Alcohol-induced Blackouts Research Articles

Associations between posting about alcohol on social networking sites and alcohol-induced blackouts in a sample of young adults not in 4-year college.

Research among young adults (YA), in samples of majority White college students, indicates links between posting about alcohol on social media and self-reported drinking behavior. We sought to extend this work by examining unique associations between public versus private posting about alcohol and the high-risk outcome of alcohol-related blackouts among a sample of racially/ethnically diverse YA not in 4-year college. A sample of 499 participants (ages 18-29; 52.5% female; 37.5% Black/African American, 26.9% White, 25.3% Hispanic/Latinx) completed an online survey about social media use and drinking behavior. Across three platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter [now known as "X"]), public posting on Instagram was most common. Adjusting for covariates, a higher frequency of private posting about alcohol was associated with a higher frequency of past-month blackouts. Tests of simple effects of posting on blackouts within racial/ethnic subgroups indicated that private posting about alcohol was significantly associated with past-month blackouts only among those who most strongly identified as Black/African American or White but not among those who most strongly identified as Hispanic/Latinx. Further, public posting was significantly associated with past-month blackouts, though the association was specific to White participants. Whether posting about alcohol may be useful in identifying risky drinking behavior may depend on racial/ethnic identification as well as whether private or public posting is being considered. Results have implications for eventual online interventions, which can identify individuals potentially at risk for hazardous drinking based on their social media posting behavior. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Supplemental Material for Associations Between Posting About Alcohol on Social Networking Sites and Alcohol-Induced Blackouts in a Sample of Young Adults Not in 4-Year College

Supplemental Material for Associations Between Posting About Alcohol on Social Networking Sites and Alcohol-Induced Blackouts in a Sample of Young Adults Not in 4-Year College

Transdermal alcohol concentration features predict alcohol-induced blackouts in college students.

Alcohol-induced blackouts (AIBs) are common in college students. Individuals with AIBs alsoexperienceacute and chronic alcohol-related consequences. Research suggests that how students drink is an important predictor ofAIBs. We used transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC) sensors to measure biomarkers of increasing alcohol intoxication (rise rate, peak, and rise duration) in a sample of college students. We hypothesized that the TAC biomarkers would be positively associated with AIBs. Students were eligible to participate if they were aged 18-22 years, in their second or third year of college, reported drinking 4+ drinks on a typical Friday or Saturday, experienced ≥1 AIB in the past semester, owned an iPhone, and were willing to wear a sensor for 3 days each weekend. Students (N = 79, 55.7% female, 86.1% White, Mage = 20.1) wore TAC sensors and completed daily diaries over four consecutive weekends (89.9% completion rate). AIBs were assessed using the Alcohol-Induced Blackout Measure-2. Logistic multilevel models were conducted to test for main effects. Days with faster TAC rise rates (OR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.56, 5.90), higher peak TACs (OR = 2.93, 95% CI: 1.64, 7.11), and longer rise TAC durations (OR = 4.16, 95% CI: 2.08, 10.62) were associated with greater odds of experiencing an AIB. In a sample of "risky" drinking college students, three TAC drinking features identified as being related to rising intoxication independently predicted the risk for daily AIBs. Our findings suggest that considering how an individual drinks (assessed using TAC biomarkers), rather than quantity alone, is important for assessing risk and has implications for efforts to reduce risk. Not only is speed of intoxication important for predicting AIBs, but the height of the peak intoxication and the time spent reaching the peak are important predictors, each with different implications for prevention.

Associations among sexual assault history, alcohol use, blackouts, and blackout intentions among college women

Background: Links between alcohol-induced blackouts and sexual assault (SA) are understudied. We tested whether: (1) history of blackouts, past 30-day blackouts, and past 30-day blackout intentions would be higher among women with histories of SA relative to women without; (2) baseline history of blackouts, past 30-day blackouts, and blackout intentions would predict an increase in SA severity (i.e., a continuous variable that considers SA tactic type and assault frequency) at a one-year follow-up. Methods: 1721 undergraduate women completed a baseline survey and 313 completed the follow-up. Results: Women with SA history had 2.10 higher odds of history of blackouts, 1.47 higher odds of past 30-day blackout during “one” drinking episode, 1.78 higher odds of blackout during a “few” drinking episodes, 3.21 higher odds of blackout during “most/all” drinking episodes, and 1.54 higher odds of blackout intentions in the last 30-days. Longitudinally, history of blackouts and past 30-day blackouts at baseline were associated with an increase in SA severity at follow-up, when peak drinks were not controlled. Conclusion: Longitudinal findings provide some evidence that lifetime history of blackouts and past 30-day blackouts are significant predictors of an increase in SA severity at follow-up and therefore an essential target for interventions.

The Interaction of Cannabis Consumption with Heavy Episodic Drinking and Alcohol-induced Blackouts in Relation to Cannabis Use Consequences Among Recent Undergraduate College Cannabis Users.

Risky alcohol use patterns, characterized by heavy episodic drinking (HED) and alcohol-induced blackout, are prevalent in college students. However, it is not clear if experiencing HED and blackout among college-attending cannabis users heightens risk for adverse cannabis use consequences. The purpose of this study was to examine whether heavy episodic drinking and blackout episodes moderate the relationship between cannabis consumption and cannabis use consequences among college students. Undergraduate college students (n = 4331) were recruited from a Midwest University in 2021. This analysis used a subset of data from past 6-month cannabis users (n= 772; 17.8% of the full sample). Among cannabis users, 64.5% identified as female and 87.8% were White with an average age of 19.99 (SD=2.88). A linear regression was conducted with two two-way interactions of cannabis consumption and HED frequency as well as cannabis consumption and alcohol-induced blackout episodes. Results showed a statistically significant positive association between cannabis consumption and cannabis use consequences (B=0.73, p<.001), adjusting for the other variables in the model. Blackout, but not HED, was a significant moderator (B=0.19, p=.003). The findings of this study indicate that blackout experiences amplify the relationship between cannabis use and cannabis-related consequences among college students. This underscores that blackouts not only signal a risk of problematic drinking but also exacerbate the association between cannabis use and its negative consequences. Findings may inform college campus interventions targeting cannabis and alcohol concurrent-users who experience alcohol-induced blackouts to reduce their additional risk for cannabis-related consequences.

A Dual-Process Decision-Making Model Examining the Longitudinal Associations Between Alcohol-Induced Blackouts and Alcohol Use Disorder Risk Among College Student Drinkers.

The purpose of this study was to use a dual-process decision-making model to examine the longitudinal associations between alcohol-induced blackouts (blackouts) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) risk symptoms among college student drinkers. Undergraduate drinkers (N = 2,024; 56% female; 87% White; 5% Hispanic) at a large northeastern university completed online surveys each semester during their first (Time [T] 1, T2), second (T3, T4), third (T5, T6), and fourth (T7, T8) years of college (87% retention across the study). Path analyses were examined testing the longitudinal associations between T1 willingness to experience a blackout, T1 intentions to avoid a blackout, T2-T8 drinking, T2-T8 blackouts, and T8 AUD risk symptoms. Hypotheses 1 and 2 tested the associations between T1 willingness, T1 intentions, T2-T8 drinking, and T2-T8 blackouts. Hypothesis 3 tested the associations between T2-T8 drinking, T2-T8 blackouts, and T8 AUD risk symptoms. Students experienced an average of 8 (SD = 8) blackouts during college. Approximately 1,514 (88.8%) participants reported experiencing 1 of 8 AUD risk symptoms. T1 willingness was positively associated with T2-T8 blackouts. T2-T8 drinking and T2-T8 blackouts were positively associated with T8 AUD risk symptoms. T1 willingness significantly indirectly affected T8 AUD risk symptoms through its association with T2-T8 blackouts. Results estimated that, on average, college student drinkers experienced eight blackouts across 4 years of college, and 88% of participants reported experiencing at least one symptom of AUD in the last semester of college. Willingness to experience a blackout influenced students' AUD risk symptoms through the number of blackouts they experienced throughout college.

Does it really matter that I do not remember my night? Consequences related to blacking out among college student drinkers.

Alcohol-induced blackouts (AIBs) are experienced frequently by college student drinkers and are more likely to occur on days with high-intensity drinking (HID; 8+ for females/10+ for males) than non-HID days. Research suggests that AIBs are associated with experiencing other alcohol-related consequences (ARCs), including more serious ARCs (SARCs; e.g., legal and sexual consequences), but we do not know whether individuals experience more ARCs and more SARCs on occasions when they black out than when they do not black out. This study examines the associations between AIBs and the total number of both ARCs and SARCs. Students (N = 462, 51.7% female, 87.7% White, Mage = 20.1) were assessed across 6 weekends via e-surveys (80%-97% response rate). Multilevel models were used to test for main effects, controlling for drinking (HID or estimated blood alcohol concentration; eBAC) and sex. Drinking days when an AIB was experienced were associated with more total ARCs (b = 3.54, 95% CI: 3.10, 3.99) and more SARCs (b = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.60, 0.95) per day than non-AIB days. The more frequently a person experienced an AIB, the more total ARCs (b = 5.33, 95% CI: 4.40, 6.25) and SARCs (1.05, 95% CI: 0.80, 1.30) they reported on average. Alcohol-induced blackout days were associated with higher levels of harm than non-AIB days, even at the same levels of drinking. Interventions that focus on reducing the occurrence of AIBs and factors that contribute to them, in addition to reducing alcohol consumption, may help reduce total harm associated with drinking among college students.

Rate of alcohol-induced blackout experience and its negative consequences among Korean university students

An alcohol-induced blackout suggested to be related to a rapid increase in blood alcohol concentration and it is closely related to long-term memory creation. Blackout has been experienced by 35% of the general population and over 50% of university student population. In addition, it has been shown that blackout could be a precursor of injury risk. However, the rate of blackout and blackout related negative consequences in Korean university students have rarely been studied. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the blackout experience rate and its negative consequences among students from four universities in Korea. A survey was conducted among university students located in Pusan, Korea in 2013. Demographic and blackout related information were collected through self-report questionnaire, including blackout experience, age of first blackout, and negative consequences of blackout. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed for collected data. Of a total of 470 subjects (Male = 217, Female = 253) surveyed, 190 (40.4%) subjects had experienced a blackout at some points in their lives. The majority (86.3%) of them experienced the first blackout between 20–25 years old. Among those who had experienced a blackout, 57.0% reported that they could not remember how they went home at the end of the night, 8.1%, 7.6%, 3.1%, and 2.2% reported that they had bodily injuries, argument, physical or personal fight, and sexual-related incidences, respectively. This study shows that many Korean university students have experienced blackouts and related negative events. These results suggest that more systematic drinking control strategy is required for Korean university students.

Alcohol-induced blackouts among college student drinkers: A multilevel analysis

ObjectiveTo identify factors (manner of drinking, combined alcohol and other substance use, physiology) that are associated with alcohol-induced blackouts (AIBs) over and above estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC). MethodsStudents (N = 462, 51.7 % female, 87.7 % White, Mage = 20.1) were assessed across 6 weekends via e-surveys (80–97 % response rate). eBAC was calculated using standard number of drinks, drinking duration, sex, and weight. Three-level multilevel models (days, weeks, persons) were conducted to test for main effects, controlling for eBAC. ResultsProtective behavioral strategies (PBS) were associated with decreased odds of AIBs on the daily (OR = 0.64, 95 % CI: 0.53, 0.77), weekly (OR = 0.84, 95 % CI: 0.72, 0.98), and person-levels (OR = 0.62, 95 % CI: 0.51, 0.74). Combined cannabis with alcohol was associated with increased odds of AIBs on the weekly (OR = 2.13, 95 % CI 1.13, 4.07) and person-levels (OR = 3.56, 95 % CI 1.60, 7.93). People who more frequently played drinking games (OR = 1.41, 95 % CI: 1.12, 1.77), pregamed (OR = 1.55, 95 % CI: 1.19, 2.03), and showed higher tolerance (OR = 1.22, 95 % CI: 1.08, 1.37) showed increased risk of AIBs, over and above eBAC levels. ConclusionWe identified a number of daily-, weekly-, and person-level factors that uniquely contribute to the prediction of AIBs even at equivalent eBACs. Many of these factors were behavioral, suggesting that they may serve as malleable prevention targets for AIBs in college student drinkers.

Age and Fear of Missing Out as Moderators of the Association between Peak Drinks and Alcohol-Induced Blackouts among Adolescents and Young Adults

Background: Alcohol-induced blackouts are periods of impaired memory in which an individual is unable to recount events that occurred while they were intoxicated and are associated with heavier drinking episodes. Objectives: The present study examined age and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) as moderators of the association between peak number of drinks and experiencing alcohol-induced blackouts. Participants ages 15–25 (N = 411; Mean age = 21.4 (SD = 2.5); 61.6% female) completed baseline and daily surveys as part of a larger ecological momentary assessment study. Past month blackout experiences and peak number of drinks were reported at baseline and FoMO was reported in daily surveys one to three weeks following the baseline survey. Results: A zero-inflated negative binomial model was fit to examine the interaction between peak number of drinks with age and FoMO on alcohol-induced blacking out, controlling for relevant covariates. Findings indicated the association between peak number of drinks on the likelihood of alcohol-induced blacking out was significantly moderated by age. The association was stronger for younger compared to older individuals. Findings further indicated the associations between peak number of drinks on both the likelihood and average number of alcohol-induced blacking out was significantly moderated by FoMO. For individuals with higher levels of FoMO, the association between peak drinks and alcohol-induced blacking out was weaker for the likelihood of experiencing any blackouts and stronger for the number of blackouts. Conclusions: Findings provide support to previous literature examining age and FoMO as risk factors for alcohol-induced blackouts among adolescents and young adults.

대학생의 음주 후 블랙아웃 경험과 음주관련요인 분석 : 일개 대학의 건강조사결과를 중심으로

Background & Objectives: University students' binge drinking behavior can lead to blackouts, and frequent blackout experiences can lead to long-term brain damage and alcoholic dementia. This study aims to analyze the drinking characteristics related to the experience of blackout due to heavy drinking among university students. Methods: This study conducted an in-depth analysis of the health survey results on 2,677 students entering a dormitory at a university in April 2017. Based on this information, we performed multivariate logistic regression analysis to find the difference in drinking-related factors related to blackout experiences after drinking by gender and grade. Results: The drinking-related factors associated with university students' blackout experience after drinking were grade, monthly binge drinking, regular walking, regular aerobic exercise, the experience of alcohol-related impairment or injury in the past year, academic difficulties due to drinking in the past year and experience of being advised not to drink from others in the past year. Alcohol-induced blackout by gender and grade showed statistically significant differences by drinking-related factors(p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that college students' blackout experiences after drinking had unique characteristics. In the future, it needs to introduce a college health survey that can systematically collect drinking-related factors of university students and perform continuous monitoring.

Prevalence and correlates of alcohol-induced blackout in a diverse sample of veterans.

Alcohol-induced blackouts have been associated concurrently and prospectively with alcohol-related harm. Although rates of heavy drinking among military samples tend to be comparable or higher than rates among civilian samples, the prevalence and correlates of blackout in the military population are understudied. Veterans (N=241, 29% female, 39% Black) reported on their alcohol consumption and mental health as part of a larger health-related study among veterans. In this secondary analysis, we tested theoretically and empirically informed predictors (gender, drinking quantity, and other drug use) and consequences [depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)] of alcohol-induced blackout. Given the diversity of the sample, potential roles of racial/ethnic discrimination and drinking to cope in alcohol-induced blackout were also tested. Past-year prevalence of alcohol-induced blackout was 53% among veterans who drank alcohol and 68% among those who screened positive for hazardous drinking. Everyday experience of racial discrimination was the strongest concurrent predictor of alcohol-induced blackout. Drinking quantity and use of other drugs were significant correlates only in bivariate models. Controlling for gender, race, drinking quantity, other drug use, and discrimination, blackout frequency was significantly associated with symptoms of depression, but not symptoms of PTSD. Both blackout and racial discrimination were associated with drinking to cope. The prevalence and correlates of alcohol-induced blackout among veterans are largely consistent with those documented in civilian and young adult populations. Among racially diverse groups, racial discrimination may be more strongly associated with mental health symptoms than alcohol consumption or acute alcohol consequences such as blackout.

Recent alcohol-induced blackouts among heavy drinking college students: A qualitative examination of intentions, willingness, and social context.

One-third to half of emerging adult drinkers report experiencing alcohol-induced blackouts in the past year, and blackouts increase the risk for negative consequences. Qualitative methods provide valuable tools for scientific inquiry, allowing for in-depth understanding of lived experiences. The goal of the present study was to gain insight into emerging adults' recent blackout experiences. One hundred heavy drinking college students (age 18-20) completed a baseline survey, 28 days of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) of their alcohol use and consequences, and a follow-up interview. A subset of 37 (46% female, 13.5% Hispanic/Latinx, 54% non-Hispanic ethnicity/White race) endorsed a blackout (forgot what they did during or after drinking) and were interviewed regarding their recent blackout experience. A semi-structured interview guide focused on several key questions regarding intentions and/or willingness to black out, how friends reacted to their blackout, and social norms for blacking out. A priori as well as emergent themes were generated from review of coded data. Qualitative themes included: blackouts are often unintentional, heavy drinking young adults express willingness to black out, friends react in a variety of ways to blackouts, and blackouts are perceived as common and acceptable. Data provide insight into the phenomenology of blackouts among college students, revealing that although college students may not intend to, they are often willing to black out. Future qualitative studies on blackouts among non-college-attending emerging adults are warranted. Such work can inform theory and future survey studies to better understand this high-risk behavior. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Examining Attitude, Norms, and Intentions as Predictors of Prospective Change in Alcohol-Induced Blackouts.

Alcohol-induced blackouts are a marker of risk such that they are strong independent predictors of experiencing other adverse alcohol-related social and health effects. Existing work informed by the Theory of Planned Behavior suggests that several of the constructs contained within it, such as perceived norms, personal attitudes toward consumption, and drinking intentions, are reliable predictors of alcohol use, related problems, and blackout experiences. However, research to date has not examined these theoretical antecedents as predictors of change in the occurrence of alcohol-induced blackout. The current work aimed to evaluate descriptive (the rate a behavior occurs) and injunctive (the approval of a behavior) norms, attitudes toward heavy drinking, and drinking intentions as predictors of the prospective change in experiencing a blackout. Using existing data from two samples (Sample 1: N = 431, 68% male; Sample 2: N = 479, 52% male), students mandated to complete an alcohol intervention completed surveys at baseline and 1- and 3-month follow-ups. Latent growth curve models evaluated perceived norms, positive attitude toward heavy drinking, and drinking intention as prospective predictors of the change in blackout over 3 months. Across both samples, descriptive and injunctive norms and drinking intentions were not significantly predictive of the change in blackout. Only attitude toward heavy drinking significantly predicted prospective change (the slope factor) in blackout in both samples. Given the strong association between heavy drinking attitudes and change in blackout, attitudes may represent an important and novel target for prevention and intervention efforts.

A mixed-methods approach to improve the measurement of alcohol-induced blackouts: ABOM-2.

Alcohol-induced blackouts describe memory loss resulting from alcohol consumption. Approximately half of college students report experiencing a blackout in their lifetime. Blackouts are associated with an increased risk for negative consequences, including serious injury. Research has documented two types of blackouts, en bloc (EB) and fragmentary (FB). However, research is limited by the lack of a validated measure that differentiates between these two forms of blackout. This study used a mixed-methods approach to improve the assessment of FB and EB among young adults. Specifically, we sought to improve the existing Alcohol-Induced Blackout Measure (ABOM), which was derived from a relatively small pool of items that did not distinguish FB from EB. Study 1 used three rounds of cognitive interviewing with U.S. college students (N= 31) to refine existing assessment items. Nineteen refined blackout items were retained for Study 2. Study 2 used face validity, factor analysis, item response theory, and external validation analyses to test the two-factor blackout model among U.S. heavy-drinking college students (N= 474) and to develop and validate a new blackout measure (ABOM-2). Iterative factor analyses demonstrated that the items were well represented by correlated EB and FB factors, consistent with our hypothesis. External validation analyses demonstrated convergent and discriminant validity. These analyses also provided preliminary evidence for the two factors having differential predictive validity (e.g., FB correlated with enhancement drinking motives, while EB correlated with coping and conformity motives). The Alcohol-Induced Blackout Measure-2 (ABOM-2) improves the measurement of blackout experiences among college students. Its use could facilitate the examination of EB and FB as differential predictors of alcohol-related outcomes in future studies.

Insomnia as a moderator of alcohol use and blackout: Potential role in acute physiological consequences

BackgroundAlcohol-induced blackout is associated concurrently and prospectively with alcohol-related harm, including emergency room visits and sexual coercion. Although sleep has not been linked empirically to blackout, symptoms of insomnia have also been linked to memory impairment, in which case insomnia symptoms may compound alcohol’s negative effects on memory. This study tested insomnia symptoms as a moderator of the association between heavy drinking and alcohol-induced blackout. MethodsHeavy-drinking young adults in college (N = 461, 69% female) completed assessments online from remote locations. Hierarchical linear regression was used to test a moderation model predicting blackout frequency. Logistic regression was used to test post hoc hypotheses. ResultsIn contrast to our main hypothesis, heavy drinking was more weakly (not more strongly) associated with blackout in the context of more severe insomnia. Post hoc analyses tested insomnia symptoms as a unique moderator of the association between heavy drinking and likelihood of acute physiological consequences of alcohol use (blackout, passing out, nausea/throwing up, and hangover). Insomnia severity at least marginally moderated the association between heavy drinking and 4 out of 5 physiological consequences of alcohol use, and only moderated the association between drinking and 1 of 19 remaining consequences. ConclusionsSymptoms of insomnia are associated with alcohol-related harm, but may buffer associations between drinking and acute physiological consequences of alcohol. Additional research is needed to determine if alcohol heightens sensitivity to the acute physiological effects of alcohol, in which case less alcohol may be required for young adults with insomnia to experience these effects.

Hippocampal Physiological and Behavioral Deficits Related to Alcohol‐induced Disruption of Local Blood Perfusion

Despite preventative education, moderate‐heavy episodic alcohol (ethanol; EtOH) intake, such as in “binge” drinking, remains a major public health problem. Binge drinking, can lead to blood ethanol levels above legal intoxication and cause alcohol‐induced blackouts (AIB), a form of amnesia linked to dysfunction of the hippocampal CA1 region. The neurobiological bases of AIB, however, remain largely unknown. It is noteworthy that proper function of neurons in the brain, including the CA1 region, critically depends on aerobic metabolism and optimal blood flow (BF). Using rodent models, we previously showed that EtOH at intoxicating concentrations constricted cerebral arteries independently of circulatory, metabolic, and endothelial factors, but due to drug inhibition of large conductance Ca2+‐ and voltage‐gated K+ (BK) channels present in vascular smooth muscle. Using behavioral modeling of contextual fear conditioning with miniscope technology, the present study tests the hypothesis that EtOH‐induced anterograde memory dysfunction is coincidental to EtOH‐induced reduction in local blood flow and reduced neuronal activity in the CA1 region. Thus, we used Ca2+‐release imaging to map single neuron activity in combination with dynamic local BF recordings in awake and freely moving mice to simultaneously determine vascular, neurophysiological and behavioral effects of EtOH in a mouse model of AIB. Ca2+ imaging was conducted using GCaMP6, which provided a blue fluorescent light when neurons released Ca2+, indicating action potentials, while rhodamine dextran dye provided a red label for the vasculature within the CA1. AIB was modeled via contextual fear conditioning, in which mice were exposed to electric shocks after receiving intraperitoneal injections (IP) of saline or EtOH. Twenty‐four hours later, animals were placed into the same boxes, and their freezing behavior was recorded. Data revealed that IP injection of 2 mg/kg EtOH evoked a robust (&gt;50%) decrease in Ca2+ fluorescence which was coincidental to an 18% decrease in cerebral artery diameter. Reductions in neuronal activity and cerebral artery diameter were, indeed, accompanied by a 42.3% reduction in freezing behavior (P&gt;0.05). Thus, this study identifies both vascular and neurophysiological components of EtOH action on the hippocampus CA1 region in a behavioral model of AIB. More generally, our study is the first to investigate the simultaneous effects of EtOH on behavior, including anterograde memory, neuronal activity, and local BF dynamics in the brain.

Association between perceived decline in family income due to COVID-19 and alcohol consumption among Korean adolescents

BackgroundThis study examines the relationship between the perceived decline in family income due to COVID-19 and alcohol consumption among Korean adolescents. MethodsKorea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey 2020 data were used. The study included 42,922 participants (20,672 males; 22,250 females). Multiple logistic regression estimated the relationship between the decline in family income due to COVID-19 and drinking (yes or no) and alcohol-induced blackout (yes or no) status among Korean adolescents. ResultsAdolescent males who perceived worsened family income due to COVID-19 had a higher OR for drinking status and alcohol-induced blackout within 30 days (drinking status: OR 1.27, CI 1.15–1.42, alcohol-induced blackout: OR 1.60, CI 1.19–2.15). Females had a higher OR for current drinking (OR 1.22, CI 1.09–1.38). 7th grade females and 10th grade males were more likely to drink alcohol when their household income decline, compared to high school students (10th grade male: OR 1.54 CI 1.18–2.00; 7th grade female: OR 1.57 CI 1.08–2.27). The male group perceiving family financial loss were likely to have an increased frequency of drinking within 30 days (1–9 days: OR 1.26 CI 1.11–1.42, 10–19 days; OR 1.70 CI 1.22–2.36 over 20 days; OR 1.74 CI 1.15–3.09). LimitationsCross-sectional design and self-reported data are the main limitation of our study. And the cut-off points for drinking status and heavy drinking factors may be difficult to generalize our findings to different population. ConclusionsA significantly positive association of perceived decline in family income due to COVID-19 with increased risks of alcohol consumption was observed among Korean adolescents of both sexes. 7th grade females and 10th grade males were more likely to drink alcohol when their household income changed, compared to high school students. Further, adolescents who perceived family financial loss had an increased frequency of drinking.

Opportunities for reducing college drinking: The roles of drinking attitudes and blackout experience.

As many as 35% of college students report having been drunk in the past month, and greater alcohol use and alcohol-related problems are associated with a positive attitude toward heavy drinking. One serious consequence of heavy drinking is alcohol-induced blackout. When they occur, alcohol-induced blackouts present a unique opportunity to increase motivation to change drinking. However, it is unclear under what conditions an alcohol-related heavy drinking attitude and experiencing a blackout represent an opportunity to change and how experiencing a blackout(s) influences an individual's motivation to reduce drinking and actual behavior. This study tested the interplay between one's positive attitude toward heavy drinking and experiencing a blackout in the past year in predicting motivation to reduce drinking (Study 1) and its impact on drinking over time (Study 2). Data were derived from complementary datasets collected at two universities (Study 1 n=703, mean age = 20.63years, 44% male, 52% White; Study 2 n=568, mean age = 19.18years, 72% male, 84% White). Drinking behavior was measured using a modified Daily Drinking Questionnaire, the Drinking Norms Rating Form, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and estimated peak blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Regression analyses were conducted to determine whether a blackout would moderate the association between attitude and motivation to reduce drinking (Study 1) and drinking over time (Study 2). Results revealed a significant interaction between attitude and blackout, such that individuals who experience a blackout (vs. those who do not) and positively evaluate heavy drinking evidenced lower motivation to reduce drinking (Study 1) and higher levels of estimated peak BAC (Study 2). Drinkers with a negative attitude toward heavy drinking who have experienced a blackout have the strongest motivation to reduce drinking and the greatest reductions in peak drinking behavior over time. These effects are over and above that related to the level of alcohol consumed. For young adults who do not positively endorse heavy drinking, blackouts may present a "moment of opportunity" for intervention.

The morning after the night before: Alcohol-induced blackouts impair next day recall in sober young adults.

Binge-drinking in adolescents and young adults is a widespread problem, however, an often unreported consequence of binge-drinking behaviour is an alcohol-induced memory blackout (MBO). An MBO is a transient amnesic event resulting from rapid, excessive alcohol consumption. Here, we examine the short-term impact of an alcohol-induced MBO event (testing < 20 hours after blackout) on memory performance in people who have experienced a high volume of MBOs. In addition, we aimed to test the hypothesis that people who experience a high volume of MBOs may have poorer recall than non-blackout controls in either sober or intoxicated states. Three episodic memory paradigms consisting of free recall, serial recall, and depth of encoding tasks, were conducted by a group of alcohol drinkers who had never experienced a memory blackout, and those who reported at least 9 in the preceding 12-months. Studies were completed sober and after alcohol by all participants, and sober but after blackout by the experimental group. Accuracy of recall was assessed with linear mixed effects modelling for all experiments and conditions. Recall rate both before and after alcohol consumption was similar between groups, with poorer recall after drinking alcohol by all participants in all three studies. After blackout, MBO participants showed no significant improvement from their intoxicated state in serial recall and depth of encoding tasks, but an improvement in free recall. Further analysis of these findings revealed that 10 out of 23 participants showed significantly impaired performance after blackout during free recall, extending up to 17 participants in serial recall. In general, alcohol reduced recall rate in both blackout and control participants similarly, but recall following MBO remained poor. Our evidence suggests that alcohol-induced blackouts impair memory functioning the next day, and future research should establish the duration of deficits after an acute alcohol-induced blackout episode.