People's Alcohol Research Articles

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol in People With Major Depressive Episodes and Alcohol Use Disorder.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and depression are the most commonly reported psychiatric comorbid conditions. We examined trends in the past-year prevalence of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUIA) among people with major depressive episodes (MDE), AUD, or both in the United States. We analyzed 543,573 individuals aged 18 years or older from the 2005 to 2019 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Multivariate logistic regression models were applied to examine the adjusted past-year prevalence of DUIA. To assess trends in DUIA over time, average annual percent change (AAPC) was calculated. From 2005 to 2019, DUIA prevalence among US adults with MDE declined significantly from 18.1% to 9.4% (AAPC = -4.9). Decreasing trends in DUIA were also observed among those with AUD (from 55.4% to 37.8%, AAPC = -3.0) and among those with co-occurring MDE and AUD (from 58.3% to 38.8%, AAPC = -3.1). Compared to those with no MDE or AUD, individuals with AUD and those with co-occurring MDE and AUD had significantly lower AAPCs across all examined sociodemographic subgroups except Non-Hispanic Other and those without a high school diploma. From 2005 to 2019, DUIA prevalence declined significantly with varying rates of decrease across different diagnostic and sociodemographic groups. Focused public health efforts are needed to engage high-risk groups that have shown a tendency toward less expedient reductions in DUIA.

The Association of Cardiometabolic, Diet and Lifestyle Parameters With Plasma Glucagon-like Peptide-1: An IMI DIRECT Study.

The role of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity is not fully understood. We investigate the association of cardiometabolic, diet, and lifestyle parameters on fasting and postprandial GLP-1 in people at risk of, or living with, T2D. We analyzed cross-sectional data from the two Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) Diabetes Research on Patient Stratification (DIRECT) cohorts, cohort 1 (n = 2127) individuals at risk of diabetes; cohort 2 (n = 789) individuals with new-onset T2D. Our multiple regression analysis reveals that fasting total GLP-1 is associated with an insulin-resistant phenotype and observe a strong independent relationship with male sex, increased adiposity, and liver fat, particularly in the prediabetes population. In contrast, we showed that incremental GLP-1 decreases with worsening glycemia, higher adiposity, liver fat, male sex, and reduced insulin sensitivity in the prediabetes cohort. Higher fasting total GLP-1 was associated with a low intake of wholegrain, fruit, and vegetables in people with prediabetes, and with a high intake of red meat and alcohol in people with diabetes. These studies provide novel insights into the association between fasting and incremental GLP-1, metabolic traits of diabetes and obesity, and dietary intake, and raise intriguing questions regarding the relevance of fasting GLP-1 in the pathophysiology T2D.

Young people's alcohol use in and around water: A scoping review of the literature.

The surrounding social and commercial context, including alcohol advertising, heavily influences alcohol consumption. Alcohol use is a major risk factor for both fatal and non-fatal drowning, particularly for young people. We conducted a scoping review to explore the peer-reviewed literature on the use of alcohol by young people (aged 15-34 years) in the context of aquatic environments. Five electronic academic databases were searched for English-language studies conducted in high-income countries and published in the last 15 years (since 2008). The MetaQAT framework was used to assess methodological quality of included studies. The review included a total of 24 studies, including those addressing the prevalence of and/or risk factors for alcohol use in aquatic environments among young people (n = 13); the epidemiology of alcohol-related unintentional drowning in young people (n = 9); and interventions to reduce alcohol-related harm around water (n = 3). Findings suggest that young people commonly consume alcohol around water, particularly young men. We found multiple influences on this behaviour, including the perception of risk, location of aquatic activity and presence of others, particularly peers. Understanding the literature addressing alcohol use around water among young people will assist in identifying and setting priorities for drowning prevention, including the need to mitigate the effects of alcohol advertising which promotes drinking in and around water. There is a clear imperative to address the use of alcohol by young people in aquatic environments. These findings have key implications for public health policy, advocacy and practice.

Relationships Between Alcohol Policies and Infant Morbidities and Injuries

Previous research has found that policies specifically focused on pregnant people's alcohol use are largely ineffective. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the relationships between general population policies regulating alcohol physical availability and outcomes related to pregnant people's alcohol use, specifically infant morbidities and injuries. Outcome data were obtained from Merative MarketScan, a longitudinal commercial insurance claims data set. Policy data were obtained from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's Alcohol Policy Information System, the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, and Liquor Handbooks and merged using policies in effect during the estimated year of conception. Relationships between state-level policies regulating sites, days/hours, and government monopoly of liquor sales and infant morbidities and injuries were examined. Analyses used logistic regression with individual controls, fixed effects for state and year, state-specific time trends, and SEs clustered by state. The study analysis was conducted from 2021 to 2023. The analytic sample included 1,432,979 infant-birthing person pairs, specifically people aged 25-50 years who gave birth to a singleton between 2006 and 2019. A total of 3.1% of infants had a morbidity and 2.1% of infants had an injury. State government monopoly on liquor sales was associated with reduced odds of infant morbidities and injuries, whereas gas station liquor sales were associated with increased odds of infant morbidities and injuries. Allowing liquor sales after 10PM was associated with increased odds for infant injuries. No effect was found for allowing liquor sales in grocery stores or on Sundays. Findings suggest that limiting alcohol availability for the general population may help reduce adverse infant outcomes related to pregnant people's alcohol use.

Commentary on Luukkonen et al.: Policy possibilities for reducing public health harms related to pregnant people's alcohol consumption.

Commentary on Luukkonen et al.: Policy possibilities for reducing public health harms related to pregnant people's alcohol consumption.

Doing gender, doing alcohol: The paradox of gendered drinking practices among young Nigerians

Previous research on alcohol and gender identity constructions has primarily focused on Western countries. Studies from non-Western contexts can make crucial contributions to understandings of the impact of social constructions of masculinities and femininities on drinking behaviours and health. In traditional Nigeria, consumption norms prohibited women's and young people's alcohol use. Nowadays, young men and women use alcohol, and many enact identities with heavy drinking. This study uses gender performance theory and interviews/focus group data from 72 young Nigerian men and women to explore their masculinity performance and resistance to traditional femininity codes through drinking practices. Profiling women as vulnerable agents and the only gender that provides care and affective labour, most men reinscribed the consumption norms proscribing women's drinking while some recommended sweetened or flavour brands for women. Citing gender equality and criticizing/resisting local norms, the women argued that alcohol consumption should not be the prerogative of men. The men used competitive heavy drinking rituals and drunkenness to enact masculinity. Most of the women constructed counter-traditional/normative femininity with heavy drinking bouts, while others, who maintained the traditional femininity to avoid stigmatization, enacted secret, or solitary drinking with potential health impacts. The findings demonstrate how distinct social norms promote socio-structural constraints and power relations that suppress women's agency and encourage gender inequality with potential health impacts.

Ethyl glucuronide in hair: A 5-years retrospective cohort study among drivers under the influence of psychoactive substances and alcohol

The main aim of the study was to investigate ethyl glucuronide (EtG) hair levels and alcohol consumption behaviour of a large cohort of driving under the influence (DUI) subjects between 2015–2019. Since alcohol is the most widespread psychoactive substance in the world, evaluation of alcohol drinking behaviours can help in preventing alcohol misuse or, at least, limit high-risk situation, such as driving under the influence of ethanol. Ethyl glucuronide in hair is a sensitive and specific biomarker for estimating previous continuative alcohol consumption within a relatively long period, depending on hair length. EtG in hair tests, measured in the period 2015–2019, to all the 18 years old subjects that were resident in the Province of Pavia, were collected and evaluated. The province of Pavia has been divided into three districts, namely the main city together with hinterland (district I), the agricultural flat area (district II) and the rural hilly area (district III). EtG level was defined as ordinal variable, thus dividing data into three groups depending on the drinking behaviour (teetotallers or occasional drinkers, moderate continuative users, and chronic excessive alcohol users). Effects of age, gender and district on alcohol consumption behaviour are investigated with an ordinal logit model. A state sequence analysis was used to study people's alcohol consumption behaviour over time. In total, 22.2% of the drivers provided EtG in hair values. Among positive cases, a prevalence of males (96.3%), aged 35–44 (32.6%), coming from district I (38.2%) was observed. All age classes have a reduced drinking risk if compared to the ≥ 55 years old class: subjects aged 18–24 have 70% (OR≈0.29, P < 0.001) lower risk, 63% (OR≈0.37, P < 0.001) lower risk for the 25–34, half (OR≈0.51, P < 0.001) for the 35–44 and 36% (OR≈0.64, P < 0.001) for the 45–54. A general decreasing trend in EtG values over time was observed for the subjects who have undergone at least 4 repeated EtG measurements ( n = 460). Our study indicates that, compared to 2015, in the last few years the portion of heavy drinkers, among subjects tested for hEtG due to DUI issues, has decreased. When drinking habits were related to age, we observed that overall high-risk increased with increasing age. The characteristics of the territory are also associated with different drinking patterns: in the district mainly devoted to the cultivation of vineyards (district III) there is a 31% higher risk of being a drinker compared to people living in district I. The data obtained from this retrospective observational study suggested that the inclusion of EtG in hair test in the protocol for driving license renewal (DLR) could have contributed to raise awareness among people about the new diagnostic tools available for monitoring alcohol chronic behaviors, thus partially limiting ethanol consumption habits associated with high-risk issues. EtG in hair test in the drive license reissuing protocol appeared to contribute in decreasing alcohol misuse behaviors. Moreover, this study highlighted some potential risk factors related to alcohol drinking habits among drivers such as being male sex, age ≥ 55 years, and coming from rural areas.

Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system in Tuvan alcoholics is associated with a high level of stress in comparison with ethnic Russian patients

IntroductionAlcoholization is considered as prolonged auto-aggression, low frustration tolerance, filling of the existential vacuum. In all cases, the use of a psychoactive substance that alters the state of consciousness is regarded as a way of escape from real life.ObjectivesThe study of clinically significant markers in alcoholism associated with the constitutional characteristics of craving for alcohol in people of different ethnicity is importance for the formation of new approaches to prevention and treatment.Methods68 Russian alcoholics and 67 Tuvans alcoholics only men and 20 healthy male were monitored. Clinical assessment of the condition of patients was carried out with the traditional clinical description. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were used to determine serum hormone levels in patients and volunteers.ResultsDeeper shifts in the increase in ACTH and Cortisol levels were found in alcoholic Tuvinians compared with Russian patients, which is associated with a high risk of alcohol dependence and a highly progressive course of the disease. The index of the ratio Cortisol/ACTH (IR) in the blood of alcoholic patients of the Russian (IR - 10,36) and Tuvan (IR - 10,62) nationalities does not differ, but significantly (1.5 times) differs from the indicator in healthy individuals (IR - 15,12).ConclusionsThe background level of dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in patients of Tuvan nationality is significantly more pronounced, however, the index of Cortisol/ACTH ratios (IR) in each ethnic group of patients is constant in this disease, which is characterized by a high level of stress.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Impacts of alcohol and opioid polysubstance use on road safety: Systematic review

Connections between substance use, impairment, and road safety have been frequently researched. Yet, little is known about how simultaneous use of opioids and alcohol affects road safety outcomes, which is an increasingly critical link within the current landscape of the substance use environment and public health. Lack of this understanding is partly due to testing complications and data limitations. We define polysubstance use here as alcohol and opioids consumed together or within a small-time window such that both are present in the system. This polysubstance use is on the rise and produces greater health risks than when the substances are consumed separately. Given the increasing rate of opioid use, high prevalence of alcohol use, and dangers of polysubstance use, we aim to synthesize literature on the prevalence and impact of this polysubstance on road safety-related outcomes. We performed a systematic review of studies published between 1974 and 2020 that examined opioid and alcohol use exposures and road safety-related outcomes. Out of 644 initial findings, 20 studies were included in this review. Outcomes included motor vehicle crash injuries, deaths, or driver culpability; suspected driving under the influence; and simulated driving performance. Evidence from multiple sources showed a significant rise, approximately 1% to 7%, in the prevalence of opioids among fatally injured drivers in the U.S. from 1995 to 2016. Information published on the simultaneous presence of opioids and alcohol in people involved in crashes was scarce. The limited available findings point toward an overlap where up to 30% of opioid-positive people involved in a crash were also positive for alcohol. Studies also suggest a possibly elevated risk presented by this polysubstance use relative to the substances used alone, though the majority of identified studies did not estimate this association. The synthesized research indicates that alcohol and opioid use is not uncommon and may be increasing among people involved in adverse driving events. More research and better data are needed to improve estimates of association with road traffic-related outcomes, potentially improving substance testing in current surveillance systems or using linked data sets and other novel data sources to improve estimates.

Ethyl glucuronide in hair: A 5-year retrospective cohort study in subjects sanctioned for driving under the influence of alcohol and psychoactive substances.

The evaluation of drinking behaviors can help in limiting high‐risk situation, such as driving under the influence (DUI). We investigate ethyl glucuronide in hair (hEtG) levels to evaluate alcohol consumption behavior in subjects followed up after having been charged for DUI of psychoactive substances and/or alcohol. We performed a retrospective observational cohort study on 4328 subjects over 18 years old who underwent hEtG analysis in the period 2015–2019 in the Italian Province of Pavia. hEtG level was used as a proxy for the alcohol consumption behavior. Effects of age, sex, and district on alcohol drinking behavior were investigated with an ordinal logit model. A state sequence analysis was used to study people's alcohol consumption behavior over time. hEtG was found ≥7.0 pg/mg in 22.2% of the drivers (of which 7% has an hEtG ≥30.0 pg/mg). Among positive cases, a prevalence of males (96.3%) aged 35–44 (32.6%), coming from main city and hinterland (38.2%), was observed. The propensity to drink was higher for males (odds ratio [OR] ≈ 2.28, p < 0.001) and for subject coming from the district devoted to the cultivation of vineyards. Young age classes have a reduced drinking risk if compared to the drivers over 55 years old (p < 0.001). A general decreasing trend over time in hEtG values was observed. Being male, age ≥ 55 years, and coming from rural areas are potential risk factors related to alcohol drinking habits among drivers. Ethyl glucuronide in hair test in the driving license reissuing protocol contributed to decrease alcohol misuse behaviors.

Young people's alcohol use is still strongly related to social inclusion.

When debating the decline in youth drinking in light of the normalisation thesis, it is important to take into account that alcohol use still forms a widespread social practice, which enables processes of both inclusion into and exclusion from mainstream youth settings in alcohol cultures defined by intoxication and heavy drinking. Caluzzi and colleagues [1] raise and explore an important question in relation to young people's alcohol use, which has been in decline since the early 2000s: are we seeing a denormalisation of drinking and a normalisation of non-drinking? Applying the concept of normalisation, the authors argue that recent studies showing declines in youth drinking demonstrate that both of these processes are currently taking place in many western countries, with the most significant changes occurring in northern European and English-speaking countries. This commentary takes young Danes' drinking culture as a point of departure. Despite a recent decline in alcohol consumption, Danish youth remain among the heaviest drinkers in the world: close to 75% of 15- to 16-year-olds reported alcohol use within the past month, and almost 60% engaged in heavy episodic drinking within the last month [2]. Moreover, for young Danes, drinking is typically associated with sociality, fun and pleasure [2]. We wish to contribute to the highly relevant debate raised by Caluzzi and colleagues by suggesting that to fully understand a possible denormalisation of drinking; the discussion should not be restricted to studies that focus on abstinence and “declining adolescent drinking” [1]. We also need to consider studies that focus on the centrality of drinking practices in the formation of sociality among young people. Doing so will arguably clarify that, despite patterns of decline, alcohol use continues to form both a ‘social imperative’ [3-5] and a widespread ‘social technology’ [6] for many young people. Recent studies of young Danes' alcohol culture suggest that alcohol use is still key for inclusion into ‘mainstream’ youth contexts [7-10]. For example, drinking still defines how young people build and maintain relationships with friends [6-8], perform gender and other identities [8-10], participate in the educational system [11] as well as in the local community [12], and transition from childhood into adolescence and further into adulthood [13-15]. In addition, studies suggest that non-drinking may increase the risk of social exclusion [3-5]. For instance, a recent study of young Danish Muslim women shows how being part of a (mainstream) youth culture of intoxication as a non- or light-drinker without experiencing negative social consequences still requires careful navigation in relation to partying and alcohol use. Moreover, the study shows that ethno-national identification (and exclusion) and ‘skillful’ drinking are closely related. Other recent studies have explored young drinkers' ‘situational abstinence’ [5, 16] in heavy drinking contexts and have shown that being able to switch between drinking and abstinence depends on situational and contextual factors. Drinking forms a collective practice motivated by various kinds of intimacy enabled by ‘drinking on the same level’ as friends [5]. ‘Drinking on the same level’ can, therefore, be seen as a positive act of friendship, and the collective buzz of drinking enables “a shared social feeling” [17]. Although it is possible to accomplish situational abstinence in a heavy-drinking alcohol culture, it needs to be explained and negotiated in the group in a timely manner in order for (situational) non- or light-drinkers to secure legitimate participation in the context of the party and among co-partying friends. Interestingly, this resonates with insights from qualitative studies on alcohol prevention suggesting that interventions are best focused on the social dynamics involved in young people's drinking instead of strictly on the quantity of alcohol consumed and the long-term health consequences of high levels of consumption [7]. Taken together, we suggest that statistics showing a decline in young people's drinking should be seen in the light of the social aspects that are still involved in young people's alcohol use, including alcohol-related norms, identifications and practices of inclusion and exclusion. Hence, in addition to the question raised by Caluzzi and colleagues [1], a related question could be asked: Despite declines in young people's drinking, why is drinking alcohol together still pivotal in the formation of sociality and identity among young people? Maria D. Herold: Conceptualization (equal); writing – original draft (lead); writing – review and editing (equal). Torsten Kolind: Conceptualization (equal); writing – review and editing (equal). T.K. is editor-in-chief of the journal Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy.

A Modification to the Fuzzy Regression Discontinuity Model to Settings with Fuzzy Variables

Despite the fact that fuzzy regression discontinuity designs are growing in popularity, a lot of research takes into account treatment non-compliance difficulties, specifically the fuzziness of the treatment impact. This paper took into account independent and dependent fuzzy factors when creating these designs. Additionally we took into account treatment non-compliance difficulties, specifically the fuzziness of the treatment impact, as other research does. The modified Fuzzy Regression Discontinuity model is preferable for modeling fuzzy data. It enables us to draw improved causal effects accommodating fuzzy variables, not just the fuzziness of the treatment effect as in Fuzzy Regression Discontinuity models. A fuzzy dataset is converted into crisp data by the Centroid method of defuzzification. Once the data is crisp, the traditional least squares methods of approximation are used to estimate the parameters in the model since these parameters are considered crisp whilst the error terms are fuzzy. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score(AUDIT score) can be used as a cutoff to initiate treatment in this case and can be used to predict the progression of HIV disease and/or AIDS. Counseling helps to lower the use of alcohol in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) as a result, improving the participants’ CD4 counts.

An analysis of how lobbying by the alcohol industry has eroded the French marketing regulation law

Abstract Background In response to the positive association between alcohol marketing and young people's alcohol consumption, several countries have adopted marketing regulation laws. This is the case in France with the 1991 Evin Law, which prohibits advertising in media targeting young people and regulates content in authorized media. However, this law has faced intense opposition from its inception. The aim of this research is to identify the arguments and lobbying strategies deployed by the alcohol industry to undermine it. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 French key informants involved in implementing and/or updating the Evin Law, including initiators of the law, former ministers, non-governmental organizations, national public health institutes and academic associations and institutions. A thematic analysis was conducted to highlight strategies and arguments employed by the alcohol industry to undermine the Evin Law using Savell et al. framework (2016). Results Several of the identified strategies and arguments to combat marketing regulations were similar to those identified in other countries, while some strategies and arguments were specific to the French context. These include highlighting winegrowing and its integration into decision-making bodies, and forming alliances with parliamentarians. These specific features may in part be explained by the economic significance of alcohol and wine at the heart of French culture. Conclusions For the first time, the long-term lobbying strategies and arguments used by the alcohol industry to weaken the Evin Law are analyzed from the perspectives of those closely involved in its implementation. This study may be useful for other countries that have - or are in the process of - implementing alcohol marketing regulation laws. Key messages The pioneering French alcohol marketing regulation law has faced intense opposition from the alcohol industry, in particular viticulture. Analyzing the strategies and arguments used by the alcohol industry to erode this pioneering law is important to better counter them.

Alcohol use among young Australian adults in May-June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective cohort study.

AimsTo estimate change in young people's alcohol consumption during COVID‐19 restrictions in Australia in early‐mid 2020, and test whether those changes were consistent by gender and level of consumption prior to the pandemic.DesignProspective longitudinal cohort.SettingSecondary schools in New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia.ParticipantsSubsample of a cohort (n = 443) recruited in the first year of secondary school in 2010–11. Analysis data included three waves collected in September 2017–July 2018, September 2018–May 2019 and August 2019–January 2020), and in May–June 2020.MeasurementsThe primary predictors were time, gender and level of consumption prior to the pandemic. Outcome variables, analysed by mixed‐effects models, included frequency and typical quantity of alcohol consumption, binge drinking, peak consumption, alcohol‐related harm and drinking contexts.FindingsOverall consumption (frequency × quantity) during the restrictions declined by 17% [incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.83; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.73, 0.95] compared to February 2020, and there was a 35% decline in the rate of alcohol‐related harms in the same period (IRR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.54, 0.79). Changes in alcohol consumption were largely consistent by gender.ConclusionsFrom a survey of secondary school students in Australia, there is evidence for a reduction in overall consumption and related harms during the COVID‐19 restrictions.

Digital Public Health Surveillance Tools for Alcohol Use and HIV Risk Behaviors.

There is a need for real-time and predictive data on alcohol use both broadly and specific to HIV. However, substance use and HIV data often suffer from lag times in reporting as they are typically measured from surveys, clinical case visits and other methods requiring extensive time for collection and analysis. Social big data might help to address this problem and be used to provide near real-time assessments of people's alcohol use and/or alcohol. This manuscript describes three types of social data sources (i.e., social media data, internet search data, and wearable device data) that might be used in surveillance of alcohol and HIV, and then discusses the implications and potential of implementing them as additional tools for public health surveillance.

"No one associates alcohol with being in good health": Health and wellbeing as imperatives to manage alcohol use for young people.

Young people's drinking has declined markedly in Australia over the past 15years, and this may be linked to changing norms and values around health. We take the view that healthism-a discourse that privileges good health and renders people personally responsible for managing health-has become pervasive, creating new pressures influencing young people's alcohol practices. Through interviews with 50 young light drinkers and abstainers, we explored these notions of health and alcohol. Although health was not the only reason that participants abstained or drank lightly, many avoided drinking to minimise health risks and to pursue healthy lifestyles. Their understanding of health came from multiple sources such as the media, schools, parents-and often reinforced public health messages, and healthist discourse. This discourse influenced how participants perceived health norms, engaged with health in everyday life and managed their alcohol consumption. Because the need to be healthy incorporated bodily health, mental health and social wellbeing, it also created tensions around how young people could drink while maintaining their health. This highlights the importance of health as a key consideration in the alcohol practices of light drinking and abstaining young Australians, which could help explain broader declines in youth drinking.

Alcohol and tobacco consumption: What is the role of economic security?

To better understand the longstanding inequalities concerning alcohol and tobacco use, we aimed to quantify the effect of household economic security on alcohol and tobacco consumption and expenditure. Longitudinal analysis using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey (2001-2018). Australia PARTICIPANTS: A nationally representative cohort of 24 134 adults aged 25-64years (187 378 observations). Tobacco and alcohol use (Yes/No), frequency of use of each per week, household expenditure on each per week, household weekly income (Consumer Price Index [CPI]-adjusted), employment security (based on conditions of employment) and housing affordability (housing costs relative to household income). At baseline, one-quarter of the sample used tobacco and 87% used alcohol. Annual increases in household income were associated with the increased use of both tobacco and alcohol for people in households in the lowest 40% of the national income distribution (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.03-1.23 and OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.04-1.20, respectively) with no similar income effect observed for higher-income households. In relation to smoking, the odds of a resident's tobacco use increased when their household was unemployed (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.07-1.62). In relation to alcohol, the odds of use decreased when households were insecurely employed or unemployed, or housing costs were unaffordable (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.77-0.98, OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.55-0.80 and OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.75-0.93, respectively). This was also reflected in the reduced odds of risky drinking (defined in accordance with Australian guidelines) when housing became unaffordable or households became unemployed (OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.81-0.99; OR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.69-0.98, respectively). In Australia, smoking and drinking appear to exhibit different socio-behavioural characteristics and household unemployment appears to be a strong determinant of smoking.

Nexus between drinking patterns, gender and life satisfaction: Some evidence from Indigenous Australians

AbstractExcessive alcohol consumption results in a broad range of health problems and other social issues, such as violence, social disorder and family breakdown. As such, alcohol consumption is considered as a critical social policy issue in Australia. In this study, we have used ordered logit models to estimate the probability of an Indigenous person consuming alcohol and to assess the impact of alcohol consumption on self‐perceived life satisfaction. A heteroscedasticity‐corrected ordered logit model is used to identify the gender difference in such effects. For this purpose, we use the latest National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS) 2014/2015 data collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The estimation results reveal that age, gender, employment status, income and the experience of unfair treatments significantly affect Indigenous people's (level of) alcohol consumption. The results also reveal that any level of alcohol consumption is linked with reduced overall life satisfaction, which is another reason why prevention of alcohol misuse should be a priority. A significant gender differences in the medium‐risk‐level alcohol consumption were also observed. These findings could be used as an alcohol prevention message in developing and implementing alcohol prevention strategies and policies.

Alcohol consumption and bipolar disorder in a Colombian population sample

BackgroundBipolar disorder (BD) is reported to be the mental disorder with the highest rate of comorbidity with substance use disorders (SUD). More than half of patients with BD have been found to have disorders associated with alcohol use. MethodsA secondary analysis was performed in a population sample of Colombian adults. The aim was to identify bipolar-alcohol comorbidity and factors related to the use of alcohol in people with BD. The diagnosis of BD among participants was made with the “Composite International Diagnostic Interview” (CIDI-CAPI) and the pattern of alcohol consumption in the last year was evaluated with the AUDIT C screening tool. ResultsIt was found that all patients with BD had some type of problematic alcohol consumption pattern. Women with BD were at greater risk of having a dependence-type pattern, using nicotine and marijuana and, among those living in urban areas, had higher rates of suicidal ideation, although that risk was lower if they were in a stable relationship. DiscussionSome of the related factors we identified are new with respect to previous publications and others have already been described in similar studies. ConclusionsGiven the importance of such factors in the management of this population and their prognosis, these findings highlight the need to determine consumption patterns of alcohol and other substances in patients with BD.

CRIMINAL LAW AND CRIMINALISTICS PROBLEMS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACTIVITY IN ARCTIC REGION

The actual problems of criminal law and criminalistics with which law enforcement agencies in Arctic have been facing are concerned in the present article. Successful development of Arctic region demands struggling against criminality affected by special climate, geographic, ethnic, social, legal and another factors. These circumstances roughly embarrass the combating with criminality in Arctic, taking into account sparse population of the region, remote location of communities from organs of state power, ingenious people alcohol abusing, negative affecting of harsh arctic conditions on mental health of inhabiting person. Being one of the richest recourse region all over the world, Arctic has becoming the stage of competition between arctic states. Upkeeping of order on Russian arctic territory is very important aim under these circumstances. In the article legal regiment of Arctic is concerned and characteristic of Arctic social and economy situation is given. The authors demonstrate structure of Arctic criminality and crimes committed on this territory are analyzed. Special attention is centered on analyzing of ecological crimes committed in Arctic taking into account wealthy of local fauna and environment. The problems of law enforcement criminalistics providing also are attentively analyzed, for example, issues of criminalistics methodic for crime investigation, usage of the new technic tools and devises of criminalistics, interconnection between investigators and detectives. Such interconnection is embarrassed by remote locations islands from mainland. The article is grounded on extensive materials from empiric, scientific and law origins related to criminality existing in the different Arctic countries (USA, Canada, Russia, Scandinavian states). This article is the first one discussing various problems of combatting criminality in Arctic region. In the process of preparing the article authors have come to conclusion that Arctic crimes there committed poses special sort of criminality - “frozen” criminality. Such sort provided by special factors must be explored in the future in order to get success while combating the criminality in Arctic.