Teenage Binge Drinking Might Have Long-Term Effects

Essays on the economics of alcohol and risky behaviours

BackgroundAn investigation of the risk of high blood pressure (HBP) associated with heavy alcohol consumption in adolescence and early adulthood is lacking. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between...

Alcohol use is increasing among adults in midlife (i.e., ages 35-60), but few studies examine specific alcohol use behaviors in this age group. We examined measures of typical drinks, maximum drinks, binge drinking, and high-intensity drinking by age, sex, and race/ethnicity among midlife adults, as well as the prospective association between age 18 binge drinking and midlife behaviors. Data from 5180 respondents participating in the national Monitoring the Future Panel study who were aged 35-60 in 2022 (followed since they were in 12th grade in 1980-2005) were used to estimate past 30-day midlife drinking behaviors (i.e., typical drinks, maximum drinks, binge, and high-intensity drinking) by age group, sex, and race/ethnicity. Associations between age 18 binge drinking status and midlife drinking outcomes were examined, as well as moderation by sociodemographic characteristics. Across ages 35-60, the mean typical number of drinks on drinking days within the past month ranged from 1.4 to 1.8; the mean maximum drinks ranged from 2.3 to 3.2. Past-month binge and high-intensity drinking prevalence ranged from 19.1% to 31.2% and 3.6% to 8.1%, respectively. Estimates of drinking behaviors were generally higher among respondents aged 35-40 (vs. older age groups), males (vs. females), those identifying as White (vs. other racial/ethnic groups), and those who reported age 18 binge drinking (vs. not). Adolescent binge drinking was a stronger predictor of high-intensity drinking among females than males and of typical and maximum drinks among older (age 60) than younger (age 35) respondents. Binge and high-intensity drinking were reported by a meaningful percentage of the US midlife adults. Binge drinking in adolescence was a predictor of subsequent alcohol-related risks. These long-term connections were especially strong among females. Age 18 binge drinking was a stronger predictor of high-intensity drinking at age 60 than earlier in midlife, underscoring that adolescent binge drinking is a key indicator of risk across the lifespan.

Measuring the effects on quality of life and alcohol consumption of a program to reduce binge drinking in Spanish adolescents

Background: The transition to college is associated with a sharp increase in alcohol binge drinking. Family history (FH) of alcohol use disorder (AUD), childhood maltreatment (CM), and adolescent binge drinking are each associated with heightened impulsivity and greater alcohol misuse. Objectives: We hypothesized that FH, CM, and adolescent binge drinking synergistically increase impulsivity and lead to binge drinking increases over the first year of college. Methods: Overall, 329 first-semester college students (18–19 years old, 70% female) with varying degrees of FH (Family History Assessment Module), CM (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire), and adolescent binge drinking (Carolina Alcohol Use and Patterns Questionnaire) completed an online study that included a computerized delay discounting task and surveys. Binge drinking was surveyed retrospectively to measure adolescent binge drinking, in addition to baseline and one-year follow-up measures. Linear regression analyses tested the interacting effects of FH, CM, and adolescent binge drinking on delay discounting as well as changes in binge drinking severity between baseline and one-year follow-up. A moderated mediation tested whether delay discounting mediated future binge drinking. Results: Greater levels of FH, CM, and adolescent binge drinking interacted to reduce the selection of delayed rewards (β=-0.12, SE = 0.06), indicating increased impulsivity. There was a similar interaction effect on increased binge drinking over the one-year follow-up period (β = 0.37, SE = 0.13). Although FH, CM, and adolescent binge drinking influenced individual paths, the moderated mediation analysis was not significant. Conclusions: Heritable and environmental risk factors for AUD predicted impulsivity and prospectively predicted college binge drinking. Interventions targeting delay discounting processes may represent an effective strategy to reduce harmful drinking specifically for certain high-risk college students.

Background: Binge drinking is common among adolescents. Alcohol use, particularly binge drinking, has been associated with neurocognitive deficits and increased risk-taking behaviors, which may contribute to negative driving outcomes among adolescents even while sober. Objectives: To examine potential differences in self-reported risky driving behaviors between adolescent binge drinkers and a matched sample of controls on measures of (1) compliance with graduated licensing laws, (2) high-risk driving behaviors, and (3) driving outcomes (i.e., crashes, traffic tickets). Methods: This study examined driving behaviors and outcomes in adolescent recent binge drinkers (n = 21) and demographically and driving history matched controls (n = 17) between the ages of 16–18 years. Results: Binge drinkers more frequently violated graduated licensing laws (e.g., driving late at night) and engaged in more “high-risk” driving behaviors, such as speeding and using a cell phone while driving. Binge drinkers had more traffic tickets, crashes, and “near crashes” than the control group. Speeding was the behavior most associated with crashes within the binge drinkers. Conclusion: In this study, binge-drinking teens consistently engage in more dangerous driving behaviors and experience more frequent crashes and traffic tickets. They are also less compliant with preventative restrictions placed on youth while they are learning critical safe driving skills. Scientific Significance: These findings highlight a need to examine the contribution of underlying traits (such as sensation seeking) and binge-related cognitive changes to these high-risk driving behaviors, which may assist researchers in establishing alternative prevention and policy efforts targeting this population.

ObjectivesTo examine the prevalence of binge drinking in adolescence and its persistence into adulthood in an Australian cohort.Design15-year prospective cohort study.SettingVictoria, Australia.Participants1943 adolescents were recruited from secondary schools at age...

To investigate the association between having a favourite alcohol advertisement and binge drinking among European adolescents. Data were obtained from a longitudinal observational study on relationships between smoking and drinking and film tobacco and alcohol exposures. State-funded schools. Baseline survey of 12 464 German, Italian, Polish and Scottish adolescents (mean age 13.5 years), of whom 10 259 (82%) were followed-up 12 months later. Pupils were asked the brand of their favourite alcohol advertisement at baseline. Multi-level mixed-effects logistic regressions assessed relationships between having a favourite alcohol advertisement ('alcohol marketing receptivity') and (i) binge drinking at baseline; and (ii) initiating binge drinking during follow-up among a subsample of 7438 baseline never binge drinkers. Life-time binge drinking prevalence at baseline was 29.9% and 25.9% initiated binge drinking during follow-up. Almost one-third of the baseline sample (32.1%) and 22.6% of the follow-up sample of never-bingers named a branded favourite alcohol advertisement, with high between-country variation in brand named. After controlling for age, gender, family affluence, school performance, TV screen time, personality characteristics and drinking behaviour of peers, parents and siblings, alcohol marketing receptivity was related significantly to both binge drinking at baseline [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.92, 2.36] and binge drinking initiation in longitudinal analysis (AOR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.26, 1.66). There was no evidence for effect heterogeneity across countries. Among European adolescents naming a favourite alcohol advertisement was associated with increased likelihood of initiating binge drinking during 1-year follow-up, suggesting a relationship between alcohol marketing receptivity and adolescent binge drinking.

Binge drinking is a phenomenon of excessive alcohol use seen in many countries. The objectives of this systematic review are a) to investigate the effect of parental socioeconomic status on binge drinking in adolescents, b) to compare how binge drinking and parental socioeconomic status was measured across studies, and c) to compare the differences between developed and developing countries. We searched PsycINFO and Ovid Medline databases for articles up to January 2016. Parental socioeconomic status is defined as household income, parental educational level, and parental occupational status. Binge drinking is defined as at least 4/5 alcohol drinks on a single occasion. Four hundred and fourteen articles were granted from the databases search with an additional 28 articles were hand-searched through bibliographies. After abstracts and full-text were reviewed, a total of 20 studies have met inclusion criteria for this systematic review. In developed countries, included studies were done in the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, France, Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Canada. In developing countries, included studies were done in China and Brazil. The majority of studies find no relationship between parental socioeconomic status and binge drinking in adolescents. However, studies that were done in developing countries yielded a weak positive association when no such association was found in developed countries. The variation on measuring binge drinking and parental socioeconomic status is discussed. These findings may inform healthcare systems in prevention and intervention for binge drinking among adolescents (Am J Addict 2016;25:610-619).

Binge drinking in adolescents is a worldwide public healthcare problem. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions about determinants of binge drinking in Spanish adolescents from the perspective of adolescents and parents. A qualitative study using fourteen semi-structured focus groups of adolescents was conducted during the 2014/2015 school year (n = 94), and four with parents (n = 19), based on the I-Change Model for health behaviour acquisition. Students had a low level of knowledge and risk perception and limited self-efficacy. Girls reported more parental control, and when they get drunk, society perceives them worse. Adolescents suggested focus preventive actions to improve self-efficacy and self-esteem. Parents were permissive about alcohol drinking but rejected binge drinking. They offered alcohol to their children, mainly during celebrations. A permissive family environment, lack of control by parents, adolescents’ low-risk perception, low self-esteem and self-efficacy, as well as the increase of binge drinking in girls as part of the reduction of the gender gap, emerge as risk factors for binge drinking. Future health programmes aimed at reducing binge drinking should focus on enhancing motivational factors, self-esteem, and self-efficacy in adolescents; supervision and parental control; as well as pre-motivational factors by increasing knowledge and risk awareness, considering gender differences.

Harmful alcohol abuse is associated with serious psychosocial and health damage, including cardiac and neurological morbidities. Americans drink 40% more than the global average and adolescents are the heaviest drinkers, displaying a pathological consumption pattern termed “binge drinking”, consisting in short episodes of heavy alcohol intake followed by long withdrawal periods. Despite adolescent binge drinking (ABD) drives severe impairments in neurological and cardiorespiratory function, there are no current health policies to prevent ABD or its physiological consequences. Indeed, little is known about the long‐term consequences of ABD in adulthood physiology. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential harmful effects of ABD on cardiac and respiratory (patho)physiology in the adult life. Sixteen male juvenile Sprague‐Dawley rats underwent ABD‐like alcohol administration protocol or control treatment, consisting of 2‐days “ON” and 2‐days “OFF” doses of ethanol (3.0 g/kg, 25% w/v in saline administered i. p.) beginning on post‐natal day (PND) 25 until PND 38. Once rats reached adulthood (PND80), respiratory and cardiac function were respectively assessed by whole‐body plethysmography and intraventricular pressure‐volume loops. Compared to controls, adult rats exposed to ABD displayed no differences in resting blood pressure, heart rate and pulmonary ventilation, but they showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in the breath‐to‐breath interval variability (40.8 ± 2.8 vs. 25.6 ± 2.3 ms; ABD vs. Control, respectively) and in the incidence of apneas/hypoapneas (AHI: 5.83 ± 0.40 vs. 2.50 ± 0.37 events/h; ABD vs. Control, respectively). Intraventricular cardiac function analysis using PV‐loops revealed a reduction in left ventricular compliance in ABD animals, evidenced by the augmented slope of the end diastolic pressure‐volume relationship (EDPVR: 0.0303 ± 0.006 vs. 0.009 ± 0.001 mmHg/µL; ABD vs. Control). Also, we found that ABD induced cardiac autonomic imbalance estimated by low/high frequency ratio of heart rate variability (LFHRV/HFHRV: 1.59 ± 0.23 vs. 1.01 ± 0.08) and increased arrhythmia incidence (53.6 ± 12.7 vs. 21.7 ± 5.7 events/h; ABD vs. Control). Our results shows that binge drinking in adolescence causes long‐lasting cardiorespiratory dysfunction that includes at least cardiac diastolic dysfunction, autonomic imbalance, and generation of irregular breathing all of them persisting until the adulthood.1Laboratory of Cardiorespiratory Control, Department of Physiology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. 2Biomedical Department, Facultad of Health Science, Universidad de Antofagasta. 3Centro de Excelencia de Biomedicina en Magallanes (CEBIMA), Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile. 4Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración CARE‐UC, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Externalizing and internalizing problems as predictors of alcohol-related harm and binge drinking in early adolescence: The role of gender

Efficacy of theory-based interventions aimed at reducing binge drinking in adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

P3 components and adolescent binge drinking in Southwest California Indians

Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic condition caused by the triplication of chromosome 21. The most invalidating feature of DS is intellectual disability (ID). Neurogenesis and dendritic maturation impairment are key determinants of ID in DS. To study DS, several mouse models have been created and the most used is the Ts65Dn mouse. Despite intense efforts, there are currently no therapies for DS. Considering the time course of brain development, pharmacotherapies should be carried as early as possible during the lifespan. The goal of this project was to establish whether neonatal treatment with “unexplored” molecules restores the major neurodevelopmental defects and cognitive performance in the Ts65Dn mouse model and whether their effect is retained after treatment cessation. I have explored the effects of different molecules administered to Ts65Dn mice during the neonatal period. ELND006, an inhibitor of γ-secratase. ELND006 blocks the formation of a small APP-derived peptide which inhibits the activity of the SHH pathway, thereby reducing neurogenesis. EGCG, a natural inhibitor of the kinase DYRK1A, whose overactivity in the DS brain negatively affects neurogenesis. 7,8-DHF, a natural mimetic of BDNF that by activating the TRKB receptor may compensate for the reduced levels of BDNF in the DS brain. ELND006 restored neurodevelopment of the hippocampal formation of Ts65Dn mice, and most of these effects were retained at one month after treatment cessation. EGCG had short-term but not long-term effects on hippocampal development and behavior. 7,8-DHF administered neonatally caused restoration of hippocampal development. Moreover, administration of 7,8-DHF from postnatal day 3 to adolescence led to a restoration of memory. These demonstrations may stimulate the design of clinical trials in DS with the molecule/s with the highest efficacy and the safest profile. This is the challenge that faces the community of preclinical researchers interested in DS: to transform a dream into reality.