Rates Of Drinking Research Articles

Regional Factors Affecting Liver Cancer Mortality Using GWR

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the regional factors affecting liver cancer mortality using geographically weighted regression (GWR). Methods: Data from 2017 to 2019 were utilized, including health examination statistics and regional medical utilization statistics from the National Health Insurance Corporation, regional infectious disease statistics and community health surveys from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mortality statistics and population census data from Statistics Korea. Spatial data were obtained from the Statistical Geographic Information Service, covering 229 cities, counties, and districts. Statistical analysis was performed using R version 4.3.2, with significant variables identified through ordinary least squares (OLS) analysis, followed by GWR to assess model improvement. Results: The OLS analysis identified percent of population aged 40+, incidence of hepatitis C, high-risk drinking rate, and national health insurance premium as significant factors. Moran’s Index showed a positive spatial autocorrelation (0.373, <i>p</i><0.001). GWR analysis increased the adjusted R² from 48% to 61% and reduced the AIC from 1,062.21 to 1,038.59, indicating an improvement in the model’s explanatory power and fit. In Jeollanam-do and Jeju-do, the explanatory power was high, and the percent of population aged 40+ had a strong influence in Gangwon-do. The incidence of hepatitis C had a strong influence in the southern coastal regions, the high-risk drinking rate was notably significant in the Yeongnam region, and the national health insurance premium had a strong influence in Busan. Conclusions: As significant factors vary by region, it is considered important to establish health care policies and projects that take into account the characteristics of each region, and through this, we can expect to reduce liver cancer mortality in the region and improve community health levels.

Binge drinking in American Indian Alaskan Native college attending students

ABSTRACT Objectives American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN) populations have the highest rate of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Binge drinking is a known predecessor of AUD and is prevalent in college-attending populations. However, little is known about the prevalence and risk factors related to AIAN college student binge drinking. The current study examines prevalence of binge drinking and association with socio-demographic features, other substance use, exposure to discrimination and feelings of belonging within collegiate institutions. Design Data were collected by the Healthy Minds Study. Present analyses were restricted to 2- and 4-year college attending students in the 2021–2022 academic year who identified as AIAN (n = 1383). We used descriptive, bivariate and multivariate Poisson weighted models to evaluate distributions and associations of binge drinking, age, gender, socioeconomic status, degree program, military experience, substance use, sexual assault, discrimination, and feelings of belonging within the institution. Results In the prior 2 weeks, 26.3% of AIAN students reported binge drinking. Binge drinking commonly overlapped with other substance use. AIAN students aged 21–34 reported the highest rates of binge drinking, as did students pursuing bachelor’s degrees. AIAN students who identified as trans or queer gender were less likely to report binge drinking, while across gender identities those reporting sexual assault or racial discrimination were more likely to report binge drinking in multivariate analyses. Conclusion There are multiple factors associated with binge drinking, representing individual and contextual influences on AIAN students. Developing prevention and intervention activities to address overlap in substance use and high concurrence of sexual assault and binge drinking are critical. Additionally, colleges must make concerted efforts to reduce racial discrimination and be more inclusive of AIAN students to reduce institutional-based features that exacerbate risk.

Patterns of alcohol use in Belgium, 2013-2020

Abstract Despite numerous efforts worldwide to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol, its impact on health remains significant, contributing significantly to the loss of healthy life years. In Belgium, alcohol use is still a major public health concern, ranking among the highest in alcohol consumption across Europe. This study aims to use available nationally representative data to estimate and evaluate the time trends of alcohol use patterns in Belgium from 2013 to 2018. We used repeated cross-sectional survey data from the Belgian Health Interview Survey (BHIS), which includes self-reported alcohol use and sociodemographic data, to create a time series of annual consumption from 2013 to 2018. This included current and former drinkers, and lifetime abstainers by year, sex, region, and age groups. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model, using the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation to create the time series and forecast trends for 2020. In Belgium, the prevalence of current drinking remained at a similar level of 80% from 2013 to 2020, with similar rates observed in the Flemish (FL) and Walloon (WA) regions. However, the Brussels-Capital region (BR) had a slightly lower prevalence of 70%. Trends remained relatively stable across all regions during this period. The national level of former drinkers increased from 5% in 2013 to 8% in 2020, with BR and FL showing similar increases, while WA experienced a decline. Abstainer rates rose from 15% in 2013 to 19% in 2020 nationally, with varying increases in each region. Specifically, abstainer rates in FL increased from 13% to 17% and in WA from 14% to 20%, while BR saw an increase from 19% to 22%. Overall, declining trends were evident, with men exhibiting higher prevalence rates across all categories. Time trends from the BHIS reveal consistent and high use of alcohol in Belgium over 7 years, emphasizing the ongoing public health challenge. Urgent policy interventions are needed to reduce the impact of alcohol on health Key messages • Alcohol use in Belgium is still a pressing public health issue, with high prevalence rates of current drinking in the population. Different patterns of alcohol use can be seen between regions. • Understanding the role of alcohol on population health as an attributable burden can improve health monitoring.

Supply of Alcohol in Early Childhood Leads to Higher Rates of Drinking in Adolescence

Abstract Background Adolescents often experience their first encounter with alcohol at home, provided by parents who perceive it as a means of safeguarding their children against later alcohol-related issues. However, research shows that parental supply of alcohol is a risk factor for adolescent drinking. Notably, existing studies solely focused on parental supply during adolescence, neglecting the prospective evaluation of parental alcohol provision during early childhood on later alcohol use. Methods The data came from the Czech part of the European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ELSPAC), a longitudinal birth cohort study (N = 5,777). Mothers reported on the frequency of offering alcohol to children when children were 3, 5, 7, and 11 years old. The outcome was adolescent alcohol use at ages 15 and 18, reported by adolescents, mothers, and pediatricians. Control variables included sex, maternal education, family structure, and parental alcohol consumption. Results Three classes of children were identified based on parental alcohol supply: abstainers (75.5% of sample), infrequent sippers (16.2%), and frequent sippers (8.3%). Parental drinking increased the risk of both infrequent and frequent sipping. These classes were entered into two structural models (age 15 and age 18 alcohol use modeled as latent factors), alongside covariates. Compared to abstainer class, infrequent and frequent childhood sippers exhibited significantly higher alcohol consumption at age 15 (β = .21, p < .001; β = .25, p < .001, respectively) and age 18 (β = .11, p < .05; β = .24, p < .001, respectively). Conclusions This study represents the first prospective investigation quantifying early childhood alcohol exposure and its subsequent association with adolescent alcohol consumption. Findings emphasize the influence of family dynamics on alcohol behaviors, underscoring the necessity for targeted preventive measures, particularly within families with higher parental alcohol consumption. Key messages • Offering alcohol to children at ages 3-11, even infrequently, significantly increases the risk of more frequent drinking at ages 15 and 18, compared to those with no early exposure. • Parents who drink are more likely to have children who sip alcohol early, leading to higher alcohol consumption in adolescence. Prevention efforts should focus on family habits and early education.

Abstract PR002: County-level food insecurity and hepatocellular carcinoma risk: A cross-sectional analysis

Abstract Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer, is the sixth most common cancer and third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Hepatitis B and/or C virus, alcohol use, and obesity are main drivers of HCC incidence and prognosis, with risk higher among Black and Hispanic individuals and those with lower socioeconomic status. HCC etiology recently shifted from viral to non-viral-related causes, with up to 40% of HCC cases unexplained by known risk factors. Food insecurity (FI) is associated with several known and emerging HCC risk factors, including poor diet quality, obesity, and diabetes. However, there is limited data on whether FI is in fact a social determinant of HCC risk. In this study, we conducted a county-level cross-sectional analysis to examine whether FI is associated with HCC risk in the United States. Methods: We used the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results 22 database to obtain county-level counts of HCC cases from 2018-2021 stratified by age (20-64, ≥65 years), sex (female, male), and race and ethnicity (non-Hispanic White, non- Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native, and Hispanic). We obtained county-level FI rates for the years 2018-2021 from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap and calculated the average rate over these years. FI rates were calculated using imputation methods that consider state- and county-level sociodemographic variables associated with FI. We obtained additional county-level variables from the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System for the years 2018-2021. We used multi- level Poisson regression models with robust standard errors to estimate the association between FI and HCC risk. Models specified county population size as the offset term, and random effects for states and counties. We examined models adjusted for age, sex, race, and ethnicity (Model 1), and further adjusted for county-level binge drinking, smoking, obesity, and diabetes rates (Model 2). We tested multiplicative effect modification by individual-level factors. Results: We included 38,986 cases of HCC diagnosed in 1,085 counties. The mean county-level FI rate was 12.9% (standard deviation (SD)=3.6%). Overall, a 1-SD increase in FI was associated with a 9% increase in HCC risk in Model 1 (incidence rate ratio (IRR)=1.09, 95% CI=1.04-1.15) and a 5% increase in risk in Model 2 (IRR=1.05, 95% CI=1.02-1.09). When stratified by race and ethnicity, FI was only associated with HCC risk in non-Hispanic Whites in Model 2 (IRR=1.07, 95% CI=1.03-1.11; interaction p-value=.05). When stratified by age, FI was only associated with HCC risk in the <65 years group (IRR=1.13, 95% CI=1.08-1.18; interaction p-value <.001). The association did not differ by sex. Conclusion: This study provides some of the first data linking FI to increased HCC risk, in particular early onset HCC. If confirmed in other studies, these findings support the need for interventions that screen for, prevent, and address FI in populations at increased risk for HCC. Citation Format: Rebecca D. Kehm, Chrystelle L. Vilfranc, Jasmine A. McDonald, Hui Chen Wu. County-level food insecurity and hepatocellular carcinoma risk: A cross-sectional analysis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PR002.

Analysis of health behavior changes among residents in depopulation areas in Korea: a cross-sectional study based on Community Health Survey data from 2010 to 2019

Objectives: The total population of Korea began to decline in 2019; in particular, the population in rural areas has been rapidly decreasing and is aging. Therefore, the government has designated depopulation areas and is seeking ways to support them. To assess whether health disparities exist between areas with population decline and those without, this study used community health survey data to observe temporal changes in health behaviors between the two types of areas. Methods: The analysis used Community Health Survey data from 2010 to 2019, and regional classification was divided by depopulation areas designated by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Trends in health behavior and chronic disease prevalence between depopulation and non-depopulation areas were analyzed. All analyses were conducted using complex sample analysis procedures in SAS 9.4 software. Results: The smoking rate steadily decreased in both depopulation and non-depopulation areas, whereas the high-risk drinking rate increased slightly. The walking practice rate did not improve in depopulation areas compared to non-depopulation areas. Furthermore, nutritional labeling usage rate was consistently lower in depopulation areas than in non-depopulation areas, with the gap being the largest. The prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension showed that the gap between depopulation and non-depopulation areas is continuously increasing. Conclusions: Health behaviors in depopulation areas have not improved, and the prevalence of chronic diseases is increasing rapidly. Therefore, the demand for health care services that support healthy lifestyle practices and chronic disease management in these areas is expected to increase.

Binge Drinking Disparities by Grade, Race and Ethnicity, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity.

Binge drinking disparities between sexual and gender minority (SGM) students and their heterosexual, cisgender peers are well-established. Data limitations have precluded understandings of whether the onset and progression of these disparities differ by grade. Additionally, little is known about whether and how SGM-related binge drinking varies across groups of students coincidingly defined by sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI), race, and ethnicity. In the current study, we used a large, statewide sample of secondary school students in California to describe the prevalence of binge drinking among subgroups of adolescents at the intersections of grade, race and ethnicity, and SOGI. Data were from the 2017-2019 cycle of the California Healthy Kids Survey, one of the largest statewide cross-sectional surveys of secondary school students in the United States (n = 925 744). We described the grade-specific prevalence rates of past 30-day binge drinking by (1) grade level, (2) race and ethnicity, and (3) SOGI. Predicted probabilities estimated adjusted percentages of students' binge drinking by subgroups. SGM-related binge drinking differences were present early in secondary school. Several subgroups of SGM adolescents with minoritized racial and ethnic identities reported higher binge drinking rates relative to their same-grade, white, non-SGM peers. Prevention and intervention programs must consider developmentally- and culturally-informed strategies to most effectively promote health among minoritized students.

Alcohol consumption among older adults in the United States amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis of the 2017-2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Alcohol consumption is responsible for numerous life-threatening diseases, including liver cirrhosis, heart disease, and various cancers. During the pandemic, alcohol-related deaths increased from 2019 to 2021, topping out at approximately 108,000 deaths related to alcohol. This trendalso introduced the question whether heavy alcohol consumption and binge drinking increased during the pandemic, particularly in those 65 and older. The objective of this study is to determine whether heavy alcohol consumption and binge drinking increased during the pandemic in older adults in the United States. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to determine whether rates of overall alcohol consumption, heavy consumption, or binge drinking deviated from 2017 through 2021. We utilized chi-square tests to determine changes in rates over the included years. Our findings show that the overall rate of alcohol use in populations 65 and older from 2017 through 2021 wasapproximately 42.1 %, which peaked in 2017 at 43.7 % and declined each year, resulting in the lowest rate (41.3 %) in 2021 (χ 2 =8.96, p<0.0001). Binge and heavy drinking rates were 5.1 % and 4.2 % overall during this time frame, respectively, and the annual changes were not statistically significant. The impact of COVID-19 on the drinking behavior of older US adults was minimal in terms of binge orheavy drinking, although the overall rates of alcohol consumption among this group declined. Reports among other US age groups showed increased consumption and deaths from alcohol use. Future research is needed to determine the causes for the overall decrease in consumption or adaptive measures that this group may have taken, which led tominimal changes in binge or heavy drinking in contrast toyounger populations.

Sex Differences in Mouse Models of Voluntary Alcohol Drinking and Abstinence-Induced Negative Emotion

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a growing problem worldwide, causing an incredible burden on health and the economy. Though AUD impacts people of all backgrounds and demographics, increasing evidence has suggested robust sex differences in alcohol drinking patterns and AUD-induced negative emotionality or hyperkatifeia. Rates of problematic drinking have significantly risen among women, and women face more severe negative emotional consequences in abstinence such as increased risk of comorbidity with an anxiety or mood disorder and more severe symptoms of depression. As such, a bevy of preclinical literature using contingent methods of alcohol (ethanol) consumption has amassed in recent years to better understand sex as a biological variable in alcohol drinking and abstinence-induced negative emotionality. Mice are widely used to model alcohol drinking, as they are conducive to genetic manipulation strategies, and many strains will voluntarily consume alcohol. Sex-specific results from these mouse studies, however, have been inconsistent. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the current knowledge on sex differences in AUD-related contingent ethanol drinking and abstinence-induced negative emotionality in mice. Various contingent mouse drinking models and negative emotional-based behavioral paradigms are introduced and subsequently discussed in the context of sex differences to show increasing indications of sex specificity in mouse preclinical studies of AUD. With this review, we hope to inform future research on potential sex differences in preclinical mouse models of AUD and provide mounting evidence supporting the need for more widespread inclusion of preclinical female subjects in future studies.

건강도시 기본 조례 제정 및 운영이 성인의 건강 생활실천에 미친 영향

The World Health Organization’s “Healthy Cities” initiative seeks to enhance community well-being by improving urban environments and promoting healthy lifestyles such as smoking cessation, moderate alcohol consumption, and increased physical activity. These efforts aim to reduce chronic diseases and manage obesity. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives often lacks quantitative evaluation, especially regarding the impact on the health lifestyle practices of adults in the community. This study evaluates the impact of the Healthy City Ordinance on local adult health behaviors in 214 Korean municipalities by analyzing data on smoking cessation, alcohol consumption, and walking practice from 2008 to 2020, using ecological analysis. This study assesses the impact of Korea’s Healthy Cities Basic Ordinance on adult healthy lifestyle practices using ecological analyses from 2008 to 2022, finding a significant reduction in smoking and high-risk drinking rates, but no significant change in walking rates, suggesting that while the ordinance positively influences some health behaviors, its effects are not uniformly distributed across all health behavior areas. This study highlights the importance of healthy city ordinances in public health by providing evidence that supports the development of sustainable health promotion strategies, emphasizing the role of ordinances in policy-making, and offering insights that aid in the effective design and implementation of health policies, potentially guiding future research and strategic approaches in the field.

Heart rate variability: A primer for alcohol researchers

Problem alcohol drinking remains a major cost and burden for society. Also, rates of problem drinking in women have dramatically increased in recent decades, and women are at risk for more alcohol problems and comorbidities. The purpose of this commentary is to discuss the potential utility of cardiac measures, including heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV), as markers of individual and sex differences in the drive to drink alcohol. We recently used cardiac telemetry in female and male adult rats to determine whether different cardiac markers, including HR and HRV, would differently predict alcohol and anxiety-like behavior across the sexes. Indeed, female behaviors related to HRV measures that indicate more parasympathetic (PNS) influence (the “rest and digest” system). In contrast, male behaviors are associated more with sympathetic (SNS) indicators (the activation system). Remarkably, similar sex differences in PNS versus SNS engagement under challenge are seen in several human studies, suggesting strong cross-species convergence in differential autonomic regulation in females and males. Here, we describe the larger challenges that alcohol addiction presents, and how HRV measures may provide new biomarkers to help enhance development of more individualized and sex-specific treatments. We briefly explain the physiological systems underlying cardiac PNS and SNS states, and how specific HRV metrics are defined and validated, especially why particular HRV measures are considered to reflect more PNS versus SNS influence. Finally, we describe hormonal influences and sex differences in brain circuits related to cardiac autonomic regulation. Together, these findings show that HR and HRV have potential for uncovering key underlying mechanisms of sex and individual differences in autonomic drivers, which could guide more personalized treatment.

Feeding rate in adult Manduca sexta is unaffected by proboscis submersion depth.

Adult moths from framily Spingidae (i.e. hawkmoths or sphinx moths) commonly feed on flower nectar through an extended proboscis, often several centimeters in length and longer than the body of the moth. Feeding on a viscous liquid (nectar) through a long and narrow tube is a challenging fluid dynamic problem and the subject of long-running scientific investigation. Here we characterized the relationship between proboscis submergence depth and nectar drinking rate in Manduca sexta hawkmoths. Video recordings of moth feeding bouts were collected and neural networks were used to extract data by object localization, tracking the location of the nectar meniscus and moths' proboscis tips. We found that although feeding rates vary among bouts, the variation was not associated with proboscis submergence depth. These results show that despite the theoretical possibility of fluid uptake through the walls of the proboscis, such effects do not have a substantial effect on nectar uptake rate, and suggest that nectar must traverse the full length of the proboscis.

Concurrent decline in teenage fertility rate and binge drinking? An observational study across 45 nations.

Alcohol consumption is associated with unintended pregnancies among teenagers. Its role as a broader determinant of teenage fertility rates remains unclear. We investigate whether adolescent binge drinking affects the number of teenage births. Binge drinking data from 137,898 females aged 15-16 were collected in the HBSC study (2002-2018, 43 countries/regions) and 267,359 in the ESPAD study (1995-2019, 41 countries/regions). Age-specific fertility rates were from the Human Fertility Database and the World Health Organization. We examined changes over time in countries' average levels of binge drinking among female pupils aged 15-16 and population-level fertility rates for the same cohorts when aged 16-19 years. Controlling for differences between countries and survey waves, we found an association between binge drinking and fertility rate, B = 0.019, 95% confidence interval [0.004, 0.034]. When accounting for the countries' time trends, the association was substantially reduced, B = 0.006, 95% confidence interval [-0.0062, 0.0174]. The relationship was not moderated by abortion rates and controlling for contraceptive use had no impact on the findings. The association between adolescent binge drinking and fertility rates diminishes when accounting for country-specific time trends. Given the lack of clear mechanisms linking binge drinking to trends in fertility rates rather than shorter-term changes, the association likely reflects broader secular trends. Binge drinking may be involved in teen pregnancy and childbirth in individual cases but it does not explain recent developments in teenage fertility rates.

A lifestyle physical activity intervention for women in alcohol treatment: A pilot randomized controlled trial

IntroductionCompared to men, women with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are more likely to drink to manage stress and negative affect. Given women's risk for poor drinking outcomes, it is critical to develop and test interventions that target these affective factors. Physical activity improves negative affect and has emerged as a promising adjunct to AUD treatment and, thus, may be especially valuable for women. MethodsFifty women with AUD (49.9 ± 12.0 years of age) participated in either a 12-week telephone-delivered lifestyle physical activity plus Fitbit (LPA + Fitbit) or a health education contact (HEC) control intervention following a partial hospital addictions treatment program. The study examined changes in drinking behaviors, mental health outcomes, and physical activity engagement post-intervention using both conventional test statistics and standard effect sizes. ResultsHigher rates of continuous abstinence during the 12-week period were observed in the LPA + Fitbit condition (55.6 %) than in the HEC condition (33.6 %); odds ratio = 2.97. However, among women who drank any alcohol during the 12-weeks, slightly higher rates of heavy drinking and drinks/day were observed among women in the LPA + Fitbit condition. Significant differences for improved mental health outcomes (including depression, anxiety, negative affect, positive affect, perceived stress, and behavioral activation) and increased self-reported physical activity were consistently observed among participants in the LPA + Fitbit condition, relative to HEC. ConclusionsThe LPA + Fitbit program had a positive impact on alcohol abstinence, mental health, and physical activity in adult women receiving treatment for AUD. Future research should continue to investigate the optimal implementation strategies, duration, and intensity of LPA interventions in the context of a fully-powered RCT.

Alcohol and cannabis use and co-use among Whites and Hispanics on and off the U.S./Mexico border in California

This paper examines self-reported rates of drinking and cannabis use and co-use among White and Hispanic adults randomly selected in four counties in California: Imperial on the border; and Kern, Tulare, and Madera in California’s Central Valley. Co-use was significantly higher among the U.S. born than among those born abroad, and in the Central Valley than on the border. Co-users were heavier drinkers, had higher rates of alcohol use disorder, other alcohol problems, and a positive history of illicit drug use than drinkers only.

Fiscal institutions and racial equity: Determining the price of water

AbstractMunicipal water utilities across the United States establish their own rate structures to cover operations, maintenance, depreciation, and outstanding debt repayment. Yet, little is known about how rates are determined to ensure equity and/or affordability. To identify sources of variation in residential drinking water rates, we examine municipalities in northeastern Illinois, 2015–2019. Controlling for water utility characteristics, billing structures, financial management, service quality, and demographic/socioeconomic factors, we find no statistically significant correlations between water rates and median household income or race when nonrevenue water from leaking infrastructure is considered, revealing relative racial equity in water pricing within these communities. A larger water distribution network, more water included in the base charge, and a greater number of months in the billing cycle are all associated with lower rates. Purchasing water through an individual or cooperative agreement, a greater proportion of nonrevenue water from leaking infrastructure, a higher minimum monthly base charge, and more revenue debt outstanding (while controlling for nonrevenue water) are all associated with higher rates. We also find a positive correlation between municipal sewer rates and drinking water rates that supports findings from prior research. Overall, our research aids in the development of public policy that ensures all households have access to affordable and safe drinking water to promote water equity and public health.

Trends in binge drinking in the United States by LGBTQ+ identity, gender, and age, 2014-2022.

People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) have higher rates of risky drinking than their cisgender, heterosexual peers. It is unknown to what extent recent age and gender trends in binge drinking vary by LGBTQ+ identity. We used nationally representative, serial, cross-sectional surveys from men and women in the 2014-2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (N = 2,099,959) to examine trends in past-month binge drinking by LGBTQ+ identity, gender, and age (18-29, 30-44, 45 and older). We estimated stratum-specific prevalence ratios for an average 1-year increase in prevalence of past-month binge drinking using survey-weighted log-binomial models, controlling for education, race/ethnicity, marriage, and parenthood status. In the beginning of the study period, LGBTQ+ women endorsed binge drinking at higher prevalences than their cisgender, heterosexual peers (i.e., 2014 predicted probability for women ages 30-44: 0.22 for LGBTQ+, 0.15 for cisgender, heterosexual). LGBTQ+ disparities in women's drinking attenuated over the study period among women in midlife (30-44 age group) due to increases in binge drinking among cisgender, heterosexual women (Prevalence Ratio [PR]: 1.025, 95% CI 1.018-1.033). Among men, we saw no evidence of LGBTQ+ disparities in binge drinking probabilities or in binge drinking trends across all age groups. Disparities in mid-life binge drinking between LGBTQ+ and cisgender women have begun to diminish. These disparities are closing not because LGBTQ+ women are binge drinking less, but because cisgender, heterosexual women in midlife are binge drinking more.

Techno-economic analysis (TEA) of zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems for treatment and utilization of brine via resource recovery

The issue pertaining to brine disposal has generated considerable interest in advanced methodologies aimed at harnessing their potential for resource recovery (i.e., water and salts). This techno-economic analysis investigates the technical and economic outlooks of zero liquid discharge (ZLD) desalination systems, employing two distinct crystallization approaches: membrane-promoted crystallization (MPC) in case 1, and wind-aided intensified evaporation (WAIV) in case 2. The findings indicate that case 1 exhibits a higher drinking water recovery rate (96 %) compared to case 2 (84 %), as the crystallization technology adopted in case 2 (WAIV) does not facilitate freshwater recovery. In both systems, the water is extracted via the implementation of efficient technologies, leading to the attainment of ZLD conditions along with minimal brine volumes. In terms of energy and cost requirements, case 1 necessitates a greater total energy demand (19 kWh/m3) and cost (US$95/day) in contrast to case 2 (15 kWh/m3 & US$83/day). Both cases demonstrate feasibility, yielding profits varying from US$179.19/day to US$221.32/day, contingent upon the sale of solely water or both water and solid salt. The insights provided by this study are poised to facilitate viable utilization and management of brine originating from the seawater desalination industry as well as from diverse brine-generating sectors.

Abstract P443: Alcohol Use Prevalence Among US Born and Foreign-Born Black Adults in the 2010 to 2018 National Health Interview Survey

Background: Alcohol use is an important risk factor for CVD, but variations among Black adults are not well known. We aimed to examine differences in alcohol use among Black subgroups. Hypothesis: Foreign-born Black adults will exhibit less alcohol use than their native-born peers. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of pooled data from the 2010 to 2018 National Health Interview Survey. Exposure was Black subethnic categories; African American (AA), African Immigrant (AI), and Afro-Caribbean (AC) adults; with non-Hispanic U.S. born White adults as the reference group. The outcome was self-reported alcohol use, categorized as never, former, or current drinker. Survey-weighted multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the relative risk ratios of alcohol use adjusting for covariates. Results: We included 415,250 White adults and 84,709 Black adults. Of those, 73,893 (87.2%) were AA, 6,739 (8.0%) were AC, and 4,077(4.8%) were AI. After adjusting for age, sex, marital status, education, employment, income, and insurance, the prevalence rates of current drinking were 68.3, 32.5, 48.1, and 57.1 for White, AI, AC, and AA, respectively. The odds of never drinker and former drinker compared to current drinker were higher among all Black groups than White adults. AI. were more likely to be never drinkers (RRR: 9.48; 95% CI: 8.10-11.10) followed by AC (RRR:3.70 95% CI: 3.22-4.24) and AA (RRR: 1.91 95% CI: 1.81-2.01). Conclusion: Black adults are less likely to be current alcohol drinkers when compared to White adults. However, there is significant variation in alcohol usage within the Black population by region of origin. These findings highlight the need for further intra-race evaluation into the underlying causes of alcohol use differences.

Isolation and loneliness as pathways to heavy drinking early in the pandemic.

social isolation and forced quarantines during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic coincided with a steep and persistent rise in alcohol consumption among US adults. While the association between loneliness and drinking is well established, less is known about the impact of social isolation (a known correlate of loneliness) and the interplay between these two variables in relation to drinking. we recruited US adults using the MTurk platform for an online survey in early April 2020. The initial survey was followed up with a second wave, 30days later in mid to late May. Data from the current analyses focus on this second wave of data collection. we found significant direct effects on heavy drinking for both social isolation (c'= 0.495; P< .01) and loneliness (b= 0.071; P< .05). We also found a significant indirect path from social isolation to heavy drinking through social isolation's impact on elevating loneliness (a= 0.919; P< .001). The indirect effect of social isolation on the composite measure of heavy drinking was 0.0652 (0.919 × 0.071) and was significant at the 0.05 level after bootstrapping estimates of the variance were constructed. those most isolated early in the pandemic were at increased risk for heavy drinking, in part because their social isolation led to increased loneliness. Post-pandemic research is needed to explore whether the relationships that stemmed from social isolation during the pandemic led to a persistent pattern of behavioral risk that maintained high rates of heavy drinking.