Heavy Episodic Drinking Research Articles

Bisexual+ Women and Gender Nonbinary Survivors of Sexual Violence: Comparisons of Substance Use, PTSD Symptoms, and In-Person Social Reactions to Sexual Violence Disclosure

ABSTRACT The current study examined whether in-person social reactions to disclosure of sexual violence vary as a function of sexual identity (heterosexual vs. bisexual+ survivors) and gender (women vs. nonbinary survivors). A secondary aim of the current study was to examine whether sexual identity and/or gender moderated the relation between social reactions to disclosure and various negative psychological/behavioral outcomes. (i.e. symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), heavy episodic drinking, cannabis use). Participants were 472 bisexual+ or heterosexual survivors who identified as women (cisgender and transgender women) or gender nonbinary. Independent sample t-tests and three simple linear regressions were used to examine the study aims. Nonbinary survivors reported higher levels of social reactions that involved turning against the survivor and providing unsupportive acknowledgment of the sexual violence experience, compared to women survivors. Both bisexual+ and nonbinary survivors reported higher levels of PTSD symptoms and greater cannabis use compared to heterosexual and women survivors, respectively. For bisexual+ survivors, reactions that turned against the survivors were associated with lower levels of PTSD symptoms and higher levels of heavy episodic drinking. For bisexual+ survivors, reactions involving unsupportive acknowledgment were associated with higher levels of PTSD symptoms and lower heavy episodic drinking. The current study highlights how identification as bisexual+ or as nonbinary may influence in-person social reactions received upon disclosure of sexual violence as well as psychological outcomes following sexual violence.

Sex-dependent effects of ethanol withdrawal from a single- and repeated binge episode exposures on social anxiety-like behavior and neuropeptide gene expression in adolescent rats

Ethanol withdrawal sensitivity is a risk factor for the development of alcohol use disorder. Heavy episodic drinking during adolescence often encompasses repeated periods of withdrawal. Adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure of laboratory rodents produces several neurobiological deficits that differ between sexes, but the sensitivity to withdrawal as a contributor to the observed sex differences is not clear. The current study assessed the impact of acute withdrawal from a single- and repeated binge ethanol episodes during adolescence as well as protracted abstinence from repeated binge episodes on social anxiety-like behavior (indexed via significant decreases of social investigation) as well as oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP) system gene expression in the hypothalamus (HYP) and central amygdala (CeA) in male and female Sprague Dawley rats. Females displayed social anxiety-like behavior during withdrawal from a single binge episode, whereas both sexes showed social anxiety-like changes following acute withdrawal from repeated binge episodes. After a period of protracted abstinence, only males still displayed ethanol-associated social alterations. Analysis of gene expression in separate, non-socially tested subjects revealed that withdrawal from repeated binge episodes during adolescence increased AVP gene expression in the HYP of males and decreased it in females. Males also displayed increased AVP and OXTR gene expression during acute withdrawal from repeated binge episodes in the CeA, with these changes persisting into adulthood. Together, these findings suggest that adolescent females are sensitive to withdrawal from both acute and repeated ethanol exposures, whereas males are sensitive to withdrawal from repeated ethanol exposures, with affective and transcriptional changes persisting into adulthood.

Willingness to Use Long-Acting Injectable Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Kampala, Uganda.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has proven to be a powerful tool in preventing HIV infection. There is limited information about the factors associated with willingness to use different PrEP modalities among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Africa. We assessed willingness to use long-acting injectable PrEP (LAI-PrEP) among 14-24-year-old AGYW at high risk of HIV in Uganda, and associated factors determined using multivariable complementary log-log regression. Of the 285 participants, 69.8% of participants showed willingness to use LAI-PrEP despite only 3.9% having knowledge about it before enrolment. Report of recent transactional sex was high (92.6%). Participants that were divorced/separated (aOR = 1.74, 95% CI 1.03-2.92) and those with multiple sexual partners (aOR = 2.11, 95% CI 1.46-3.06) compared to those with one partner were more likely to be willing to use LAI-PrEP while those that were screened as heavy episodic drinkers (consuming 6 or more drinks on an occasion as per the AUDIT tool) were less likely to be willing to use LAI-PrEP (aOR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.42-0.87). LAI PrEP has shown efficacy in clinical trials; the product is approved for use by the Government of Uganda (MoH) and should be expedited for use by AGYW engaged in paid sex and those with multiple sexual partnerships. As it becomes available, we recommend PrEP education and counseling to increase awareness of LAI PrEP as an alternative HIV prevention method.

Perspectives and experiences regarding pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in a community sample of Veterans with unhealthy alcohol use: overall and across sexual orientation and gender identity

BackgroundUnhealthy alcohol use is an independent, modifiable risk factor for HIV, but limited research addresses alcohol use and HIV prevention synergistically. Groups that experience chronic stigma, discrimination, and/or other marginalization, such as sexual and gender minoritized groups, may have enhanced HIV risk related to unhealthy alcohol use. We described awareness of and experiences with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among a community sample of Veterans reporting unhealthy alcohol use (relative to those without), overall and across self-reported sexual orientation and gender identity.MethodsUsing data collected from a national online survey of Veterans recruited via Facebook ads, community organizations, and listservs, we assessed variation in four PrEP outcomes (knowledge, experience, willingness, and conversations with doctors) across patterns of unhealthy alcohol use among all respondents reporting any lifetime drinking (n = 1,041) and then within sexual orientation and gender identity groups using Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests.ResultsAmong 1,041 eligible Veterans, 440 (42%) screened positive for unhealthy alcohol use. Veterans with unhealthy alcohol use were not more likely to have heard of PrEP (58.2% vs. 55.4%, p = 0.37), but trended toward more likely to have taken PrEP (7.5% vs. 5.0%, p = 0.09), to be willing to take PrEP (30.5% vs. 27.6%, p = 0.06), and to have spoken with a doctor about PrEP (11.4% vs. 7.7%, p = 0.04). Those with heavy episodic drinking also trended toward higher prevalence of PrEP awareness (60.0% vs. 54.6%, p = 0.09), and were more likely to have taken PrEP (8.3% vs. 4.7%, p = 0.02), to be willing to use PrEP (34.6% vs. 25.5%, p < 0.01), and to have had conversations with doctors about PrEP (12.7% vs. 7.2%, p < 0.01). Similar patterns were observed for severe unhealthy alcohol use and past-year frequent heavy episodic drinking. Generally, sexual/gender minoritized Veterans with unhealthy alcohol use reported more PrEP-affirming responses than those without but associations with unhealthy alcohol use were similar.ConclusionsUnhealthy alcohol use was prevalent, particularly among Veterans with minoritized sexual orientation/gender identity, but not clearly linked to increased PrEP-literacy and use despite its known status as an HIV risk factor. Across groups, > 25% of individuals were willing to take PrEP. Interventions targeting both alcohol use and HIV prevention should capitalize on this.

Individual psychological vulnerability factors related to the initiation or increase in alcohol use in early adolescence: a longitudinal study

Objective This longitudinal study aims to explore several individual psychological vulnerability factors that could predict the onset or escalation of alcohol use in early adolescents. Method A total of 792 adolescents participated in all stages of this study. Participants were divided into two groups based on their alcohol use patterns: no drinking group (ND) and light drinking group (LD). Cognitive, personality, and neuropsychological measures were assessed using questionnaires, and alcohol use was evaluated at baseline (T1). After two years, alcohol use was reassessed (T2) and participants were categorized into three groups: no drinking group (ND), light drinking group (LD), and heavy episodic drinking group (HED). Results Results indicated that low inhibition, high sensitivity to reward, high openness to experience, and high motor impulsivity were primary predictors of the transition from no alcohol use (T1) to alcohol use (T2), regardless of subsequent drinking trajectory (LD or HED). The transition from LD (T1) to HED (T2) was primarily predicted by low inhibition, high cognitive impulsivity, high sensitivity to reward, and sex. Conclusions This longitudinal study provides a novel approach to the study of HED initiation in adolescence. The findings expand our understanding of the risk of psychological factors associated with adolescent alcohol initiation, enabling clinicians to tailor primary and secondary prevention programs in schools and other relevant settings.

How drinking motives mediate associations between sexual orientation and indicators of alcohol use - a study among young Swiss men.

Individuals with a minority sexual orientation have consistently been found to face a greater risk of mental health problems and problematic substance use than heterosexual individuals. The present study examined whether differences in alcohol use or alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms across the spectrum of sexual orientations could be explained by drinking motives (i.e., enhancement, social, coping and conformity motives). A non-self-selective sample of non-abstinent, young Swiss men (N = 5,139; mean age = 25.4, SD = 1.25) completed a self-reporting questionnaire on sexual orientation (on a five-point attraction scale: heterosexual, mostly-heterosexual, bisexual, mostly-homosexual, homosexual), drinking motives, alcohol use indicators (e.g., heavy episodic drinking, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption [AUDIT-C]), and AUD symptoms. Structural equation modeling was used to test whether drinking motives mediated the associations between dummy-coded sexual orientation (with heterosexual men as the reference) and alcohol use indicators or AUD symptoms. Mostly-heterosexual men exhibited higher scores on alcohol use indicators than heterosexual men, with almost full mediation through their drinking motives, specifically higher enhancement motives. They also reported more AUD symptoms, partially mediated through drinking motives, with comparable contributions from enhancement and coping motives. Homosexual men, however, displayed similar or lower scores for alcohol use indicators and AUD symptoms than heterosexual men, but these differences were not mediated by drinking motives. Indeed, homosexual men exhibited greater coping motives than heterosexual men. No significant results or discernible patterns emerged for bisexual or mostly-homosexual men. These findings highlight the importance of considering the full spectrum of sexual orientations in healthcare and of broadening the focus on drinking motives beyond coping. Understanding the varied motives for alcohol use across the spectrum of sexual orientations facilitates tailored prevention strategies.

Drinking intention-behavior links vary by affect among heavy-drinking young adults: An ecological momentary assessment and transdermal sensor study.

Drinking intention is a predictor of heavy-drinking episodes and could serve as a real-time target for preventive interventions. However, the association is inconsistent and relatively weak. Considering the affective context when intentions are formed might improve results by revealing conditions in which intention-behavior links are strongest and the predictive power of intentions is greatest. We investigated the links between drinking intentions reported in the morning and same-day drinking behavior, moderated by positive and negative affect (PA, NA) in a sample of heavy-drinking young adults. Participants wore the SCRAM continuous alcohol monitor transdermal alcohol sensor anklet for 6 consecutive days in their natural environments and responded to daily ecological momentary assessments that included morning intentions to drink and PA/NA items. Drinking events and patterns were measured using morning-report counts and features from the sensor. Bayesian gamma-hurdle and Poisson multilevel models with noninformative priors tested day-level associations. We hypothesized that drinking intention-behavior associations would be strongest on days with high levels of PA, but we did not hypothesize directionality for the NA effect given the conflicting results in previous literature. Day-level drinking intention-behavior associations were stronger on days with higher versus lower PA according to sensors features. Associations were also stronger on days with lower versus higher NA. The strength of intention-behavior links may partly depend on the affective contexts in which intentions are formed. Results could fine-tune intervention approaches by elucidating the affective contexts in which intentions may more clearly link to drinking behavior to reduce the intensity of an episode-better anticipating problematic drinking among young adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Does ruminating about the previous night's drinking during a hangover predict changes in heavy episodic drinking? A two-wave, 30-day prospective study.

We examined whether hangover-related rumination-repeatedly dwelling on negative aspects of yesterday's drinking while hungover the following morning-predicts changes in three dimensions of heavy episodic drinking (HED) over time. N = 334 emerging adults (aged 19-29) from three Eastern Canadian universities who had recently experienced a hangover completed online self-report questionnaires at baseline (Wave 1) and 30 days later (Wave 2; 71.6% retention). HED was assessed in frequency (number of HED episodes), perceptions (how participants perceived the extent of their heavy drinking), and quantity (greatest number of alcoholic drinks consumed in a single HED episode) over the past 2 weeks. Levels of HED frequency, perceptions, and quantity declined overall from Waves 1 to 2. Exploratory factor analysis established two factors of hangover-related rumination: intrusiveness (unwanted thoughts about the previous night's drinking) and regret (desire to change future drinking behavior). Structural equation models revealed that intrusiveness at Wave 1 predicted the maintenance of higher frequency and perceptions of HED at Wave 2, even as these HED measures were generally declining; regret at Wave 1 also predicted the maintenance of HED perceptions at Wave 2. Neither Wave 1 hangover rumination factor predicted changes in HED quantity at Wave 2. Models controlled Wave 1 variables, including the relevant HED outcome, overall hangover severity, total number of hangovers, generalized anxiety symptoms, sex, age, and data collection site. Hangover-related rumination factors are associated with the maintenance of higher HED frequency (intrusiveness factor) and HED perceptions (intrusiveness and regret factors), suggesting risk for problematic alcohol consumption. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Surveillance of alcohol use through population surveys in the Americas from 2010 to 2019.

The aims of this study were to identify alcohol-related population surveys administered in the Americas, determine which alcohol-related measures are examined and identify coverage gaps regarding alcohol-related measures. As part of the Global Information System on Alcohol and Health study, a systematic search was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria to identify regionally or nationally representative survey reports of the general population from 1 January 2010 to 6 August 2019. Alcohol-related measures extracted from surveys were categorized into 10 domains: alcohol consumption status; alcohol consumption; unrecorded alcohol consumption; drinking patterns; symptoms of dependence and/or harmful use; drinking during pregnancy; treatment coverage; second-hand harms; economic; and other. The systematic search identified 7417 survey reports, 94 of which were new and included in this study, with an additional 11 studies included from a previous systematic study of alcohol surveys. In total, 94 unique surveys and 161 unique survey waves were located, representing 105 unique survey questionnaires covering 30 countries. No population surveys were found for five member states; namely, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Haiti, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Saint Kitts and Nevis. All countries with population-based alcohol surveys had had a population survey probing alcohol use in the past year/month. Questions regarding heavy episodic drinking, alcohol use disorders, treatment-seeking for alcohol use, drinking during pregnancy, harms to others and the amounts spent on alcohol were asked in 26, 25, 10, 6, 22 and 11 countries, respectively. The heterogeneity in alcohol-related population surveys in the Americas from 2010 to 2019 limits their comparability throughout countries and over time. Future surveys should implement a standardized set of core questions to provide consistency in the monitoring of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harms.

Socioeconomic position, alcohol use and alcohol-attributable emergency department visits.

Differential vulnerability to alcohol contributes to socioeconomic inequities in alcohol-attributable harm. This study aimed to estimate the sex-/gender-specific joint effects of socioeconomic position (SEP) and heavy episodic drinking or volume of alcohol use on 100% alcohol-attributable emergency department (ED) visits. We conducted a cohort study among 36 900 men and 39 700 women current and former alcohol consumers aged 15-64 from population-representative Canadian Community Health Surveys (2003-2008) linked to administrative ED visit data through 2017 in Ontario and Alberta. We estimated sex-/gender-specific associations between SEP (both education and income) and heavy episodic drinking (≥5 standard drinks on one occasion, at least monthly) or volume of alcohol use (standard drinks per week) on incident alcohol-attributable ED visits and assessed additive interactions using the Synergy Index (S). Lower levels of education (eg, less than high school vs Bachelor's degree or above: men: adjusted HR (aHR)=3.71, 95% CI 2.47 to 5.58; women: aHR=1.75, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.68) and income (eg, quintile (Q)1 vs Q5, men: aHR=2.07, 95% CI 1.35 to 3.17; women: aHR=1.84, 95% CI 0.91 to 3.71) were associated with increased rates of alcohol-attributable ED visits. Among men and women, superadditive joint effects (ie, greater than the sum of both exposures experienced independently) were observed between low SEP (education and income) and heavy episodic drinking and higher volume of alcohol use on alcohol-attributable ED visits. Our results indicate that individuals with lower SEP experience increased vulnerability to alcohol use and related harms. These findings highlight the urgent need for population-level interventions that reduce both the high burden and socioeconomic inequities in alcohol-attributable harm.

Etiology and correlates of alcohol misuse in early midlife.

Early midlife individuals (ages 30-40) experience demographic shifts that may influence the remainder of adult life. Although new or persistent alcohol misuse is common during this period, early midlife is understudied in alcohol use literature. We examined the heritability of alcohol misuse; the associations between alcohol misuse and sociodemographic factors, physical health, and well-being; and whether these associations were robust in cotwin comparisons. Participants were 1446 Finnish twin pairs and 748 nonpaired Finnish twins with mean age 34 years. The alcohol misuse index was a composite measure of frequency of use, intoxication, heavy episodic drinking, and alcohol problems assessed with the Malmö-modified Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test and the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index. Early midlife correlates included relationship status and length, family formation, unemployment status, education level, self-rated health, pain, sleeping difficulties, life satisfaction, psychological health, and other substance use. We employed a sex-limitation model to estimate early midlife heritability. Linear and fixed effects regression models were used for individual and cotwin comparison analyses, respectively. Additive genetic (A) and unique environmental (E) components of alcohol misuse variance differed across sex (Females: A = 62%, E = 38%; Males: A = 49%, E = 51%). In individual-based analyses, higher scores on the alcohol misuse index were associated with lower relationship stability, financial situation, education level, self-rated health, physical fitness, life satisfaction and psychological health, and higher self-reported pain, sleep difficulties, unemployment rates and other substance use (R2 = 0.008-0.12). Associations remained significant in cotwin comparison analyses (R2 = 0.004-0.10) except for financial situation and education level. There is evidence of sex differences in the etiological factors that influence early midlife drinking. After controlling for confounding familial factors, associations between alcohol misuse and poorer early midlife functioning largely remained, suggesting that alcohol misuse may play a role in poorer functioning across several outcomes.

Estimating Substance Use Homophily in the Sexual Network of a Large Cohort of Young Sexual and Gender Minorities Assigned Male at Birth.

Young sexual and gender minority (SGM) people assigned male at birth who use substances are at elevated risk of HIV acquisition. This brief report leverages a large cohort of SGM people assigned male at birth to estimate substance use homophily (i.e., same-same substance use status) in sexual partnerships. We found substance use homophily in this sexual network for marijuana, poppers, methamphetamine, and hallucinogens but not heavy episodic drinking, cocaine, or ecstasy. These results suggest substance use is associated with sexual network structure and may increase HIV disparities between individuals who do and do not use substances.

Psychometric study of the Russian version of the Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale

Craving is one of the central symptoms of alcohol use disorder. Currently, there is no single accepted definition, model, or standardized approach to assessing craving for alcohol use, but the phenomenon is extensively studied in the field of addiction research. The Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale was developed based on the hypothesis that both obsessive-compulsive disorder and alcohol use disorder have similar symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the factor structure as well as the convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity of the Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale. 222 patients with Alcohol Use Disorder undergoing inpatient treatment (163 men (73,42%), average age 42,67±10,06 years old, average age of the onset of alcohol use disorder 32,19±8,57 years old) were recruited for the study. The following methods were used: clinical interview, Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale, Penn Alcohol Craving Scale, Motivation for Alcohol Consumption, and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. The results of the study confirmed two-factor structure of the scale; however, the goodness-of-fit indices slightly differed from acceptable cut-off values. The scale had acceptable internal consistency and convergent validity. Discriminant validity was moderate. The analysis of criterion validity revealed a negative correlation between the factor “Compulsions” and age of the first alcohol drink, start of the regular alcohol use, and age of the first inpatient treatment for alcohol use disorder. Participants with daily use had significantly higher scores on both factors compared to the participants with heavy drinking episodes.

Disentangling the temporal relationship between alcohol-related attitudes and heavy episodic drinking in adolescents within a randomized controlled trial.

Within many alcohol prevention interventions, changes in alcohol-related attitudes (ARA) are often proposed as precursors to changes in drinking behaviour. This study aimed to measure the longitudinal relationship between ARA and behaviour during the implementation of a large-scale prevention trial. This study was a two-arm school-based clustered randomized controlled trial. A total of 105 schools in Northern Ireland and Scotland participated in the Steps Towards Alcohol Misuse Prevention Programme (STAMPP) Trial. A sample of 12 738 pupils (50% female; mean age = 12.5years at baseline) self-completed questionnaires on four occasions (T1-T4). The final data sweep (T4) was 33 months post baseline. Individual assessments of ARA and heavy episodic drinking (HED) were made at each time-point. Additional covariates included location, school type, school socio-economic status and intervention arm. Estimated models examined the within-individual autoregressive and cross-lagged effects between ARA and HED across the four time-points (Bayes estimator). All autoregressive effects were statistically significant for both ARA and HED across all time-points. Past ARA predicted future ARA [e.g. ARAT1 → ARAT2 = 0.071, credibility interval (CI) = 0.043-0.099, P < 0.001, one-tailed]. Similarly, past HED predicated future HED (e.g. HEDT1 → HEDT2 = 0.303, CI = 0.222-0.382, P < 0.001, one-tailed). Autoregressive effects for HED were larger than those for ARA at all time-points. In the cross-lagged effects, past HED statistically significantly predicted more positive ARA in the future (e.g. HEDT2 → ARAT3 = 0.125, CI = 0.078-0.173, P < 0.001, one tailed) except for the initial T1-T2 path. In contrast, past ARA did not predict future HED across any time-points. Changes in alcohol-related attitudes were not a precursor to changes in heavy episodic drinking within the Steps Towards Alcohol Misuse Prevention Programme (STAMPP) Trial in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Rather, alcohol-related attitudes were more likely to reflect prior drinking status than predict future status. Heavy episodic drinking status appears to have a greater impact on future alcohol attitudes than attitudes do on future heavy episodic drinking.

A longitudinal study of alcohol consumption among adults in Victoria, Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whilst public health measures were effective in reducing COVID-19 transmission, unintended negative consequences may have occurred. This study aims to assess changes alcohol consumption and the heavy episodic drinking (HED) during the pandemic. Data were from the Optimise Study, a longitudinal cohort of Australian adults September 2020-August 2022 that over-sampled priority populations at higher risk of contracting COVID-19, developing severe COVID-19 or experiencing adverse consequences of lockdowns. Frequency of alcohol consumption (mean number of days per week) and past-week HED were self-reported. Generalised linear models estimated the association between time and (1) the frequency of alcohol consumption and (2) heavy episodic drinking. Data from 688 participants (mean age: 44.7 years, SD:17.0; 72.7% female) and 10,957 surveys were included. Mean days of alcohol consumption per week decreased from 1.92 (SD: 1.92) in 2020 to 1.54 (SD:1.94) in 2022. The proportion of participants reporting HED decreased from 25.4% in 2020 to 13.1% in 2022. During two lockdown periods, known as "lockdown five", (OR:0.65, 95%CI [0.47,0.90]) and "lockdown six" (OR:0.76, 95%CI [0.67,0.87]), participants were less likely to report HED. Participants alcohol drinking frequency and HED decreased during the pandemic. This study provides a strong description of alcohol consumption during the pandemic and suggests that lockdowns did not have the unintended consequences of increased alcohol consumption.

More pubs-More problems? A longitudinal analysis of Swedish panel data.

The aim of the study is to estimate the association between bar density and nighttime emergency calls to the police. We used a pooled cross-sectional time-series data set covering the Swedish 290 municipalities spanning the time period 2012-2021. As outcome we used nighttime emergency calls to the police and daytime emergency calls to the police as control variable. Bar density was measured as number of serving establishments licensed to serve alcohol after 1 am. The municipalities were classified into three socio-economic (SES) categories: low, middle and high-SES areas. We used survey data to estimate the prevalence of heavy episodic drinking (HED) for each of the three SES areas. We applied fixed-effects modelling to estimate the association between bar density and nighttime police calls, implying that only within-unit variation was exploited. Findings suggested that a 10% increase in bar density would result in a 0.46% (p = 0.001) increase in nighttime police calls. There was a marked gradient in the bar effect across SES areas; in high-SES areas the effect was not significant, while the effect was twice as strong in the low-SES areas as in mid-SES areas. We also found that the lower the status of the SES area, the higher the prevalence of HED. We found a significantly positive association between bar density and nighttime police calls. However, the association was markedly stronger in low-SES areas (which were also characterised by an elevated HED prevalence) than in high-SES areas (distinguished by a lower HED prevalence).

Prototype Specificity Matters When Predicting Later Alcohol-Related Content Posting and Alcohol Use Among Adolescent and Young Adults

Background: Drinking prototypes (i.e., images of the type of individual who engages in specific alcohol use behaviors) are associated with alcohol use, with self-identified similarity to the prototype possibly driving this connection more than one’s favorability of the prototype. Alcohol-related content (ARC; posts featuring alcohol or drinking) posting prototype favorability is also associated with ARC posting and drinking. However, the effects of ARC posting prototype similarity on posting or drinking behavior are unexamined. Prior research suggests specificity of antecedents (e.g., attitudes, prototypes) matters in predicting subsequent behavior. The current study examined which types of prototype similarity (e.g., drinking, ARC posting) are most strongly associated with later ARC posting and drinking behavior, respectively. Methods: Adolescents and young adults who reported alcohol use (N = 274) were recruited to complete two online surveys at baseline and 1-month later. Results: Controlling for abstaining, heavy episodic drinking (HED), and ARC posting prototype similarity, only greater baseline ARC posting prototype similarity was associated with posting ARC 1-month later. Zero-inflated negative binomial regressions revealed greater abstaining prototype similarity was associated with lower drinking frequency 1-month later. Higher HED prototype similarity was associated with likely drinking on at least one day in the past month (i.e., drinking frequency). Higher ARC posting prototype similarity was associated with likely reporting no negative alcohol consequences. Conclusions: Findings suggest that interventions targeting reductions in ARC posting should aim to change ARC posting prototype similarity whereas drinking prototype similarity should be highlighted in alcohol interventions.

An evaluation of the impact of a national Minimum Unit Price on alcohol policy on alcohol behaviours.

In 2018, Scotland pioneered national legislation which set a Minimum Unit Price (MUP) of 50 pence (∼US$0.64, €0.59) per unit of UK alcohol sold (8g/10ml). To inform policy development, we examine the policy effect using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C), employing longitudinal data for over 17200 individuals. The effect of MUP on AUDIT-C scores is inferred by employing difference-in-difference regression. Pre- and post-intervention alcohol behaviours of individuals from Scotland are compared to a matched 'control' from England. Drinking at hazardous and harmful levels could be identified, as well as the frequency of alcohol consumption, number of drinks and heavy episodic drinking. Estimates adjust for demographic, socioeconomic and health characteristics. Potential inequalities by gender, age and household income are examined. MUP led to an estimated 5.3% reduction in the number of drinks consumed on drinking occasions, though a statistically significant effect on overall reported AUDIT-C scores or drinking at hazardous levels was not detected, with few differential effects for subgroups. Differences in the findings of this research compared to other studies may be explained by differences in population coverage collected in the survey data, compared to more comprehensive, population-wide administrative data, as well as sample attrition.

Momentary Fluctuations in Impulsivity Predicts Suicidal Ideation Among Those With Problematic Alcohol Use.

Problematic alcohol use is a recognized risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Individuals who misuse alcohol and those experiencing suicidal ideation (SI) often exhibit elevated impulsivity, suggesting that impulsivity may be an underlying mechanism. Impulsivity fluctuates considerably within individuals over short periods, particularly among those engaged in episodic heavy drinking, college students, and those with SI. While impulsivity is associated with suicidal thinking at a trait level, its relationship with SI on a momentary level remains relatively unexplored. This study aimed to (a) replicate cross-sectional findings linking impulsivity and SI in those with problematic alcohol use, and (b) extend these findings to examine the momentary associations between impulsivity and SI within this population. Two independent undergraduate samples were utilized: the first cross-sectional (n = 653) and the second employing ecological momentary assessment (n = 56). All participants screened for problematic alcohol or substance use. Our results show a unique association between the impulsivity facet of negative urgency and SI. Results also demonstrate an interactive effect of negative affect and "spur of the moment decisions" in predicting concurrent SI, as well as an interaction between negative affect and "saying things without thinking" in prospectively predicting SI. Findings highlight the saliency of negative urgency, both at the trait and state level in the prediction of SI. Although in need of replication, results indicate that specific aspects of momentary impulsivity may be uniquely linked with SI, and that this relationship may be context dependent.

Multilevel associations of peer cognitive factors and adolescent cannabis use in a legal recreational cannabis region.

Cannabis use can have unintended, harmful consequences for adolescents, a developmental group that struggles with heightened pressure to align with peer attitudes and behaviors. The role of social-cognitive factors in shifting cannabis use dynamics remains under explored, particularly in states where recreational cannabis use is legal. The present study examined multilevel longitudinal associations between resistance to peer influence, peer norms, and adolescent cannabis use over the course of 12 months. Participants were N=204 adolescents ages 15-19 (M age = 18.68; 67% female) recruited via community outreach after the legalization of adult (age 21+) recreational cannabis use in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan region. Eligible participants endorsed 1+ heavy episodic drinking (HED) episode in the prior two months. Data were collected across four timepoints over 12 months. Multilevel latent growth curve modeling investigated associations between time-varying cognitive factors (resistance to peer influence, peer norms) and two cannabis outcomes (hazardous use, past-month use). Findings showed individual increases in hazardous cannabis use over time were significantly associated with adolescents reporting higher peer norms (i.e., higher perceived prevalence and frequency of peer cannabis use) and lower resistance to peer influence. When assessing between-adolescent differences, hazardous cannabis use was only associated with peer norms. Individual variation over time and between-adolescent differences on past-month cannabis use was associated with peer norms, but not resistance to peer influence. Evolving cognitive factors like resistance to peer influence and peer norms may enhance understanding of longitudinal changes in hazardous cannabis use among adolescents and implicate helpful targets for prevention and intervention. It is a public health priority to identify factors that contribute to adolescent use trajectories in this period of growing cannabis legislation in order to guide the development of impactful prevention and intervention strategies.