviors. Results. Early drinking was associated with alcohol and sexual risks through mid-adolescence. Early drinkers were more likely to report subsequent alcohol problems, unprotected sexual intercourse, multiple partners, being drunk or high during sexual intercourse, and pregnancy. Among females, early drinking was also related to sexual initiation and recent sexual intercourse. Conclusions. Prevention programs should address combined risks of early alcohol use and sexual intercourse, especially where levels of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections are elevated. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2003.026567)

Objectives. We examined the prevalence and dynamics of binge drinking among middle school students. Methods. We analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The sample was composed of approximately 5300 seventh- and eighth-grade students who were interviewed at 2 points in time. Results. Approximately 8% of seventh graders and 17% of eighth graders reported engaging in binge drinking during the past 12 months. These rates varied as a function of school characteristics. Low scores on the parenting variables-communication quality, use of reasoning, and control and supervision--and binge drinking during middle school also were predictive of binge drinking during high school. Conclusions. Binge drinking among middle school students is an important phenomenon that for many students forecasts future binge drinking during high school. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2003.018952)

The main and interactive effects of anxiety sensitivity and exposure to aversive conditions in terms of their association with alcohol consumption and problems in an epidemiologically defined sample from Russia are evaluated. The results revealed a positive association between stress exposure and problematic drinking.

The relationship between drinking contexts and risky sex while controlling for problem drinking is studied. Results demonstrated that drinking excessively in intimate situations was significantly associated with greater expectancies of alcohol's sex-enhancing effects and risky sexual behaviors.

The relationship in a nonclinical sample is investigated between fear of cognitive dyscontrol and self-reports of problematic drinking. The results suggest that fear of cognitive dyscontrol is uniquely associated with self-reports of problematic drinking behaviors and attitudes.

A study to assess the personality mediator in a relationship between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality is presented. The models of hypertension and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes were significantly of individual personality, which affected the personality covariates.

Alcohol use by young people is dangerous, not only because of the risks associated with acute impairment, but also because of the threat to their long-term development and well-being. Traffic […]

Objective: Most patients who misuse alcohol do not receive alcohol counseling from their providers. This study evaluated primary care patient and provider characteristics associated with receipt of alcohol-related advice and whether patients were advised to drink less or to abstain. Method: Outpatients from seven Veterans Affairs (VA) general medicine clinics were eligible if they screened positive for alcohol misuse, completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and answered questions about alcohol-related treatment and advice. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to evaluate patient and provider characteristics associated with patient reports of alcohol-related advice from a primary care provider in the past year. Results: Among 5,191 patients with alcohol misuse in the past year, 1,554 (30%) reported receiving alcohol-related advice from their primary care provider during that time. Of patients advised, 73% reported advice to abstain. The likelihood of reporting advice increased as AUDIT scores increased: from 13% of patients with AUDIT scores, THE U.S. PREVENTIVE SERVICES TASK FORCE (2004) recently recommended brief alcohol counseling for patients who drink too much, based on a complete review of randomized controlled trials (Whitlock et al., [...]

Objective: Alcohol biomarkers are being developed to improve a physician's ability to identify and intervene with patients with chronic medical problems adversely affected by heavy alcohol use. This article reports the findings of a brief intervention trial which included feedback to patients of their carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) test results. Method: A pilot study was conducted to test the efficacy of brief clinician advice to reduce alcohol use and improve health status in a sample of 151 patients being treated for Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The intervention included informing patients of their CDT levels. The patients were randomized to a usual care or brief intervention group. Results: There were no significant differences at baseline between the two groups in alcohol use, CDT levels, addiction rates, age, gender, socioeconomic status or health status measures. Following brief intervention, significant differences were observed in the intervention group in alcohol use and CDT: The proportion of heavy drinkers at the 12-month follow-up compared with baseline decreased from 35.8% to 24.7% in the intervention group, with no change in the control group (p < .044). CDT levels decreased as well from 2.79% to 2.41% (16% change) in the control group and 3.05% to 2.35% (28% change) in the intervention group, with significantly more intervention-group patients reducing their CDT level by at least 25% (p < .006). Conclusions: The study provides new information suggesting brief intervention, combined with feedback on CDT levels, can reduce alcohol use and %CDT in a sample of primary care patients being treated for Type 2 diabetes and hypertension., ALCOHOL USE and high-risk drinking complicate the care of patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and elevated lipids (Ajani et al., 2000; Fleming et al., 2001; [...]

The alcohol deydrogenase (ADH) 1C*1 genotypes in heavy alcohol consumers are examined. Heavy drinkers are at a risk of developing upper aerodigestive tract cancer due to the elevated salivary acetaldehyde levels during alcohol consumption.

Objectives. We estimated adult binge drinking prevalence in US metropolitan areas. Methods. We analyzed 1997 and 1999 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data for 120 metropolitan areas in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Results. The prevalence of binge drinking varied substantially across metropolitan areas, from 4.1% in Chattanooga, Tenn, to 23.9% in San Antonio, Tex, (median = 14.5%). Seventeen of the 20 metropolitan areas with the highest estimates were located in the upper Midwest, Texas, and Nevada. In 13 of these areas, at least one third of persons aged 18 to 34 years were binge drinkers. There were significant intrastate differences for binge drinking among metropolitan areas in New York, Tennessee, and Utah. Conclusions. Metropolitan-area estimates can be used to guide local efforts to reduce binge drinking. (Am J Public Health. 2004;94:663-671)

Objective: This study examines the associations between alcohol consumption, Type 2 diabetes and hypertension in a native American population. Method: Data were collected in a population-based cross-sectional and prospective study conducted on 3,789 individuals aged ≥ 20 years. Reported alcohol consumption was classified as never, occasional or, THE ROLE OF ALCOHOL use in the etiology of Type 2 diabetes is unclear. Several prospective studies (Ajani et al., 2000; Conigrave et al., 2001) have shown a negative or [...]

Our current understanding of alcohol-induced memory blackouts is derived largely from research with middle-aged, hospitalized, male alcoholics. In the present study, 50 undergraduate students (34 female and 16 male) with a history of at least one blackout were interviewed to gain insight into their experiences. Fragmentary blackouts, in which memory for events is fragmented, were far more common than blackouts of the en bloc type, in which a period of time is simply missing from memory. Most students recalled bits and pieces of events without cueing from others, yet still relied on friends, most also intoxicated themselves during the blackout period, to tell them what transpired. Thinking about the fragments triggered further recall in the majority of cases. Half of all subjects, more females than males, reported having been frightened by their last blackout experience. Being frightened typically led to more careful drinking for several weeks or longer. Characteristics of blackouts among college students in the present study are compared to the standard model of blackouts based on reports from alcoholics. Key Words: Alcohol; Blackout; College students; E-mail survey; Episodic drinking., INTRODUCTION Alcohol is a potent amnesic agent. Beginning with one or two drinks, alcohol can impair the ability to move new information from short-term to long-term storage (1). As the [...]

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of a brief intervention designed to reduce the harmful consequences of heavy drinking among high-risk college students. Students screened for risk while in their senior year of high school (188 women and 160 men) were randomly assigned to receive an individualized motivational brief intervention in their freshman year of college or to a no-treatment control condition. A normative group selected from the entire screening pool provided a natural history comparison. Follow-up assessments over a 2-year period showed significant reductions in both drinking rates and harmful consequences, favoring students receiving the intervention. Although high-risk students continued to experience more alcohol problems than the natural history comparison group over the 2-year period, most showed a decline in problems over time, suggesting a developmental maturational effect.

Do you Know that: * Alcohol abuse rates for people with disabilities are as much as twice that of the general population? * Alcohol-related accidents are the leading cause of [...]

Adolescents with psychological problems and feelings of low self esteem may be more likely to use alcohol and progress to problematic drinking. Indications of chronic and changing risk factors and protective factors were assessed for a group of 823 high school students. Chronic social influences were seen to be important risk factors for both the initiation of alcohol use and accelerated drinking. Strengthening of cognitive skills and feelings of competency may lead to improvement in psychological functioning and reduce these risks. Understanding the mechanisms that influence adolescent alcohol use and abuse may enhance preventative programs., ABSTRACT. Objective: Determinants of initial alcohol use may differ from predictors of accelerated or problematic consumption. Social influences may be strong predictors of initial drinking; however, later stages of problem [...]