Alcohol-related Blackouts Research Articles

A longitudinal study of the relationship between alcohol-related blackouts and attenuated structural brain development

PurposeAlcohol-related blackouts (ARBs) are common in adolescents and emerging adults. ARBs may also be indicative of persistent, alcohol-related neurocognitive changes. This study explored ARBs as a predictor of altered structural brain development and associated cognitive correlates. MethodsLongitudinal growth curve modeling estimated trajectories of brain volume across 6 years in participants from the National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA) study (n = 800, 213 with lifetime ARB history). While controlling for demographics and overall alcohol use, ARB history was analyzed as a predictor of brain volume growth in regions associated with alcohol-related cognitive change. Post hoc analyses examined whether ARBs moderated relationships between brain morphology and cognition. ResultsARBs significantly predicted attenuated development of fusiform gyrus and hippocampal volume at unique timepoints compared to overall alcohol use. Alcohol use without ARBs significantly predicted attenuated fusiform and hippocampal growth at earlier and later timepoints, respectively. Despite altered development in regions associated with memory, ARBs did not significantly moderate relationships between brain volume and cognitive performance. ConclusionARBs and overall alcohol use predicted altered brain development in the fusiform gyrus and hippocampus at different timepoints, suggesting ARBs represent a unique marker of neurocognitive risk in younger drinkers.

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).

Examining Alcohol-Related Blackouts and Drinking Motives Over Time Among College Women.

Excessive alcohol consumption and its consequences among college women continues despite prevention efforts. One common consequence, alcohol-related blackouts (ARBs), are periods of alcohol-activated anterograde amnesia. The purpose of the current project is to extend the ARB and drinking motive literature by examining their relationship over time. A sample of 424 women (88.9% White) completed online surveys assessing their ARBs and drinking motives weekly for 10 weeks. A series of hierarchical generalized linear models were estimated to examine the between-person and within-person effects of each drinking motive on repeated measures of experiencing a blackout across the time points. Women who report higher levels of drinking motives compared with others were more likely to report having blackout experiences. College women who reported higher levels of conformity motives did not have increased odds of experiencing a blackout. In weeks when they reported elevated levels of drinking motives, they were also more likely to experience an ARB. In general, college women who reported higher levels of social, coping, or enhancement motives experienced more blackouts than students who reported lower levels of these motives. Women who were underage were more likely to experience a blackout compared with women who were 21 or older. In a given week, 52.6% to 70.7% of the students consumed alcohol, and among women who drank in a given week, the prevalence of blackouts ranged from 8.5% to 14.6%. The results suggest that changes in motivational levels might provide a possible intervention point for ARBs risk.

A Longitudinal Examination of Alcohol-Related Blackouts as a Predictor of Changes in Learning, Memory, and Executive Function in Adolescents.

IntroductionIn adolescents, the relationship between alcohol-related blackouts (ARBs) and distinct cognitive changes lasting beyond intoxication is unclear. We examined ARBs as a predictor of persistent changes in the development of learning, memory, and executive function in participants from the National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA) study.MethodsDescriptive analyses of the NCANDA sample (N = 831, 50.9% female, 12–21 years at baseline) identified ARB patterns within participants with an ARB history (n = 106). Latent growth curve modeling evaluated ARB-related performance changes on four neuropsychological measures across five years, excluding baseline data to reduce the magnitude of practice effects over time (n = 790). Measures included the Penn Conditional Exclusion Test (PCET), Penn Letter N-back Test (PLBT), Penn Facial Memory Test immediate (PFMTi), and delayed (PFMTd) recognition trials, and the Rey Complex Figure Test copy (RCFTc), immediate recall (RCFTi), and delayed recall (RCFTd) trials. Multivariate models were fit for raw accuracy scores from each measure, with ARB history (i.e., presence of past-year ARBs) as the main independent variable. Age, sex, race, socioeconomic status, assessment site, and alcohol use (i.e., past-year frequency) were included as covariates. Interaction effects between ARB history and alcohol use frequency were tested.ResultsBy year five, 16% of participants had experienced at least one ARB (59% of whom reported > 1 ARB and 57% of whom had an ARB lasting > 1 h). After controlling for demographics and alcohol use, ARB history predicted attenuated PFMTd performance growth at year one. Interaction effects between ARB history and alcohol use frequency predicted attenuated PFMTd performance growth at years one and two. ARB history predicted attenuated RCFTi and RCFTd performance growth by year four, but not PCET or PLBT performance over time. By contrast, greater past-year alcohol use predicted attenuated PFMTi and PFMTd performance growth between years two and four in adolescents without an ARB history.ConclusionWe found that ARBs predict distinct, lasting changes in learning and memory for visual information, with results suggesting that the developing brain is vulnerable to ARBs during adolescence and emerging adulthood.

Prepartying and incapacitated rape: Is drinking a risk factor or an outcome?

Incapacitated rape (IR) is common in college and has been linked to heavier post-assault drinking and consequences, including blackouts. Following IR, college students may adjust their drinking in ways meant to increase perceived safety, such as enhancing situational control over one's drinks through prepartying, which is drinking before going out to a main social event. Although it is possible that prepartying could influence risk related to IR, it is unclear whether or how prepartying and IR are associated. To address these gaps, we examined prepartying as both a risk factor and a consequence of IR, including the reasons for prepartying. Across two studies (Study 1N=1074; Study 2N=1753) of college women and men, we examined associations between IR and prepartying motives, alcohol consumption, and alcohol-related blackouts. Within the cross-sectional Study 1, negative binomial regressions revealed that having a history of IR was associated with more alcohol consumption and blackouts when prepartying. In a multivariate model, past-year IR was associated with preparty motives related to interpersonal enhancement, intimate pursuit, and barriers to consumption, but not situational control. Within the prospective Study 2, a path model revealed that preparty drinking was a prospective predictor of IR in the following year, but past-year IR did not predict subsequent prepartying. Findings revealed a robust link between recent history of IR and prepartying regardless of gender. Prepartying was a prospective risk factor for subsequent IR. Although more research in this area is needed, addressing prepartying in alcohol interventions may contribute to the prevention of negative outcomes, including sexual assault.

When are alcohol-related blackout Tweets written in the United States?

BackgroundAlcohol use varies throughout the year and often peaks on weekends or during celebrations (e.g., New Year’s). There is not a perfect correlation between alcohol use and negative consequences, and the extent to which one particularly risky consequence—an alcohol-related blackout—is more common during certain times of the year is unknown. Identifying when blackouts occur may help identify which periods are associated with more risk and be critical in designing public health campaigns. Thus, we examined Twitter data to ascertain whether alcohol-related blackouts occur more during certain holidays/celebrations than typical weekends and whether they differed in timing from general alcohol-related Tweets. MethodsWe used a Twitter-sponsored platform to access unique Tweets written in the United States referencing blackouts (e.g., “blackout”) and alcohol generally (e.g., “drunk”). ResultsThe final dataset included 3.5 million blackout Tweets and 591 million alcohol Tweets (written between 2009 and 2020). Both blackout and alcohol Tweets were written in the late evening, on weekends, and during certain holidays (New Years, St. Patrick’s). However, relative to typical weekends, only blackout Tweets were more common during Thanksgiving and only general alcohol-related Tweets were more common during Cinco de Mayo. ConclusionWhile blackout and alcohol-related Tweets were similar in time of day (peaking in the evening) and day of week (peaking on weekends), they differed during certain celebrations/holidays, suggesting that while alcohol use may be more common during some celebrations, others are more associated with serious harms.

“I Still Don’t Know What Happened, Complete Blackout”: a Content Analysis of Tweets Referencing Alcohol-Induced Amnesia

Twitter provides a real-time venue for monitoring alcohol consumption and negative alcohol-related consequences. “Blackouts,” defined as events involving alcohol-induced amnesia, are commonly endorsed among social drinkers. However, the term “blackout” has been used in popular culture to describe being intoxicated. Objective We qualitatively examined the content of alcohol-related blackouts posts (“Tweets”) on Twitter, focusing on reflections post-drinking that involved clear references to memory loss. Methods We examined publically available Tweets that referenced blackouts after an alcohol consumption event (n = 3,574). Results Twitter represents a relatively unfiltered glimpse at reflections on alcohol-induced amnesia. As hypothesized, most tweets referencing blackouts did not clearly describe amnesia. In the Tweets that clearly reference amnesia, we identified several themes. Tweeters referenced an ‘AlterEgo’ who was responsible for all the intoxicated behaviors that were inconsistent with the Tweeter’s personality. Additionally, the Tweets discussed ways in which the drinker recovered memories (e.g. from friends, from social media), other events that occurred during the amnesia (e.g. loss of items, help from friends, sexual experiences), and regret about having lost memories. Some Tweeters requested assistance from their followers to reconstruct their drinking event. Tweets have the potential to set norms about acceptable behaviors or scripts following a blackout. Conclusions Since most blackout Tweets are ambiguous with regards to alcohol-induced amnesia, these Tweets might be leading people to believe that blackouts are passing out or just periods of heavy intoxication. In addition, themes from these Tweets can inform future interventions by using the cognitions surrounding this high-risk behavior.

Past year high-intensity drinking moderates the association between simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use and blackout frequency among college students

Objective: The role of simultaneous alcohol and marijuana (SAM) use in the experience of blackouts among college students is unclear. To clarify discrepancies, the current study evaluated whether the association between SAM user status and blackouts was moderated by high-intensity drinking (HID). Participants and Methods: College students (N = 1,224; 63.7% female) reported on their past year experiences of blackout, marijuana use, SAM use, and HID (i.e., drinking at least twice the binge threshold). Results: SAM users had more past year blackouts than non-SAM users, but this effect was only significant among SAM users who had engaged in HID in the past year (nonbinge: F (5,37) = 0.50, p = 0.49; binge: F (5,138) = 0.23, p = 0.63; HID: F (5,328) = 4.52, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Effects of SAM user status on the experience of alcohol-related blackouts may be limited to individuals who engage in HID.

"Can't Wait to Blackout Tonight": An Analysis of the Motives to Drink to Blackout Expressed on Twitter.

Alcohol-related blackouts are associated with a range of negative consequences and are common among social drinkers. Discussing alcohol use on social networking platforms (e.g., Twitter) is common and related to higher alcohol consumption levels. Due to the widespread nature of alcohol-related social networking posts and alcohol-related blackouts, we examined the content of alcohol-related blackouts posts/"Tweets" on Twitter, with a focus on intentions to blackout and specific motivations for blacking out. A set of Tweets containing "blackout," "blackout," "blacking out," "blacked out," or "blacks out" were collected from April 26, 2018, and April 29, 2018. Using NVivo software, we coded all preblackout Tweets (i.e., before the blackout experience) for intentions and motives to blackout. Most Tweets that we collected expressed an intention to blackout and these intentions ranged in strength (i.e., will blackout vs. might blackout). With respect to specific motives for blacking out, celebration motives were identified. For example, Tweets addressed blacking out to celebrate one's birthday, someone else's birthday, a school or work accomplishment, a sports win, during a vacation, or a holiday. Another endorsed motive for blacking out was loss or coping motives. For example, the Tweets commented on blacking out to deal with stress or a bad day. Our findings suggest that Twitter users express intentions to blackout due to celebration or coping reasons. Given the consequences associated with blackout drinking, future research should consider the link between blackout intentions, blackout motives, and alcohol-related harm.

Is the Sum Greater than its Parts? Variations in Substance-Related Consequences by Conjoint Alcohol-Marijuana Use Patterns

ABSTRACTAlcohol and marijuana are the most commonly used substances for college-attending young adults. This study evaluated differences in substance-specific consequence attribution by alcohol-marijuana use patterns (concurrent alcohol and marijuana [CAM; use of both substances, not at same time] and simultaneous [SAM; use of both, at same time]) as well as alcohol-only (AO). First-year college students with prior alcohol use (N = 610, 50.9% women, 71% White, Mage = 18) completed an online assessment of past-three-month substance use, including SAM, and related consequences. Results indicated that polydrug (SAM and CAM) users reported greater alcohol involvement and earlier alcohol initiation than AO, and polydrug use was associated with more alcohol-related problems, including sexual risk taking and alcohol-related blackouts. When restricted to SAM/CAM users, logistic regressions indicated that SAM users reported an increased incidence in two marijuana-related problems relative to CAM (driving after using and academic difficulties), but lower rates of social problems. SAM users were also less likely to attribute substance-related social problems to alcohol. Overall, findings highlight variations that exist within alcohol-marijuana polydrug users and show areas to consider for intervention development and future research.

Replication of factors related to blackout incidence in U.S. high school students: A brief report

Alcohol-related blackouts are a common, yet serious consequence that can result from heavy alcohol intake. This study tested a model examining whether factors identified in related samples (i.e., adolescents residing in the U.K. and U.S. college students) predicted blackouts in community-dwelling U.S. high school youth. Participants from a Northeastern U.S. high school with prior alcohol use (Mage = 16.0 years; 48.2% male, 78.0% White) completed a paper-and-pencil assessment including measures of demographics, alcohol and other substance use, externalizing behaviors, and injunctive norms about risky drinking behaviors. Hierarchical logistic regression examined which factors identified for U.K. residing adolescents (Block 1) replicated in the U.S. sample, and whether factors identified in samples of U.S. college students added additional explained variance (Block 2). Blackouts were reported by 35.6% of students. Regression results indicated that two variables previously identified in adolescents, female gender (OR = 3.26) and increased alcohol use (OR = 1.27) were associated with blackouts. College student risk factors of drinking game (DG) participation and, to a lesser degree injunctive norms for passing out, emerged as additional risk factors (ORs = 2.85 and 1.32, respectively), with the final model explaining 39% of the variance in blackouts. This study advances our understanding of blackouts in younger drinkers and identifies the importance of addressing blackouts within the context of intervention programming that addresses cognitions and high risk drinking practices like DGs.

A longitudinal event-level investigation of alcohol intoxication, alcohol-related blackouts, childhood sexual abuse, and sexual victimization among college students.

Sexual assault is a troubling epidemic that plagues college campuses across the United States, and is often proceeded by drinking by the perpetrator and/or victim. The goal of this study was to examine the effect of level of intoxication, history of alcohol-related blackouts, and childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on the likelihood of being a victim or perpetrator of coercive sexual activities. Participants (N = 2,244) were part of a 6-year longitudinal study which explored alcohol use and associated behavioral risks during college. A subsample (N = 1,423) completed 30 days of daily diary surveys across four years of college. Participants provided daily reports of their alcohol consumption, sexual coercion perpetration, and sexual coercion victimization. Using hierarchical linear models, results indicated that increases in daily estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) were associated with a greater likelihood of being a victim and a perpetrator of sexual coercion. In addition, main effects of CSA and history of blackouts predicted a greater likelihood of being coerced into sexual activity, but blackouts were not associated with being a perpetrator. A significant interaction between blackouts and event-level eBAC indicated that individuals with a history of blackouts had a greater likelihood of sexual coercion victimization relative to those without prior blackouts. Finally, having a history of blackouts and CSA was predictive of a lower likelihood of being a perpetrator of sexual coercion at higher eBACs relative to those without a history of blackouts. Thus, prevention efforts should integrate the impact of blackouts and CSA on sexual coercion victimization and perpetration. (PsycINFO Database Record

Alcohol-related blackouts among college students: impact of low level of response to alcohol, ethnicity, sex, and environmental characteristics.

Objective:To explore how a genetically-influenced characteristic (the level of response to alcohol [LR]), ethnicity, and sex relate to environmental and attitudinal characteristics (peer drinking [PEER], drinking to cope [COPE], and alcohol expectancies [EXPECT]) regarding future alcohol-related blackouts (ARBs).Methods:Structural equation models (SEMs) were used to evaluate how baseline variables related to ARB patterns in 462 college students over 55 weeks. Data were extracted from a longitudinal study of heavy drinking and its consequences at a U.S. university.Results:In the SEM analysis, female sex and Asian ethnicity directly predicted future ARBs (beta weights 0.10 and -0.11, respectively), while all other variables had indirect impacts on ARBs through alcohol quantities (beta weights ~ 0.23 for European American ethnicity and low LR, 0.21 for cannabis use and COPE, and 0.44 for PEER). Alcohol quantities then related to ARBs with beta = 0.44. The SEM explained 23% of the variance.Conclusion:These data may be useful in identifying college students who are more likely to experience future ARBs over a 1-year period. They enhance our understanding of whether the relationships of predictors to ARBs are direct or mediated through baseline drinking patterns, information that may be useful in prevention strategies for ARBs.

Alcohol-Related Blackouts, Negative Alcohol-Related Consequences, and Motivations for Drinking Reported by Newly Matriculating Transgender College Students.

Many transgender college students struggle with identity formation and other emotional, social, and developmental challenges associated with emerging adulthood. A potential maladaptive coping strategy employed by such students is heavy drinking. Prior literature has suggested greater consumption and negative alcohol-related consequences (ARCs) in transgender students compared with their cisgender peers, but little is known about their differing experiences with alcohol-related blackouts (ARBs). We examined the level of alcohol consumption, the frequency of ARBs and other ARCs, and motivations for drinking reported by the largest sample of transgender college students to date. A Web survey from an alcohol-prevention program, AlcoholEdu for College™, assessed student demographics and drinking-related behaviors, experiences, and motivations of newly matriculating first-year college students. A self-reported drinking calendar was used to examine each of the following measures over the previous 14days: number of drinking days, total number of drinks, and maximum number of drinks on any single day. A 7-point Likert scale was used to measure ARCs, ARBs, and drinking motivations. Transgender students of both sexes were compared with their cisgender peers. A total of 989 of 422,906 students (0.2%) identified as transgender. Over a 14-day period, transgender compared with cisgender students were more likely to consume alcohol over more days, more total drinks, and a greater number of maximum drinks on a single day. Transgender students (36%) were more likely to report an ARB than cisgender students (25%) as well as more negative academic, confrontation-related, social, and sexual ARCs. Transgender respondents more often cited stress reduction, social anxiety, self-esteem issues, and the inherent properties of alcohol as motivations for drinking. For nearly all measures, higher values were yielded by male-to-female than female-to-male transgender students. Transgender compared with cisgender first-year students engage in higher-risk drinking patterns and experience more ARBs and other negative ARCs. Broad institutional efforts are required to address the unique circumstances of transgender men and women and to reduce negative ARCs in college students, regardless of their sex or gender identity.

Blackouts among male and female youth seeking emergency department care

ABSTRACTBackground: Alcohol-related blackouts are a common consequence of heavy drinking, and these blackouts pose risk for injury and other adverse health outcomes. Objective: To examine the prevalence and correlates of blackouts among underage drinkers. Methods: Youth (ages 14–20) presenting to a suburban Emergency Department (ED) completed screening surveys. Among those reporting past-year alcohol consumption, we examined past 3-month blackouts in relation to: background characteristics (e.g., demographics, fraternity/sorority involvement), substance use, sexual risk behaviors and incapacitated sexual assault (unaware/unable to consent due to alcohol/drugs), forced sexual assault, positive depression screening, and reason for ED visit (injury vs. medical). Results: In total, 2,300 past-year drinkers participated: 58% female, 75% Caucasian, and mean age = 18.4. Regarding past 3-month blackouts, 72.7% reported none, 19.3% reported monthly or less, and 8% reported monthly or more. Multivariate cumulative logit regression indicated that blackout frequency was positively associated with: college involvement in Greek life, alcohol use severity, prescription drug misuse, marijuana, screening positive for depression, incapacitated sexual assault, and a gender by alcohol use severity interaction. Conclusion: With one-quarter of this clinical sample reporting recent blackouts, as well as the association between blackout frequency and health risk behaviors and other outcomes, findings underscore the need for programs focusing on substance use, depression, and preventing sexual assault. Interventions should also address poly-substance use and drinking motives. Although findings highlight how college students in Greek life may be at high risk for blackouts, many participants not in college also reported blackouts, suggesting that interventions in other settings are also needed.

Predictors of Patterns of Alcohol-Related Blackouts Over Time in Youth From the Collaborative Study of the Genetics of Alcoholism: The Roles of Genetics and Cannabis.

Alcohol-related blackouts (ARBs) are anterograde amnesias related to heavy alcohol intake seen in about 50% of drinkers. Although a major determinant of ARBs relates to blood alcohol concentrations, additional contributions come from genetic vulnerabilities and possible impacts of cannabis use disorders (CUDs). We evaluated relationships of genetics and cannabis use to latent class trajectories of ARBs in 829 subjects from the Collaborative Study of the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA). The number of ARBs experienced every 2 years from subjects with average ages of 18 to 25 were entered into a latent class growth analysis in Mplus, and resulting class membership was evaluated in light of baseline characteristics, including CUDs. Correlations of number of ARBs across assessments were also compared for sibling pairs versus unrelated subjects. Latent class growth analysis identified ARB-based Classes 1 (consistent low = 42.5%), 2 (moderate low = 28.3%), 3 (moderate high = 22.9%), and 4 (consistent high = 6.3%). A multinomial logistic regression analysis within latent class growth analysis revealed that baseline CUDs related most closely to Classes 3 and 4. The number of ARBs across time correlated .23 for sibling pairs and -.10 for unrelated subjects. Baseline CUDs related to the most severe latent ARB course over time, even when considered along with other trajectory predictors, including baseline alcohol use disorders and maximum number of drinks. Data indicated significant roles for genetic factors for alcohol use disorder patterns over time. Future research is needed to improve understanding of how cannabis adds to the ARB risk and to find genes that contribute to risks for ARBs among drinkers.

Latent growth classes of alcohol-related blackouts over the first 2 years of college.

Alcohol-related blackouts are common among college student drinkers. The present study extends prior work by examining latent growth classes of blackouts and several predictors of class membership. Participants (N = 709 college drinkers) completed a baseline survey at college entry and biweekly online assessments throughout freshman and sophomore years. Results revealed 5 latent growth class trajectories, reflecting varying experiences of blackouts at the beginning of college and differential change in blackouts over time. The largest class represented a relatively low-risk group (low decrease; 47.3%) characterized by endorsement of no or very low likelihood of blackouts, and decreasing likelihood of blackouts over time. Another decreasing risk group (high decrease; 11.1%) initially reported a high proportion of blackouts and had the steepest decrease in blackout risk over time. A small percentage showed consistently high likelihood of blackouts over time (high stable; 4.1%). The remaining 2 groups were distinguished by relatively moderate (moderate stable; 14.9%) and lower (low stable; 22.6%) likelihood of blackouts, which remained stable over time. Comparisons between classes revealed that students with greater perceived peer drinking, perceived peer approval of drinking, and enhancement motives upon entry to college tended to be in higher risk groups with consistent experiences of blackouts over time, whereas blackout likelihood decreased over time for students with greater conformity motives. Findings suggest that precollege preventive interventions may be strengthened by considering not only factors related to current risk for blackouts and other alcohol-related consequences, but also those factors related to persistence of these behaviors over time. (PsycINFO Database Record

Alcohol-related blackouts across 55 weeks of college: Effects of European-American ethnicity, female sex, and low level of response to alcohol

BackgroundWhile high blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) are required for alcohol-related blackouts (ARBs), additional characteristics also contribute to the risk, including a person’s ethnicity, sex, and phenotypes relating to heavier drinking. Few prospective studies of ARBs have evaluated how these additional characteristics interact. MethodData regarding 398 European American (EA), Asian and Hispanic students were extracted from a 55-week prospective study of different approaches to decrease heavy drinking among college freshmen. Information on past month ARB frequency was determined at 8 assessments. While controlling for the prior month maximum BAC and active education vs. control group assignment, the patterns and intensities of ARBs over time across ethnic groups were evaluated with ANOVA at each follow-up for the full sample, and then separately by sex and then by low vs. high levels of response to alcohol status (LR). The overall pattern of ARBs over time was evaluated with a 3 ethnic groups by 2 sexes by 2 LR status by 8 time points mixed-design ANOVA. ResultsHigher rates of ARBs over time were associated with EA ethnicity, female sex and a low LR to alcohol, with the ethnic differences in ARBs most robust in females and drinkers with high LRs. Participation in education programs aimed at heavy drinking was associated with decreases in ARBs. ConclusionsThe data indicate that in addition to BACs achieved, propensities toward ARBs relate to complex interactions between additional risk factors, including ethnicity, sex, and LR status.

Alcohol-Induced Blackouts as Predictors of Other Drinking Related Harms Among Emerging Young Adults.

Alcohol-related blackouts are periods of amnesia that reflect the failure of the brain to record memories of what transpires while drinking. This paper examined the incidence, predictors, and behavioral correlates of blackouts among emerging adults and examined whether questions about blackouts could serve as better markers of risk for other alcohol related harms than questions about levels of consumption. In 2012 to 2013, 1,463 (68%) of 2,140 respondents 1-year past high school reported having consumed alcohol. They were asked whether, in the past 6 months because of drinking, they forgot where they were or what they did. The survey also explored demographics, substance use behaviors, and other alcohol-related problems in the past 6 months. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses explored bivariate and multivariate predictors of blackouts and other alcohol-related problems. Twenty percent of respondents who ever drank alcohol reported a blackout in the past 6 months. Blackouts were more prevalent among females and those who, in the past 30 days, used multiple drugs, more frequently binged, were drunk, smoked, had lower body weight, and lived in college dorms. After controlling for drinking levels, having a blackout was the strongest independent predictor of most other alcohol problems examined, including in the past 6 months because of drinking, missing class or work, getting behind in work or school, doing something respondents later regretted, arguing with friends, experiencing an overdose, and total number of alcohol problems reported. It was also an independent predictor of hangovers, damaging property, getting hurt, and trouble with police. Because blackouts indicate drinking at levels that result in significant cognitive and behavioral impairment, questions about blackouts could serve as important, simple screeners for the risk of experiencing other alcohol related harms. Additional work on this subject is warranted.

Supplemental Material for Latent Growth Classes of Alcohol-Related Blackouts Over the First 2 Years of College

Supplemental Material for Latent Growth Classes of Alcohol-Related Blackouts Over the First 2 Years of College