Frequency Of Alcohol Use Research Articles

Brain deficit patterns of metabolic illnesses overlap with those for major depressive disorder: A new metric of brain metabolic disease.

Metabolic illnesses (MET) are detrimental to brain integrity and are common comorbidities in patients with mental illnesses, including major depressive disorder (MDD). We quantified effects of MET on standard regional brain morphometric measures from 3D brain MRI as well as diffusion MRI in a large sample of UK BioBank participants. The pattern of regional effect sizes of MET in non-psychiatric UKBB subjects was significantly correlated with the spatial profile of regional effects reported by the largest meta-analyses in MDD but not in bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or Alzheimer's disease. We used a regional vulnerability index (RVI) for MET (RVI-MET) to measure individual's brain similarity to the expected patterns in MET in the UK Biobank sample. Subjects with MET showed a higher effect size for RVI-MET than for any of the individual brain measures. We replicated elevation of RVI-MET in a sample of MDD participants with MET versus non-MET. RVI-MET scores were significantly correlated with the volume of white matter hyperintensities, a neurological consequence of MET and age, in both groups. Higher RVI-MET in both samples was associated with obesity, tobacco smoking and frequent alcohol use but was unrelated to antidepressant use. In summary, MET effects on the brain were regionally specific and individual similarity to the pattern was more strongly associated with MET than any regional brain structural metric. Effects of MET overlapped with the reported brain differences in MDD, likely due to higher incidence of MET, smoking and alcohol use in subjects with MDD.

Health behavior of young patients with ischemic stroke in Estonia: A score of five factors.

Behavioral risk factors are common among young patients with stroke. This study aimed to compare the health behavior of patients and healthy controls and develop a combined risk score of health behavior. The health behavior of patients aged 18-54 years who suffered an ischemic stroke from 2013 to 2020 in Estonia was compared to the Health Behavior among Estonian Adult Population 2014 study sample. We chose five risk factors for comparison: smoking status, body mass index, physical exercise, diet (salt use and vegetable consumption), alcohol intake (quantity and frequency), and composed a summary score. Comparing 342 patients and 1789 controls, daily smoking (49.0%vs. 22.7%), obesity (33.4%vs. 15.9%), low physical activity(<twice/week) (72.2%vs. 60.5%), excessive salt use (8.6%vs. 4.5%), and frequent alcohol use (≥ weekly) (39.9%vs. 34.0%) were more prevalent among patients. The differences in infrequent vegetable consumption(<6 days/week) and excessive alcohol consumption (7 days,>8 units/females,>16 units/males) were not significant. The observed differences were similar for age groups 18-44 years and 45-54 years. The average Health Behavior Stroke Risk Score (0-10) was 4.6 points (CI 4.4-4.8, SD±1.97) for patients and 3.5 points (CI 3.4-3.6, SD±1.90) for controls. Before stroke, young patients displayed significantly worse health behavior than the general population. The largest differences were found for smoking and obesity, and a cumulation of risk factors was observed via the HBSR score.

Associations between blackout drinking and self-reported everyday cognition among young adults

IntroductionBlackout drinking, or alcohol-induced memory loss during at least some part of a drinking occasion, is common among young adults and associated with negative alcohol-related consequences. One potential unique effect of blackout drinking episodes could be prolonged, general difficulties forming new memories through impairments in encoding, storage, or retrieval. The current study examined preliminary associations between blackout drinking and self-reported everyday cognitive functioning (i.e., memory lapses, non-memory cognitive difficulties, cognitive concerns) among a sample of young adults. We also examined the moderating role of key factors linked to blackout drinking: gender and frequent simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use. MethodsParticipants (N = 479; 53% women) were aged 18–30 who reported past-year blackout drinking. Participants completed an online survey through Qualtrics Panels. ResultsMore frequent blackout experiences were found to be significantly related to more memory lapses, more non-memory cognitive difficulties, and more cognitive concerns even after controlling for typical alcohol use behavior. Men and individuals reporting frequent simultaneous use indicated stronger relationships between blackout drinking frequency and cognitive outcomes. Discussion and conclusionsFindings add to the growing body of literature supporting the uniquely hazardous effects of blackout drinking and identify individuals at heightened risk of harms. Given that associations between blackout drinking frequency and everyday cognitive functioning were identified even among a young adult sample suggests that blackout drinking may be a risky behavior that links to poorer cognitive functioning.

Evaluating substance use outcomes of recreational cannabis legalization using a unique co-twin control design

ABSTRACT Background: As more states pass recreational cannabis legalization (RCL), we must understand how RCL affects substance use. Objectives: The current study aims to examine the effect of RCL on lifetime and past-year use of cannabis, alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, frequency of cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco use, co-use of cannabis with alcohol and tobacco, and consequences from cannabis and alcohol use. Methods: We used a unique, co-twin control design of twin pairs who were discordant for living in a state with RCL between 2018 and 2021. The sample consisted of 3,830 adult twins (41% male), including 232 twin pairs discordant for RCL. Problems from alcohol and cannabis use were assessed via the Brief Marijuana Consequences Questionnaire and the Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire. Results: Results indicated that the twin living in an RCL state was more likely to endorse past-year cannabis use (OR = 1.56, p = .009), greater number of cannabis use days in the past 6 months (β = 0.47, p = .019), but not more negative consequences from cannabis use (β = 0.21, p = .456) compared to their co-twin in a non-RCL state. There were no differences within-twin pairs in frequency of alcohol use (β=-0.05, p = .601), but the RCL twin reported fewer negative consequences from alcohol use (β=-0.29, p = .016) compared to their co-twin in a non-RCL state. We did not observe any other differences within-twin pairs on other outcomes. Conclusion: These results suggest that living in an RCL state is associated with greater cannabis frequency but not more negative consequences from cannabis use than living in a non-RCL state.

Components of a healthy lifestyle among tertiary students in Kemerovo

Highlights. The results of an online survey of Kemerovo students regarding nutrition, physical activity, smoking, drinking alcohol, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are presented.University students do not always follow the principles of healthy living due to poor nutrition, low physical activity and high consumption of tobacco and alcohol products.Aim. To evaluate dietary habits and modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in tertiary students in Kemerovo.Methods. The pilot study included 136 university students (aged 20-21 years) residing in Kemerovo who filled out online questionnaires. The questionnaires were comprised of questions about the preferred diet, lifestyle, level of physical activity, the presence of behavioral risk factors for non-communicable diseases (smoking, drinking alcohol). Additionally, the respondents` subjective opinion about their own healthy lifestyle (HLS) was evaluated.Results. The obtained data demonstrates a high prevalence of meat and sausage consumption (60%) and a low frequency of vegetables and fruits consumption (26%) among tertiary students. Simultaneously, most of the respondents have restricted the intake of savory snacks and consumption of sweet carbonated drinks. Almost a third of students skip breakfast and regularly visit fast food restaurants. Most of the respondents do not consider replacing red meat with fish or poultry, or using more low-fat dairy products and fruits instead of confectionery in their diet. A third of young people (33%) aged 20-21 have smoked or are currently smoking cigarettes, and more than half (63%) have consumed or regularly consume alcohol. Moreover, a very low percentage of students (7%) devote their time to regular physical activity. The analysis of the respondents` subjective opinion of their lifestyle has revealed that most students do not fully comprehend the concepts of “healthy lifestyle” and “healthy diet”, because their answers did not meet the criteria of healthy lifestyle. Only 57.7% of respondents who believe their lifestyle to be healthy are actually correct.Conclusion. Tertiary students in Kemerovo do not always follow the rules of healthy lifestyle. It has been illustrated by their poor nutrition, low physical activity and frequent alcohol and tobacco use. Students associate healthy diet exclusively with not consuming sugary drinks, savory snacks, fast food, and having proper breakfast, which could be caused by the lack of general knowledge about a proper balanced diet.

Abstract TMP12: COVID-19 Increases The Risk Of In-Hospital Acute Stroke Mortality: A Cohort Study

Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection has an increased risk for neurological complications. Stroke has been associated with COVID-19 in 1-3% of hospitalized patients. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of stroke patients admitted in a health center in Brazil. We aimed to investigate whether the exposure to COVID-19 was associated with an increase in acute stroke mortality. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Results: The cohort included 1191 stroke patients (54% male). All strokes were included: Ischemic stroke (81.2%), hemorrhagic stroke (14.9), cerebral venous thrombosis (2.1%) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (1.3%). Stroke associated with COVID-19 represented 5.4% of all patients. Mean age was 64.4 years (SD 0.5) and did not differ between groups. Sex distributions were equal in patients with or without covid-19. The prevalence of stroke type and the TOAST classification were similar in both groups. Mean NIHSS score was 8.7 (SD 6.3) being significantly higher in COVID-19 patients (p=0.036). COVID-19 patients disclosed a higher frequency of previous ischemic heart disease (OR: 3.5 - CI: 1.86-6.46). The frequency of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, tobacco and alcohol use, and atrial fibrillation were similar for both groups. COVID-19 patients disclosed higher odds for in-hospital infection (OR: 4.5; CI: 2.67-7.48). Mortality rate was higher for COVID-19 patients (44.6% against 20.1% in non-Covid-19 group) in all subtypes of stroke. The mortality risk was twofold for COVID-19 stroke patients (CI: 1.62-2.92). Multivariate logistic regression considering mortality as the primary outcome and adjusted for multiple confounders disclosed an adjusted OR of 2.3 for COVID-19 infection (CI: 1.1-4.9) (Figure). Conclusion: In this cohort study, COVID-19 infection was an independent risk factor for mortality in stroke patients, regardless of comorbidities, age, sex and NIHSS.

Experiences of a mobile phone delivered brief intervention for hazardous drinking: A qualitative study nested in the AMBIT trial from Goa, India.

This study explores the experiences of participants receiving a mobile-based brief intervention (BI) for hazardous drinking in India, to determine characteristics that influenced engagement and examine perceived reasons for change in alcohol consumption. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 adult hazardous drinkers who received a mobile-based BI in the intervention arm of a pilot randomised control trial. Data were coded through an iterative process and analysed using thematic analysis. Study participants reported a positive experience, with factors such as customised intervention delivery and personal motivation facilitating their engagement. Participants reported a reduction in quantity and frequency of alcohol use. This was credited to the intervention, particularly, its provision of health-related information, goal-setting content and strategies to manage drinking. Apart from alcohol reduction, participants reported improvements in diet, lifestyle, wellbeing, and familial relations. By providing a context to explain the impact of the intervention, the learnings from this study can be used to strengthen the implementation of mobile-based interventions. This study outlines the scope for further research in digital health, such as Internet-based health interventions, and incorporating digital interventions within the ambit of existing health care programmes.

Alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic: gender, parenthood, intimate partner violence, and stress.

Some preliminary work during the COVID-19 pandemic indicates that adult alcohol use increased, particularly for parents. This cross-sectional study examined the quantity and frequency of adults' alcohol use during the early stages of the pandemic. Additionally, the influences of gender, parenthood, COVID-19-related stressors and intimate partner violence (IPV) on alcohol consumption were examined. The sample consisted of 298 adults (98 parents) from across the United States who completed self-report surveys through Qualtrics at the beginning of the pandemic in May 2020. In the present study, all men reported higher levels of drinking compared to all women. Although stress levels did not impact alcohol consumption, findings indicate that increased IPV experiences were associated with higher levels of heavy drinking during the pandemic. Results also suggested that having children in the home particularly impacted drinking levels during the pandemic, above and beyond the influence of gender, IPV, and stress levels. These findings suggest that parenthood may have had a cascading influence on drinking experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Implications and recommendations for further research are discussed.

The Relationship Between Trauma and Substance Use Among Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Trauma exposure is prevalent in the general population, but healthcare workers may be at greater risks for additional work-related trauma. Trauma is a known risk factor for substance use, particularly tobacco and risky alcohol use. Few studies have examined the relationship between trauma and substance use in healthcare workers. Among healthcare workers, the aims of our study were to examine (a) frequency of current tobacco use and risky alcohol use, (b) frequency and types of traumatic experiences, and (c) the associations between trauma experiences and current tobacco and risky alcohol use controlling for demographic factors. This study is a secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data from healthcare workers (N = 850) in an academic medical center. Demographic and work-related variables, trauma experience, and substance use were examined. Multivariate logistic regression analysis examined associations between trauma exposure and tobacco and risky alcohol use controlling for demographic and work-related variables. Nearly 75% of respondents reported at least one lifetime traumatic experience, and one in 10 reported tobacco and risky alcohol use. When controlling for demographic and work-related variables, a dose-response relationship was observed such that the higher the number of traumatic experiences, there was a greater likelihood of reporting tobacco or risky alcohol use. Because healthcare providers have additional work-related trauma risk above the public, and greater trauma is associated with increased risk for substance use, it is important to screen for trauma and provide appropriate treatment resources to healthcare providers. Future research is needed to better delineate the relationship between specific traumas and risky substance use among healthcare providers.

Coping strategies as mediating mechanisms between adolescent polysubstance use classes and adult alcohol and substance use disorders

Adolescent polysubstance use is a robust predictor of substance use in adulthood and can be exacerbated by poor coping with stress over time. We examined whether latent classes of adolescents’ polysubstance use predicted alcohol use disorder and substance use disorder diagnoses in adulthood via multiple stress coping strategies. Self-reported frequency of past 3-month alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use in 792 adolescents (aged 16/17) were used to form latent classes of polysubstance use. Self-reported aggressive, reactive, substance use and cognitive coping strategies (ages 18/19, 22/23, 23/24) were examined as multiple mediators of polysubstance use classes and alcohol use disorder and substance use disorder in adulthood (age 26/27) controlling for demographic covariates. Latent class analysis resulted in High, Experimental, and Low polysubstance use classes. Those in high and experimental polysubstance use classes, compared to those in the low polysubstance use class, had greater use of aggressive and reactive coping strategies, which respectively predicted greater substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder in adulthood. Across all comparisons (high vs low, experimental vs low, and high vs experimental), higher polysubstance use was associated with greater substance use coping, which predicted both alcohol and substance use disorder. Greater polysubstance use, even experimental use, in adolescence is a significant risk factor for developing alcohol use disorder and substance use disorder in adulthood and this occurs, in part, via maladaptive stress coping strategies.

Improved estimates for individual and population-level alcohol use in the United States, 1984-2020.

While nationally representative alcohol surveys are a mainstay of public health monitoring, they underestimate consumption at the population level. This paper demonstrates how to adjust individual-level survey data using aggregated alcohol per capita (APC) data for improved individual- and population-level consumption estimates. For the period 1984-2020, data on self-reported alcohol consumption in the past 30 days were taken from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) involving participants (18+ years) in the United States (US). Monthly abstainers were reallocated into lifetime abstainers, former drinkers, and 12-month drinkers using the 2005 National Alcohol Survey data. To correct for under-coverage of alcohol use, we triangulated APC and survey data by upshifting quantity (average grams/day) and frequency (drinking days/week) of alcohol use based on national- and state-level APC data. Results were provided for the US as a whole and for selected states to represent different drinking patterns. The corrections described above resulted in improved correspondence between survey and APC data. Following our procedure, national estimates of alcohol quantity increased from 45% to 77% of APC estimates. Both quantity and frequency of alcohol use were upshifted; by upshifting to 90% of APC, we were able to fit trends and distributions in APC patterns for individual states and the US. An individual-level dataset which more accurately reflects the alcohol use of US citizens was achieved. This dataset will be invaluable as a research tool and for the planning and evaluation of alcohol control policies for the US. The methodology described can also be used to adjust individual-level alcohol survey data in other geographical settings.

SEROPREVALENCE OF HBsAg, Anti-HBs, Anti-HCV, and Anti-HIV IN PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN AN AMATEM CLINIC IN EASTERN TURKIYE: A SIX-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE EVALUATION

Aim&#x0D; Substance abuse and concomitant infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality. Yet, the number of epidemiological studies regarding infectious diseases in people with substance abuse are limited in our country. In this study, the aim was to investigate the frequency of illegal alcohol and substance use in an Alcohol and Drug Research, Treatment and Training Centres (AMATEM) clinic in Turkey as well as the HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV parameters between the years of 2016-2021. &#x0D; Material and Method&#x0D; HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV tests were conducted using the ELISA technique in 6881 alcohol and substance use disorder (ASUD). Urine samples from ASUD’s were analyzed for alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine metabolites. The results were evaluated retrospectively. &#x0D; Results&#x0D; All of the 6881 ASUD’s were male with a mean age of 32.18±9.66 years. Of the 6881 ASUD’s included in the study, 4107 (59.7%) were opioid addicts; 1479 (21.5%) were mixed drug addicts; 897 (13%) were alcohol addicts; and the rest were addicts with other types of substance use. The mean age of the alcohol users was 45.33±13.03 and the mean age of opioid users was 29.90±7.13. The percentage of opioid addiction in 2016 was 71.2% which dropped to 28.7% in 2021. Meanwhile, the percentage of alcohol addiction was 13.6% in 2016 and increased to 21.4% in 2021; and the percentage of mixed drug use was 8.7% in 2016 and increased to 36.8% in 2021. HBsAg-positivity in opioid users (56.7%) was higher compared to cannabis users (2.6%) and mixed drug users (22.3%). Anti-HCV positivity of opioid users (69.4%) was found to be higher compared to alcohol (9.4%), cannabis (2%), and mixed drug (16.2%) users, and this finding was statistically significant (p=0.0001). Anti-HBs positivity of opioid users (63.1%) was found to be higher compared to alcohol (9.9%), cannabis (3%), and mixed drug (21%) users, and this finding was statistically significant (p=0.0001). Anti-HIV was determined negative in all ASUD’s. The highest rates of HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HBs positivity were found in the 26-30 years of age. &#x0D; Conclusion&#x0D; These findings indicate a high prevalence of intravenous substance abuse in the 26-30 years age group in our region as well as the high HBV and HCV rates in this patient group.

Personal Values and Substance Use in Adolescence and Young Adulthood: Risk or Protective Factors?

Background: Personal values are desirable trans-situational goals that serve as guiding principles in people’s lives and have been widely found to be related to people’s behavior. Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the relation between personal values and youth involvement in frequency of alcohol and cannabis use and problems related to substance use, comparing two groups of adolescents and young adults: 237 adolescents (age 14–19 years; 58.2% females) and 236 young adults (age 20–30 years; 78.8% females). Participants were asked to fill in an online self-report questionnaire aimed at assessing the constructs of interest. Results: The results showed that openness to change, despite being more prioritized by adolescents, was significantly positively related to frequency of cannabis use and problems related to substance use only for young adults. Conclusions: Implications for preventive interventions and further expansions of the study are discussed.

Influencing factors of anxiety and depression of discharged COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, China.

This study is intended to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety in individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 and been discharged from hospital (RD hereafter) in Wuhan, China, and to explore the factors associated with these mental disorders. Participants of this study were the RD who were infected at the beginning of the outbreak from 13 communities in Jianghan District of Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China by convenience sampling in mid-2021. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire, the Short Version of COVID-19 Stigma Scale, the Peace of Mind Scale, the Resilience Style Questionnaire, and the Perceived Social Support Questionnaire were used to collect relevant information of the participants. Descriptive analyses, Pearson correlation analysis, and logistic regression analysis were used to describe and analyze the data and to examine the factors associated with the mental health status of this population. In total, we recruited 1601 participants from 3059 COVID-19 patients, and 1541 participants completed the questionnaire survey, with a response rate of 96.25%. Finally, 1297 participants met the inclusion and exclusion criteria in this study, of whom 28.8% and 37.9% reported mild to severe levels of anxiety and depression symptoms. Perceived better mental health status during hospitalization, higher frequency of alcohol use per week, peace of mind, higher education level, and resilience were negatively associated with anxiety, while stigma and history of psychological or emotional counseling before infection was positively associated with anxiety. More severe clinical classification of COVID-19 and stigma (AOR = 1.057, P<0.001) were both positively associated with depression, while perceived better mental health status during hospitalization (AOR = 0.564, P<0.001), higher frequency of alcohol use per week (AOR = 0.462, P = 0.004), peace of mind (AOR = 0.857, P<0.001), and social support (AOR = 0.972, P = 0.034) were negatively associated with depression. Tailored interventions on reducing stigma, enhancing mindfulness and social support should be taken into account to alleviate anxiety and depression among RD.

The Influence of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Frequent Use of E-Cigarettes and Its Association with Substance Use and Mental Health Symptoms.

Although several studies examined the association between e-cigarettes, substance use, and mental health conditions, there is limited research on whether COVID-19-related stress and health outcomes, mental health symptoms, and substance use differ by the frequency of e-cigarette use during the COVID-19 pandemic. We assessed the association of past 30-day frequent use of e-cigarettes with alcohol, cannabis, anxiety/depression, and COVID-19 impact. We conducted a national online cross-sectional survey among a random sample of US adults aged 18 years or older (N = 5065) between 13 May 2021, and 9 January 2022. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the study aims. Of the participants, 7.17% reported once to several times per month (OSTPM), 6.95% reported once to several times per week (OSTPW), and 6.57% reported every day to several times per day (ESTPD) use of e-cigarettes in the past month. Alcohol and cannabis use ESTPD and once to several times per week/month (OSTPW/M) were associated with a higher likelihood of e-cigarette use ESTPD and OSTPW/M, respectively. Anxiety/depression was associated with e-cigarette use ESTPD and OSTPW. Individuals who considered social distancing to be stressful were more likely to use e-cigarettes ESTPD and OSTPW/M compared to those that considered social distancing as not stressful. Individuals who engaged in the frequent use of alcohol or cannabis, had depression/anxiety, and considered social distancing to be stressful were more likely to engage in frequent e-cigarette use. Improving efforts geared toward reducing the use of substances may help decrease the health risks associated with e-cigarette use.

Arc controls alcohol cue relapse by a central amygdala mechanism.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic and fatal disease. The main impediment of the AUD therapy is a high probability of relapse to alcohol abuse even after prolonged abstinence. The molecular mechanisms of cue-induced relapse are not well established, despite the fact that they may offer new targets for the treatment of AUD. Using a comprehensive animal model of AUD, virally-mediated and amygdala-targeted genetic manipulations by CRISPR/Cas9 technology and ex vivo electrophysiology, we identify a mechanism that selectively controls cue-induced alcohol relapse and AUD symptom severity. This mechanism is based on activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc)/ARG3.1-dependent plasticity of the amygdala synapses. In humans, we identified single nucleotide polymorphisms in the ARC gene and their methylation predicting not only amygdala size, but also frequency of alcohol use, even at the onset of regular consumption. Targeting Arc during alcohol cue exposure may thus be a selective new mechanism for relapse prevention.

Biological, Behavioral, and Demographic Drivers of Recent Syphilis Infection Among Emerging Adult Sexual Minority Men in New York City: The P18 Cohort Study.

The rate of syphilis infections among sexual minority men (SMM) has continued to increase in recent decades. As such, this analysis sought to identify demographic, biological, and behavioral factors associated with recent syphilis infection in emerging adult SMM. Data were drawn from a 3-year cohort study of emerging adult SMM (n = 665), from July 2014 to March 2019. Biannual study assessments included rapid HIV testing and behavioral surveys. At baseline, and at the 18- and 36-month time points, participants underwent chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis screening. Generalized estimating equations were used to generate four models of repeated syphilis screening. In this racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample of SMM, 5.0% of participants tested positive for syphilis at baseline and 9.0% had an infection at the subsequent time points. Across all models, racial/ethnic minority SMM had higher odds of syphilis. Higher odds of syphilis infection were also significantly associated with more frequent condomless anal sex, more frequent marijuana use, HIV seropositivity, not currently using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and not receiving syphilis testing in the previous 6 months; lower odds were associated with more frequent oral sex and more frequent alcohol use. These findings support current screening guidelines based on SMM who may be at increased risk for sexually transmitted infection (STI) acquisition, such as people living with HIV or those who engage in condomless sex. Further, our findings of reduced syphilis incidence among those who are on PrEP and engaged in regular STI testing support existing efforts to increase the availability and accessibility of preventive sexual health care for SMM.

Perception of the risk factors for oral cancer and access to preventive actions in the perspective of the population in street situation and health professionals Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil.

Backgroung: in Brazil, the homeless population is a phenomenon that involves a variety of factors that, among the most frequent, are: the rupture of family bonds, the inexistence of work and the absence or insufficiency of income and frequent use of alcohol and other drugs. Objective: to analyze the perception of oral cancer, its risk factors and preventive actions from the perspective of the homeless population and health professionals from the team Clinic on the Street in the city of Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil. Methods: a qualitative study, developed through Content Analysis, carried out from January to April 2018, with the homeless population and health professionals’ team of Clinic on the Street in Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil. Results: it was evidenced that the homeless population’ situation and the health professionals of Clinic on the Street have perception about the risk factors related to this aggravation, however the users are not concerned with preventive actions. The professionals of the team do not develop actions aimed at the prevention of the disease. From the perspective of the team and the users, preventive actions can be developed, however what is predominant is the accomplishment of punctual actions with emphasis on changing harmful habits. Conclusion: the homeless population and the professionals from Clinic on the Street are aware of the main risk factors for oral cancer. The team does not develop specific actions to prevent this disease and users understand the need for prevention. The difficulty of access and the period of return to the dental surgeon are factors that make prevention difficult.

Who’s at greatest risk? Latent profiles of alcohol and cannabis use and related consequences among college students

BackgroundThere is significant heterogeneity in alcohol and cannabis use patterns among college students, with some engaging in use patterns that heighten their risk for adverse consequences. Person-centered approaches can help identify those subgroups of students with riskier use patterns. Latent Profile Analyses (LPA) were conducted to identify subgroups based on alcohol and cannabis use frequency and quantity, to explore demographic covariates and to examine mean differences across subgroups on alcohol- and cannabis-related consequences, simultaneous use, and other substance use. MethodsParticipants were 2,423 college students (Mage = 20.1; 72 % female) recruited from seven US universities who endorsed past-month alcohol and cannabis use and completed an online survey of substance use behaviors. ResultsA four-profile solution was the best fitting model. Profile 1 represented “light, infrequent alcohol and cannabis use” (73.8 %), Profile 2 represented “heavy, infrequent alcohol and moderate, frequent cannabis use” (15.9 %), Profile 3 represented “moderate, frequent alcohol and cannabis use” (5.6 %) and Profile 4 represented “very heavy, frequent alcohol and heavy, frequent cannabis use” (4.7 %). Students who identify as male, White non-Hispanic, and/or Greek-affiliated were more likely to be in the heavy alcohol use profiles. Profiles 3 and 4 represent high-risk profiles, with both having a higher likelihood of simultaneous use, Profile 3 endorsing more cannabis consequences, and Profile 4 endorsing more alcohol consequences. ConclusionResults suggest that heavy alcohol or heavy co-use heightens risk for serious adverse consequences.

Housing and supportive services for substance use and self-efficacy among young mothers experiencing homelessness: A randomized controlled trial

AimsHomeless mothers with young children in their care contend with high rates of substance use and low self-efficacy. However, a limited number of studies have examined these outcomes associated with housing and supportive services. DesignParticipants were randomly assigned to: (1) housing + support services (n = 80), (2) housing-only (n = 80), or (3) services as usual (SAU) (n = 80) and were re-assessed at 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-months postbaseline. SettingsThe study recruited a community-based sample from homeless service agencies and advertisements in a large Midwestern city. ParticipantsThe study recruited two hundred forty (N = 240) women between the ages of 18 to 24 years, experiencing homelessness and with a substance use disorder (SUD) who also had a biological child under the age of 6 years in their care. MeasurementsWe measured frequency of alcohol and drug use using the Form 90 semi-structured interview, and self-efficacy using Pearlin and Schooler's (1978) 7-item Mastery Scale. FindingsOverall, mothers showed significant improvement in substance use and self-efficacy over time in each condition. However, as expected, patterns of change differentiated intervention groups with more mothers showing better substance use and self-efficacy outcomes in housing + supportive services than in SAU. Unexpectedly, more mothers in SAU showed better outcomes than those in housing-only. ConclusionsSubstance use decreased and self-efficacy increased over time, but patterns of change characterized the intervention groups. In particular, findings suggest that when providing housing to this population, supportive services should also be offered.