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Background Taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) meant to improve health and raise revenue are being adopted, yet evaluation is scarce. This study examines the association of the first penny per ounce SSB excise tax in the United States, in Berkeley, California, with beverage prices, sales, store revenue/consumer spending, and usual beverage intake. Methods and findings Methods included comparison of pre-taxation (before 1 January 2015) and first-year post-taxation (1 March 2015-29 February 2016) measures of (1) beverage prices at 26 Berkeley stores; (2) point-of-sale scanner data on 15.5 million checkouts for beverage prices, sales, and store revenue for two supermarket chains covering three Berkeley and six control non-Berkeley large supermarkets in adjacent cities; and (3) a representative telephone survey (17.4% cooperation rate) of 957 adult Berkeley residents. Key hypotheses were that (1) the tax would be passed through to the prices of taxed beverages among the chain stores in which Berkeley implemented the tax in 2015; (2) sales of taxed beverages would decline, and sales of untaxed beverages would rise, in Berkeley stores more than in comparison non-Berkeley stores; (3) consumer spending per transaction (checkout episode) would not increase in Berkeley stores; and (4) self-reported consumption of taxed beverages would decline. Main outcomes and measures included changes in inflation-adjusted prices (cents/ounce), beverage sales (ounces), consumers' spending measured as store revenue (inflation-adjusted dollars per transaction) in two large chains, and usual beverage intake (grams/day and kilocalories/day). Tax pass-through (changes in the price after imposition of the tax) for SSBs varied in degree and timing by store type and beverage type. Pass-through was complete in large chain supermarkets (+1.07¢/oz, p = 0.001) and small chain supermarkets and chain gas stations (1.31¢/oz, p = 0.004), partial in pharmacies (+0.45¢/oz, p = 0.03), and negative in independent corner stores and independent gas stations (-0.64¢/oz, p = 0.004). Sales-unweighted mean price change from scanner data was +0.67¢/oz (p = 0.00) (sales-weighted, +0.65¢/oz, p = 0.003), with +1.09¢/oz (p < 0.001) for sodas and energy drinks, but a lower change in other categories. Post-tax year 1 scanner data SSB sales (ounces/transaction) in Berkeley stores declined 9.6% (p < 0.001) compared to estimates if the tax were not in place, but rose 6.9% (p < 0.001) for non-Berkeley stores. Sales of untaxed beverages in Berkeley stores rose by 3.5% versus 0.5% (both p < 0.001) for non-Berkeley stores. Overall beverage sales also rose across stores. In Berkeley, sales of water rose by 15.6% (p < 0.001) (exceeding the decline in SSB sales in ounces); untaxed fruit, vegetable, and tea drinks, by 4.37% (p < 0.001); and plain milk, by 0.63% (p = 0.01). Scanner data mean store revenue/consumer spending (dollars per transaction) fell 18¢ less in Berkeley (-$0.36, p < 0.001) than in comparison stores (-$0.54, p < 0.001). Baseline and post-tax Berkeley SSB sales and usual dietary intake were markedly low compared to national levels (at baseline, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey SSB intake nationally was 131 kcal/d and in Berkeley was 45 kcal/d). Reductions in self-reported mean daily SSB intake in grams (-19.8%, p = 0.49) and in mean per capita SSB caloric intake (-13.3%, p = 0.56) from baseline to post-tax were not statistically significant. Limitations of the study include inability to establish causal links due to observational design, and the absence of health outcomes. Analysis of consumption was limited by the small effect size in relation to high standard error and Berkeley's low baseline consumption. Conclusions One year following implementation of the nation's first large SSB tax, prices of SSBs increased in many, but not all, settings, SSB sales declined, and sales of untaxed beverages (especially water) and overall study beverages rose in Berkeley; overall consumer spending per transaction in the stores studied did not rise. Price increases for SSBs in two distinct data sources, their timing, and the patterns of change in taxed and untaxed beverage sales suggest that the observed changes may be attributable to the tax. Post-tax self-reported SSB intake did not change significantly compared to baseline. Significant declines in SSB sales, even in this relatively affluent community, accompanied by revenue used for prevention suggest promise for this policy. Evaluation of taxation in jurisdictions with more typical SSB consumption, with controls, is needed to assess broader dietary and potential health impacts., Author(s): Lynn D. Silver 1, Shu Wen Ng 2,3, Suzanne Ryan-Ibarra 1, Lindsey Smith Taillie 2,3, Marta Induni 1, Donna R. Miles 3, Jennifer M. Poti 2, Barry M. Popkin [...]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among family history of alcoholism (FH), premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, and alcohol consumption in women with a PMS diagnosis. Method: Participants (N = 46) were predominantly white (73%) women, of whom 17 (37%) reported multigenerational alcoholism on the paternal side (FH positive [FH+]) using the Family Alcohol and Drug Survey. Subjects recorded alcohol consumption and PMS symptoms using a daily record form for 3 consecutive months. Results: Demographics and alcohol consumption during the follicular phase (FOL) and premenstrual phase (PREM) of the menstrual cycle did not differ by FH; however, change in drinking from FOL to PREM was greater in FH+ (mean change = 2.78 drinks/week) versus FH negative (FH-; mean change = -0.72 drinks/week) women. During PREM, FH- women reported more PMS symptomatology compared with FH+ women, and alcohol consumption during PREM was positively correlated with ratings of bloating, craving for alcohol, craving for food, and low energy in FH- but not FH+ women. Conclusions: Although FH+ women increased their drinking premenstrually, such use was unrelated to PMS symptom severity., PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME (PMS) has been recognized for more than 40 years as a cluster of emotional and physical symptoms that occurs during the luteal phase of menstruation, approximately 1 week [...]

Objective: Both genetic and common environmental influences contribute to twin associations for substance use; however, twin concordance rates may vary by environmental setting, indicating the presence of genetic-environmental interactions. The present study examined whether measures of family adaptability and cohesion may moderate the genetic influence on risk for alcohol use among female adolescents. Method: We examined such interactions through the application of log-linear models using data from the Virginia Twin Study of Adolescent Behavioral Development, a longitudinal study with extensive home interviews of adolescent (8-17 year old) female twins (386 monozygotic [MZ] pairs, 185 dizygotic [DZ] pairs) and their parents. Results: Twin concordance for alcohol use varied by average twin/parent reports of parental closeness. Differences between MZ-DZ correlations for alcohol use in families with low parental closeness, for example, were 0.97 and 0.67 (p < .001), respectively, compared with 0.79 and 0.73 (p = .24) for high parental closeness families. In addition, differences in twin concordance regardless of zygosity were found with greater twin similarities for alcohol use in strict families compared with leniently disciplined families, suggesting that the twin association interacts with common environmental influences on alcohol use. Conclusions: These results indicate that the genetic effects on adolescent alcohol use interact with the measured family environment and that the heritability of alcohol use may vary according to quality of the parental relationship. If confirmed, prevention programs may benefit from this knowledge, tailoring their intervention to quality of parental relationship., RECENT STUDIES ON ADOLESCENTS support evidence of genetic influences on alcohol use (Han et al., 1999; Hopfer et al., 2003; Maes et al., 1999; Rhee et al., 2003). Genetic influence [...]

This study examined associations between childhood abuse and personality disturbances in 228 drug-dependent women. Thirty-six percent denied abuse, 50% reported emotional, 42% physical, and 42% sexual abuse. Million Clinical Multiarial Inventory (MCMI-III) scores > 74 provided evidence of personality disturbance and scores on Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) scales measuring somatic complaints, depression, anxiety and postraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) served as covariates. Emotional and physical abuse survivors were at increased risk for borderline, masochistic, and avoidant disturbances and decreased risk for narcissistic disturbances. Emotional abuse survivors were also less likely to be sadistic whereas physical abuse survivors were more likely to be paranoid. Sexual abuse survivors were twice as likely be antisocial; however, no association was found with borderline personality. Finally, an increased prevalence of severe personality disturbances was observed among those experiencing multiple types of abuse. Childhood trauma predisposes drag-dependent women to develop troublesome personality characteristics that are independent of drug addiction and other psychological problems associated with childhood trauma. Key Words: Drug dependence; Women; Childhood abuse; Trauma., INTRODUCTION A strong relationship has been consistently observed between childhood abuse and the development of personality disturbances in later life. Individuals who were abused as children are four times as [...]

This study examined associations between demographic, psychiatric, substance abuse, and childhood abuse variables and past 30-day victimization and perpetration among 77 perinatal substance abusers. Victimization rates were 70% emotional, 34% physical, 29% sexual, and 42% personal freedom violations. For perpetration, incidence was 71% emotional, 25% physical, 5% sexual, and 9% personal freedom violations. Through univariate regression, Addiction Severity Index (ASI) psychiatric and drug composite scores, childhood physical abuse, borderline personality disorder (BPP) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were found to significantly predict victimization. In contrast, ASI psychiatric and drug composite scores, BPD, PTSD, and aggressive-sadistic and antisocial personality disorders were found to significantly predict perpetration. In multiple regression models, ASI drug and psychiatric composite scores accounted for the majority of the variance for both victimization and perpetration, suggesting that women with high ASI scores should be queried about their involvement in abusive acts at time of admission to drug treatment. Keywords: victimization; perpetration; abuse; trauma; addiction

Despite potentially devastating consequences to both mother and child, many pregnant substance abusers refuse treatment. To understand why, the present study compared women who enrolled in (N = 102) vs. declined (N = 23) day treatment. Participants were primarily African American, unemployed, high school graduates with a mean age of 27 years. Although demographic characteristics did not differ between groups, treatment enrollees had greater drug severity and were more likely to identify crack cocaine as their drug of choice. They also manifested more family and psychiatric problems, emotional distress, and Axis II psychopathology. In addition, treatment enrollees had greater legal severity and higher rates of criminal justice system involvement (46% vs. 13%). The women who declined perinatal addiction services may have perceived less need for intensive treatment due to lower problem severity and less distress. Development of alternative treatment approaches, such as limited perinatal addiction services provided in conjunction with prenatal care, is warranted. Key Words: Pregnant; Treatment acceptance; Treatment refusal; Psychiatric severity., INTRODUCTION Despite growing awareness of the potentially harmful effects of fetal exposure to alcohol and other drugs, substance use during pregnancy is surprisingly common. The National Pregnancy and Health Survey [...]

Three subgroups of drug dependent women (N = 78) were identified through cluster analysis on MCMI-II scores. Group 1 (26%) presented a relatively benign clinical picture. In contrast, Group 2 (37%) evidenced severe addiction, psychiatric (Axis I), and personality (Axis II) problems. Group 3 (37%) was characterized by fewer Axis I problems, prominent addiction and externalizing (Cluster B) personality deficits. Group membership was significantly associated with retention in a gender-specific day treatment program. Group 2 experienced rapid attrition, with only 36% completing treatment, compared to 57% for Group 1 and 76% for Group 3. Results indicate that drug-dependent women with externalizing psychopathology can be retained in treatment when environmental barriers are removed and an adequate 'holding environment' is maintained. However, women with severe psychiatric problems, unstable mood, and interpersonal deficits are less likely to complete treatment. Early identification of women at risk for drop-out affords an opportunity to intervene to prevent its occurrence. Keywords: Women; Retention; Attrition; Drop-out; Psychopathology

A meta-analysis was performed on data from 24 genetically informative studies by using various personality measures of aggression. There was a strong overall genetic effect that may account for up to 50% of the variance in aggression. This effect was not attributed to methodological inadequacies in the twin or adoption designs. Age differences were important. Self-report and parental ratings showed genes and the family environment to be important in youth; the influence of genes increased but that of family environment decreased at later ages. Observational ratings of laboratory behavior found no evidence for heritability and a very strong family environment effect. Given that almost all substantive conclusions about the genetics of personality have been drawn from self or parental reports, this last finding has obvious and important implications for both aggression research in particular and personality research.

The relationship between smoking characteristics, smoking stage of change, length of stay (LOS) and discharge type is studied with respect to 75 perinatal substance abusers attending the smoke-free residential treatment program. Women with little interest in quitting smoking will have difficulty in sticking to the restriction during the treatment but women in action and maintenance will remain in treatment longer and complete their treatment.

Increased interest among consumers in the reduction of dietary sugar intake has led to the wider availability of food products containing non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS). However, the extent to which NNS are currently being used by manufacturers to sweeten processed food and beverage products, and how NNS may be displacing added sugars as a sweetener is unknown. The current study utilized branded food composition databases from Australia, Mexico, New Zealand and the US to determine the percentage of processed food and beverage products for which there are nutrition data containing NNS and to compare total sugar density (g per 100 mL for beverages and g per 100 g for foods) between products with and without NNS. Ordinary least squares regression at the country-product level was performed to examine associations between presence of NNS and total sugar. Across all countries, 5% of products contained at least one NNS, with the highest prevalence among beverages (22%). Mexico had the highest percentage of products with NNS (11%), as compared to the United States (US) (4%), New Zealand (1%), and Australia (<1%). The presence of NNS was associated with lower mean total sugar density among beverages (range across countries: 7.5 to 8.7 g per 100 mL) and among foods (23.2 to 25.5 g per 100 g). Products with both added sugar ingredients and NNS had a lower overall mean total sugar density when compared to products containing only added sugar ingredients. Due to paucity of data on sales and market shares across these countries, our results do not reflect the extent to which consumers purchase NNS containing products. Continued monitoring of NNS in the food supply, extension of work from these data, and inclusion of market shares of products will be important as more countries introduce policies to reduce sugar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveTo compare estimates from one day with usual intake estimates to evaluate how the adjustment for within-person variability affected nutrient intake and adequacy in Mexican children.DesignIn order to obtain usual nutrient intakes, the National Cancer Institute’s method was used to correct the first 24 h dietary recall collected in the entire sample (n 2045) with a second 24 h recall collected in a sub-sample (n 178). We computed estimates of one-day and usual intakes of total energy, fat, Fe, Zn and Na.Setting2012 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey.SubjectsA total of 2045 children were included: 0–5·9 months old (n 182), 6–11·9 months old (n 228), 12–23·9 months old (n 537) and 24–47·9 months old (n 1098). From these, 178 provided an additional dietary recall.ResultsAlthough we found small or no differences in energy intake (kJ/d and kcal/d) between one-day v. usual intake means, the prevalence of inadequate and excessive energy intake decreased somewhat when using measures of usual intake relative to one day. Mean fat intake (g/d) was not different between one-day and usual intake among children >6 months old, but the prevalence of inadequate and excessive fat intake was overestimated among toddlers and pre-schoolers when using one-day intake (P<0·05). Compared with usual intake, estimates from one day yielded overestimated prevalences of inadequate micronutrient intakes but underestimated prevalences of excessive intakes among children aged >6 months.ConclusionsThere was overall low variability in energy and fat intakes but higher for micronutrients. Because the usual intake distributions are narrower, the prevalence of inadequate/excessive intakes may be biased when estimating nutrient adequacy if one day of data is used. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]