Alcohol Use Risk Research Articles

Disentangling the root causes of COVID-19 related increases in alcohol consumption

ABSTRACT Recent studies suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased alcohol sales and alcohol related problems. This may be due to the synergistic effects of unemployment, stress from childcare or additional caregiving responsibilities, reduced social interactions and negative coping strategies. Weerakoon and colleagues set out to identify the most robust risk factors for alcohol consumption, binge drinking, and changes in drinking patterns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One-third of the sample reported consuming more alcohol after COVID-19 compared to pre-COVID-19. In addition, each additional week spent at home under stay-at-home orders was increased the odds of binge drinking by 19%. Individuals who have been diagnosed with depression and were currently experiencing depressive symptoms were more than three times more likely (OR = 3.37) to have increased their alcohol consumption during COVID-19 compared to those with no history or symptoms of depression. Parents of children was associated with decreased COVID-19 related binge drinking (OR = .74). As many daily life factors have been altered due to the pandemic, a more holistic lifestyle disruption construct may help further investigate the long term effects of social isolation on alcohol use as the pandemic continues. Furthermore, the role of social support in mitigating COVID-19-related stress has yet to be examined and may be a protective factor against alcohol related problems. As stress continues, researchers should continue assessing the longitudinal effects of COVID-19 lockdowns with the goal of early identification for those at the highest risk of problematic alcohol use.

Mitigating the risk of alcohol use among university students: Examining the feasibility and effects of screening and brief intervention - A quasi-experimental study

Background: The rising prevalence of alcohol use among youths in low resource settings is a major public health issue of concern, especially as alcohol use remains a leading contributor to deaths and disability globally. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of screening and brief intervention (SBI) on alcohol use risk among university students. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, a total of 636 students were screened for alcohol use risk with the World Health Organization Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (WHO-ASSIST) version 3.1. All participants with moderate and high risk of alcohol use were administered brief intervention (BI) delivered by trained students at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months, with a final assessment in 6 months. Longitudinal data on their alcohol use risk were analyzed. Results: The mean age (standard deviation) of the participants was 21.13 (3.05) years and 44.5% were female. The prevalence of the current alcohol use based on the WHO-ASSIST was 49.2% (n = 315). Following three sessions of BI, the repeated measures ANOVA indicated that the WHO-ASSIST mean score for high-risk alcohol users (n = 44) fell from 33.23 (3.82) at baseline to 18.3 (9.84) at 6th month. This difference was statistically significant. Similarly, the mean score for moderate alcohol users fell from 19.62 (2.97) at baseline to 11.31 (5.52) at 6 months. The difference was statistically significant. There were significant group-level differences in the risk score over the study period, for the low risk, moderate risk, and high-risk users at the end of the study. Conclusion: Screening and BI showed significant benefits on alcohol use risk. Our findings suggest SBI as a feasible and effective intervention for mitigating the risk of alcohol use among young students in resource-restricted settings. Further research using a robust sample to reflect differences in setting and student characteristics is warranted.

Does academic streams influence alcohol use in colleges?

Background:Alcohol use among college students is a major public health priority owing to its high prevalence and numerous negative outcomes. Most interventions targeting alcohol use among college students consider them as a homogenous entity. There is preliminary evidence from high-income countries that patterns of alcohol use differ across academic streams. This remains unstudied in India.Aims:To compare the prevalence and correlates of alcohol use among students enrolled in various collegiate educational streams (medical, nursing, engineering, arts and science, and others [law/fisheries]) in the state of Kerala, India.Settings and Design:This is a cross-sectional survey conducted among college students.Materials and Methods:5784 students completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing alcohol use and its correlates in the psycho-social domains.Statiscal Analysis:Lifetime prevalence and severity of alcohol use was determined across examined academic streams. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was done separately for each course, to identify factors influencing alcohol use.Results:The lifetime prevalence of alcohol use varied between 10.6% among nursing students to 41.7% among students pursuing “other” stream (law/fisheries). Students pursuing medicine and nursing had a relatively lower proportion of hazardous users. Consistently across all academic streams, being male and using tobacco increased the risk, while those from the Muslim community had a lower risk of alcohol use. Other examined psychosocial correlates showed varying relationship across courses.Conclusion:The prevalence and psychosocial correlates of alcohol use vary among students pursuing various academic streams. This finding has public health importance as the incorporation of course level characteristics in intervention programs will improve effectiveness.

Relationship between health literacy in substance use and alcohol consumption and tobacco use among adolescents, Northeast Thailand.

BACKGROUND:Health literacy (HL) is an important role-play in health risk behaviors such as alcohol drinking and smoking. Inadequate HL in substance use (HLSU) is a barrier to reduce the risk of alcohol and tobacco use. This study aims to investigate the association of HLSU with alcohol consumption and tobacco use among Thai adolescents. Hence, the strengthening of HL program intervention may applied to reduce substance abuse among Thai adolescents.MATERIALS AND METHODS:This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 1087 university students studying in three universities located in northeastern area with multistage sampling methods by geographical areas. The data were collected by self-administered questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression was applied to determine the effect of HLSU of alcohol consumption and tobacco use.RESULTS:Most adolescents were drinkers (60.7%) and about 20.7% were smokers. Approximately 40% of them reported as inadequate HLSU. Adolescents with inadequate HLSU and a high level of positive alcohol expectancies and smoking outcome expectancies (SOE) were more likely to drink alcohol and smoke. Conversely, those who had a high level of negative alcohol drinking and SOE were less likely to consume alcohol and tobacco.CONCLUSION:Adolescents’ alcohol consumption and tobacco use were influenced by HL, hence improving adolescents’ HLSU could help prevent or reduce the risk of drinking and smoking behaviors.

Narrative review of mental illness in cricket with recommendations for mental health support

IntroductionEpidemiology reporting within the cricketing medical literature has emerged over the past 2 years, with a focus on physical injuries. Despite mental health in elite sport gaining increasing recognition, few...

Predictive validity of genome-wide polygenic scores for alcohol use from adolescence to young adulthood

BackgroundAdolescence is a critical period for experimenting with alcohol, and these early experiences have long-term influences on alcohol-related behaviours throughout adulthood. This study examined the utility of genome-wide polygenic scores (GPS) for predicting alcohol use during adolescence and young adulthood. MethodsWe used GPS based on the Genome-wide association study and Sequencing Consortium of Alcohol and Nicotine use (GSCAN) study on drinks per week to predict alcohol use in a longitudinal, UK-representative sample of unrelated adolescents aged 16 through to 22 years (Nmax = 3390). ResultsAt age 16, the GSCAN GPS predicted variance in alcohol consumption on a typical day (0.58 %), intake frequency (0.89 %), and hazardous drinking (i.e. ≥6 units at one occasion) (1.07 %). At age 22, the predictive power of the GPS had increased, explaining variance in alcohol consumption (0.61 %), intake frequency (1.69 %), and hazardous drinking (1.19 %). ConclusionsThe predictive validity of GPS for phenotypic alcohol use was evident in adolescence and increased in young adulthood. The findings suggest that GPS, which are available from birth, may be potentially useful for identifying individuals at risk for harmful and hazardous alcohol use. However, because the overall effect sizes were small, the utility of the GPS that are currently available is limited for the prediction of individual-level alcohol use.

Bidirectional associations between e-cigarette use and alcohol use across adolescence

IntroductionEvidence on prospective bidirectional associations between e-cigarette and alcohol use among adolescents can inform prevention and policy but is largely absent from the literature. MethodsData were drawn from a prospective cohort of students attending 10 Los Angeles high schools (N = 3396; baseline mean age = 14.1, SD = 0.4). Students completed surveys every 6-months from 2013 to 2017; 8 total waves. Analyses were restricted to (a) individuals who were never users of alcohol (N = 2394) or (b) individuals who were never users of e-cigarettes (N = 2704) at baseline. Repeated-measures, generalized linear mixed models were used to estimate the adjusted odds of past 6-month alcohol and e-cigarette initiation, in separate models. ResultsAmong alcohol never-users at baseline, 15.7 % (N = 375) initiated alcohol use over the study period. Compared to never-users of e-cigarettes, those who reported use of e-cigarettes had 3.5 times the odds of subsequently initiating alcohol use in the following wave (OR = 3.54; 95 % CI: 2.81, 4.47). Stronger associations were observed for males (OR = 4.94; 95 % CI: 3.78, 6.45) than for females (OR = 3.21; 95 % CI: 2.33, 4.41; pinteraction = 0.04). Among e-cigarette never-users at baseline, 26.3 % (N = 709) initiated e-cigarette use over the study period. Compared to never-users of alcohol, those who reported use of alcohol had 3.2 times the odds of subsequently initiating e-cigarette use in the following wave (OR = 3.23; 95 % CI: 2.68, 3.89). This association did not differ by gender. ConclusionsE-cigarette and alcohol use can be markers to identify youth at risk for future alcohol and e-cigarette use, respectively. Research examining mechanisms underlying these associations is needed to infer causality.

Assessment of risky drinking, harmful drinking and alcohol addiction among lawyers

Background: Not much is known about alcohol dependence, risky or harmful drinking among Polish lawyers. Studies conducted around the world have so far shown that this professional group is at a greater risk of alcohol addiction than the total population or other professional groups. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the model of alcohol consumption among lawyers, as well as the factors influencing this phenomenon. Materials and methods: The study was conducted among 206 lawyers, including 102 women and 104 men, aged between 29 and 84 years. The AUDIT test, developed by World Health Organization, was used. Results: In the study group of lawyers, 22.33% drink in a risky and harmful manner, including nearly 3% whose score suggests alcohol addiction. It was shown that the sex criterion differentiated the alcohol consumption model among lawyers, with statistically significant higher average values obtained for men (p = 0.002). The study showed that the drinking model is influenced both by the marital status of respondents and whether they have children or not (p = 0.000033). There was no influence of weekly working hours on the alcohol use pattern (p = 0.169, r = 0.10). An analysis using the Pearson’s r correlation coefficient showed a statistically significant relationship (p = 0.021) between age and AUDIT score. This was a low-strength negative correlation (r = −0.16), i.e. AUDIT scores decreased with the age of respondents. Conclusions: This study is the first medical assessment of the prevalence of alcohol use among Polish lawyers. Lawyers are a professional group reluctant to undergo evaluation, who are at a high risk of problematic alcohol use. The study shows that there is a need for in-depth diagnosis of alcohol addiction and development of educational, preventive and therapeutic programs that take into account the specificity of the work of lawyers.

991. Psychosocial Factors and HIV Risk among Transgender Women Living in Miami

BackgroundTransgender (TG) women are disproportionately affected by HIV infection and have poor health outcomes when compared to cisgender women. This study evaluates psychosocial factors, and HIV risk among transgender women with and without HIV infection living in Miami, the city with the highest incidence of HIV in the US.MethodsAdults who identified themselves as TG living in Miami were recruited from the community and local clinics. Self-reported HIV status, sociodemographic, behavioral data (HIV risk behaviors, sexual partners, illicit substance and alcohol use), and psychosocial factors (depression, violence or abuse events, and HIV stigma) were collected with questionnaires into RedCap.ResultsA total of 22 participants completed assessments. Ten (45.5%) indicated being HIV uninfected (HIV-) and 12 (54.5%) had been diagnosed with HIV (HIV+). A total of 15 (68%) participants reported use of feminizing hormones and 11 (50%) had undergone feminizing surgeries. Median age was 55 (20, 69); 15 (69%) were white and 5 (23%) Black; 15 (69%) were of Hispanic ethnicity; Level of education 11 (12; 1.8) 12(55%) had completed at least high school; 2 (9%) were employed. 16 (73%) reported being sexually active in the previous month; median number of partners in the last month was 1.5 (1; 2.13); only 13 (60%) reported consistent condom use in the last sexual encounter; 14 (64%) engaged in receptive anal sex; 9 (41%) reported ever engaging in sex for money. Violence or abuse events were common, and participants had experienced an average of 3.9 lifetime events (Median = 3; SD = 3.45). Depression measured by the BSI-18 scale revealed low depression scores (Mean = 1.77; SD = 0.82). HIV infected participants were more likely to be black (p=0.05) and unemployed. We did not find significant differences by HIV status in other variables, including depression and violence or abuse. Among HIV+ participants, HIV stigma measured by the ‘Stigma Scale’ was low (Mean = 1.71; SD = 0.41).ConclusionWe identified high rates of events of violence or abuse, that did not differ by HIV status. HIV infection was more common among black TG women.Further research is necessary to identify potential targets for HIV prevention and care in the vulnerable population of TG women. Study funded by the Miami CFAR (P30AI073961)Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Alcohol-Specific Communication and Emerging Adult Offspring's Perceived Parental Approval and Drinking in the Context of Parent Alcohol Expectancies.

There are mixed findings in the literature regarding the association between parental alcohol communication and offspring alcohol use. To clarify this association, this study tested a prospective mediated moderation model in which the association between parental communication about the risks of alcohol use and emerging adult offspring drinking was mediated by offspring perceived parental approval of drinking. Parental alcohol expectancies and use were tested as moderators of the link between communication and perceived approval. The community sample of 378 emerging adult and caregiver dyads completed 3 annual assessments (first assessment mean age=19.13). The sample was 54% female and majority White/non-Hispanic (76%). Caregivers reported on their own alcohol expectancies and use, and emerging adult offspring reported on parental communication of alcohol risks, perceived parental approval of drinking, and their own alcohol use. Multilevel modeling was used to test hypotheses. Mediated moderation was largely supported. More frequent communication about the risks of drinking was prospectively associated with low levels of perceived parental approval of alcohol use, which in turn was associated with low levels of offspring drinking. This pathway depended on parental alcohol expectancies. Findings suggest that including mediators (e.g., perceived approval of drinking) helps to clarify the mixed literature on parental communication about alcohol and that parental attitudes about alcohol can impact the effectiveness with which parents convey the risk of alcohol to offspring.

Habitual Routines and Automatic Tendencies Differential Roles in Alcohol Misuse Among Undergraduates.

There is a debate over whether actions that resist devaluation (i.e., compulsive alcohol consumption) are primarily habit- or goal-directed. The incentive habit account of compulsive actions has received support from behavioral paradigms and brain imaging. In addition, the self-reported Creature of Habit Scale (COHS) has been proposed to capture inter-individual differences in habitual tendencies. It is subdivided into two dimensions: routine and automaticity. We first considered a French version of this questionnaire for validation, based on a sample of 386 undergraduates. The relationship between two dimensions of habit and the risk of substance use disorder and impulsive personality traits was also investigated. COHS has good psychometric properties with both features of habits positively associated with an Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory score. Besides, the propensity to rely more on routines was associated with lower levels of alcohol abuse and nicotine use, suggesting that some degree of routine might act as a protective factor against substance use. In contrast, a high automaticity score was associated with an increased risk of harmful alcohol use. These results demonstrate that the COHS is a valid measure of habitual tendencies and represents a useful tool for capturing inter-individual variations in drug use problems in undergraduates.

Association of Bariatric Surgical Procedures With Changes in Unhealthy Alcohol Use Among US Veterans

Bariatric surgical procedures have been associated with increased risk of unhealthy alcohol use, but no previous research has evaluated the long-term alcohol-related risks after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), currently the most used bariatric procedure. No US-based study has compared long-term alcohol-related outcomes between patients who have undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and those who have not. To evaluate the changes over time in alcohol use and unhealthy alcohol use from 2 years before to 8 years after a bariatric surgical procedure among individuals with or without preoperative unhealthy alcohol use. This retrospective cohort study analyzed electronic health record (EHR) data on military veterans who underwent a bariatric surgical procedure at any of the bariatric centers in the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system between October 1, 2008, and September 30, 2016. Surgical patients without unhealthy alcohol use at baseline were matched using sequential stratification to nonsurgical control patients without unhealthy alcohol use at baseline, and surgical patients with unhealthy alcohol use at baseline were matched to nonsurgical patients with unhealthy alcohol use at baseline. Data were analyzed in February 2020. LSG (n = 1684) and RYGB (n = 924). Mean alcohol use, unhealthy alcohol use, and no alcohol use were estimated using scores from the validated 3-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C), which had been documented in the VA EHR. Alcohol outcomes were estimated with mixed-effects models. A total of 2608 surgical patients were included in the final cohort (1964 male [75.3%] and 644 female [24.7%] veterans. Mean (SD) age of surgical patients was 53.0 (9.9) years and 53.6 (9.9) years for the matched nonsurgical patients. Among patients without baseline unhealthy alcohol use, 1539 patients who underwent an LSG were matched to 14 555 nonsurgical control patients and 854 patients who underwent an RYGB were matched to 8038 nonsurgical control patients. In patients without baseline unhealthy alcohol use, the mean AUDIT-C scores and the probability of unhealthy alcohol use both increased significantly 3 to 8 years after an LSG or an RYGB, compared with control patients. Eight years after an LSG, the probability of unhealthy alcohol use was higher in surgical vs control patients (7.9% [95% CI, 6.4-9.5] vs 4.5% [95% CI, 4.1-4.9]; difference, 3.4% [95% CI, 1.8-5.0])). Similarly, 8 years after an RYGB, the probability of unhealthy alcohol use was higher in surgical vs control patients (9.2% [95% CI, 8.0-10.3] vs 4.4% [95% CI, 4.1-4.6]; difference, 4.8% [95% CI, 3.6-5.9]). The probability of no alcohol use also decreased significantly 5 to 8 years after both procedures for surgical vs control patients. Among patients with unhealthy alcohol use at baseline, prevalence of unhealthy alcohol use was higher for patients who underwent an RYGB than matched controls. In this multi-site cohort study of predominantly male patients, among those who did not have unhealthy alcohol use in the 2 years before bariatric surgery, the probability of developing unhealthy alcohol use increased significantly 3-8 years after bariatric procedures compared with matched controls during follow-up.

Qualitative Evaluation of Web-Based Digital Intervention to Prevent and Reduce Excessive Alcohol Use and Harm Among Young People Aged 14-15 Years: A "Think-Aloud" Study.

BackgroundIn the United Kingdom, despite some downward trends in alcohol use among young people, over one-fifth of young people reported excessive alcohol use in the past month, which is associated with short- and long-term harm to health. Digital interventions to reduce alcohol use, such as websites, among young people present an appealing and cost-effective mode of intervention that can be integrated into the education system. However, relatively few school-based digital alcohol-focused interventions have been developed and evaluated for young people in the United Kingdom.ObjectiveThis study aims to develop a novel web-based intervention, Rethink Alcohol, to prevent and reduce excessive alcohol use and related harm among young people aged between 14 and 15 years, and explore the views of young people, teachers, and youth workers in relation to the content, design, and usability of the intervention.MethodsIntervention development followed the person-based approach, using theories of social norms and social influence. Qualitative “Think-Aloud” interviews, either one-to-one or paired, were conducted while participants perused and worked through the web-based intervention, talking aloud. Participants included 20 young people (12 female, 8 male), 5 youth workers (4 female, 1 male), 3 teachers (2 male, 1 female), and 1 (male) clinical professional, recruited via youth groups and professional networks. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically.ResultsThe prototype web-based intervention included normative feedback, information, a quiz, interactive activities, and scenarios. On a rating scale of impressions from poor (1) to excellent (5), participants gave an average score of 3.6/5. A total of 5 themes were identified: content, credibility of the website, making the website easy to understand, design and navigation, and suitability for the audience. These themes reflected views that the content was interesting, credible, informative, and embodied a neutral and nonjudgmental tone, but stronger messaging was needed regarding social pressures and short-term risks regarding safety and risk behavior alongside clarity around pathways of risk; credibility and trustworthiness of information were critical features, determined in part, by the professionalism of design and referencing of sources of information provided; and messages should be succinct and come to life through design and interactive features.ConclusionsTogether, the data illustrated the importance and challenge of communicating nuanced alcohol-focused public health messages to young people in concise, clear, nonjudgmental, and appealing ways. Young people report interest in clear, credible, neutral, and interactive messages regarding social pressures and short-term risks of alcohol use via a web-based intervention. There is scope for optimization and feasibility testing of the Rethink Alcohol intervention.

Intimate partner violence and factors associated with sexually transmitted infections among Thai women attending gynecology clinics.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are significant public health problems worldwide. However, most research on this association and risk of STIs has been conducted in Western countries and may not be generalizable to women living in different contexts, such as Thailand. We aimed to examine prevalence of IPV and identify factors associated with STIs among Thai women. Participants were patients aged 15-49 years attending two gynecology clinics at a university hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Data were collected through an anonymous structured questionnaire, including sociodemographic characteristics, IPV, childhood abuse (CA), sexual risk behaviors, alcohol use, depressive symptoms, and self-reported STI diagnosis. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine factors associated with STI diagnosis. Among 400 participants, 84 (21%) had ever experienced at least one type of IPV in the past year. IPV, CA, age at first sex, multiple sexual partners, and alcohol use were significantly associated with STI-positive. Women who reported IPV (OR = 2.65, 95% CI = 1.11-6.28), experienced CA (OR = 5.59, 95% CI = 1.08-28.99), and had multiple sexual partners (OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.08-1.79) were significantly more likely to have an STI. Incorporation of IPV screening into general STIs screening is needed for this population to prevent and decrease IPV and STI consequences. Further research is also needed to understand the pathways linking IPV and STI risk to optimize the design of effective prevention interventions.

Retail Availability of Recreational Marijuana and Alcohol in Oregon Counties and Co-Use of Alcohol and Marijuana and Related Beliefs among Adolescents

Objective: We investigated whether recreational marijuana legalization (RML) in Oregon in 2015 and recreational marijuana and alcohol retail outlet density levels in Oregon counties were associated with increased alcohol and marijuana co-use and beliefs supportive of alcohol and marijuana use among adolescents. Method: We conducted secondary analyses of biennial data collected from 11th graders who participated in the Student Wellness Survey (SWS) in 36 Oregon counties from 2010 to 2018 (N = 71,870). Multi-level logistic regression analyses assessed changes in past-30-day co-use of alcohol and marijuana, and alcohol- and marijuana-related beliefs after RML in counties with low, medium, and high densities of licensed recreational marijuana and alcohol retail outlets. We used post-RML 2016 and 2018 SWS data to examine whether beliefs accounted for any relationship of recreational marijuana and alcohol outlet density with alcohol and marijuana co-use. Results: We found a significant post-RML increase in past-30-day alcohol and marijuana co-use in 2016 in counties with the highest density of recreational marijuana and alcohol retail outlets. There were significant post-RML increases in perceived risk and parent approval of alcohol and marijuana use. Analyses with 2016 and 2018 SWS data indicated that the relationship between level of recreational marijuana and alcohol retail outlet density and past-30-day alcohol and marijuana co-use was accounted for beliefs about marijuana and alcohol availability, approval by parents, and risk. Conclusion: RML and greater retail availability of recreational marijuana and alcohol were positively associated with alcohol and marijuana co-use among adolescents, and with beliefs favorable to alcohol and marijuana use.

Drinking and alcohol-related problems among at-risk adolescents: The role of protective behavioral strategies

IntroductionProtective Behavioral Strategies (PBS) are an alcohol-specific cognitive-behavioral strategies that may be employed before, during and/or after drinking, in order to reduce alcohol consumption and related consequences, particularly in the at-risk populations. Previous research on PBS was limited to North American college students. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of PBS use in a sample of Polish adolescents attending Special Educational Centers (SEC). MethodData were collected from a nationwide sample of 12–19 year-old (Mean = 15.8; SD = 1.22) students attending SEC in Poland (N = 1585; about 33% female). The self-administered anonymous questionnaires were completed on-site in the SEC. PBS were measured by the authors adaptation of the PBSS-20. Alcohol-related problems were assessed by the Polish adaptation of the measures used in the MINI-KID tool. Alcohol use was measured by a single question on drinking frequency. These two latter variables were measured in the past year timeframe. Hierarchical regression models were used to test the main and interaction effects of employing PBS (total and subscales scores) on alcohol-related problems, after adjusting for demographics (gender, family composition and type of SEC) and alcohol use. ResultsThe majority (about 94%) of study participants reported employment of some PBS. Regression analyses indicated that PBS use was associated with reduced risk of alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. We found that PBS significantly moderated the relationship between alcohol use and alcohol-related problems, for PBS total scale (F-change (1,1555) = 15.96, p < .001) and one of the PBS subscale: Limiting/Stopping Drinking (F-change (1,1555) = 4.80, p < .029). Findings were discussed within the results of PBS literature and resilience theory framework. ConclusionThe use of PBS helps to reduce alcohol-related problems among adolescents attending SEC. Implementation of tailored interventions that teach PBS among vulnerable adolescents may be an effective way to strengthen adolescent self-protection, reduce risky alcohol use and related negative consequences.

Drinking motives, cultural orientations, and alcohol use among Hispanic college students at the U.S.–Mexico border

Hispanic college students at the U.S.–Mexico border are at higher risk for alcohol use and negative drinking consequences relative to their counterparts in non-border areas. Hispanic students at the U.S.–Mexico border (N = 219, M age = 20.14; 71.2% women) completed an online survey. U.S. orientation was negatively associated with alcohol consumption. Enhancement motives predicted alcohol consumption, whereas coping and conformity motives predicted negative drinking-related consequences. Cultural orientations did not moderate the relations between social motives and alcohol use outcomes. Results highlight the need to consider alcohol-related cognition and to better contextualize U.S. and heritage cultural orientations among Hispanics in the U.S.–Mexico areas.

Examining the Prospective Associations Between Mindfulness Facets and Substance Use in Emerging Adulthood.

Emerging adulthood (i.e. ages 18-25) is a developmental phase associated with frequent alcohol and cannabis use, placing this population at risk for substance use problems. Depression and anxiety (i.e. emotional psychopathology) are also prevalent during this phase, and some emerging adults use substances to cope with these negative emotions. Mindfulness-a multifaceted construct-involves being present in a nonjudgmental and nonreactive way. Certain mindfulness facets are particularly relevant in buffering against substance use. A recent longitudinal study [Single A, Bilevicius E, Johnson EA. etal. (2019) Specific facets of trait mindfulness reduce risk for alcohol and drug use among first-year undergraduate students. Mindfulness 10:1269-1279] showed that specific mindfulness facets (i.e. acting with awareness, nonjudging of inner experience and nonreactivity to inner experience) predicted decreased alcohol and drug use in undergraduates. These pathways were explained by low levels of emotional psychopathology. This study expanded this recent work by using a three time-point longitudinal design and by including measures of both alcohol and cannabis use and related problems. Using MTurk, participants (N=299) completed online measures of trait mindfulness, depression, anxiety, alcohol and cannabis use and related problems at three time-points, each 2weeks apart. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. The acting with awareness and nonjudging of inner experience facets predicted fewer alcohol problems, but not alcohol use, and this effect was mediated by low levels of emotional psychopathology. These results were not supported for cannabis use and problems. This study demonstrates that there may be differences in the pathways from trait mindfulness to alcohol and cannabis use during emerging adulthood.

Adverse childhood experiences and their Alcohol, and chat Consumption among school-going adolescents, Ethiopia: Cross-sectional study

Background: Alcohol and chat use during adolescence is associated with academic and health problems, including abuse or dependence in adulthood. The aim of the present study was to investigate associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and early initiation of alcohol and chat use among school-going adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with 546 school-going adolescents. The ACE International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) was used to assess ACEs, Alcohol and chat use was assessed by questions prepared by the authors. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between overall ACE score and alcohol use and the potential moderating effects of confounders. Results: prevalence of chat chewing behavior was 26.6% followed by alcohol use 20%. A total of 66.2% of participants reported at least one ACE, and 5.93% reported four or more ACEs. High/Multiple ACEs (ACEs=1-3 and above 3) were significantly associated with increased alcohol use behaviors (AOR=1.491(1.072-3.078) and (AOR=3.171(1.330-7.560) respectively and increased chat use behaviors by 4.92 times (AOR=4.92, 95%CI=2.640-8.432) and 11.022 times (AOR=11.022, 95%CI=1.230-25.560) respectively controlling other factors. Conclusion: ACEs were significantly associated with risk behaviors, alcohol and chat use may lead to poor health, and educational outcomes among adolescent students and numbers of ACEs have graded association. Social support, sex, residence, parent educational status, and current level of depressive symptoms were significant modulating factors, which parents, school teachers, psychologists, and adolescent health care providers should give the concern to decrease the effect on school-going adolescents.

The prediction of resilience to alcohol consumption in youths: insular and subcallosal cingulate myeloarchitecture.

The prediction of alcohol consumption in youths and particularly biomarkers of resilience, is critical for early intervention to reduce the risk of subsequent harmful alcohol use. At baseline, the longitudinal relaxation rate (R1), indexing grey matter myelination (i.e. myeloarchitecture), was assessed in 86 adolescents/young adults (mean age = 21.76, range: 15.75-26.67 years). The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) was assessed at baseline, 1- and 2-year follow-ups (12- and 24-months post-baseline). We used a whole brain data-driven approach controlled for age, gender, impulsivity and other substance and behavioural addiction measures, such as problematic cannabis use, drug use-related problems, internet gaming, pornography use, binge eating, and levels of externalization, to predict the change in AUDIT scores from R1. Greater baseline bilateral anterior insular and subcallosal cingulate R1 (cluster-corrected family-wise error p < 0.05) predict a lower risk for harmful alcohol use (measured as a reduction in AUDIT scores) at 2-year follow-up. Control analyses show that other grey matter measures (local volume or fractional anisotropy) did not reveal such an association. An atlas-based machine learning approach further confirms the findings. The insula is critically involved in predictive coding of autonomic function relevant to subjective alcohol cue/craving states and risky decision-making processes. The subcallosal cingulate is an essential node underlying emotion regulation and involved in negative emotionality addiction theories. Our findings highlight insular and cingulate myeloarchitecture as a potential protective biomarker that predicts resilience to alcohol misuse in youths, providing novel identifiers for early intervention.