Personal Alcohol Research Articles

Alcohol and Cognition - Consideration of Age of Initiation, Usage Patterns and Gender: A Brief Review

Heavy alcohol use has numerous negative impacts on cognition. In many cases, it appears that excess drinking influences working memory, problem solving, attention, patterns of regional brain activation, and even gray and white matter volume. Due to these effects, most significant conclusions related to cognitive decline are limited to the assumption that "more is worse." However, heavy alcohol use is a very complex psychosocial behavior and is subject to a problematic number of variables. As a result, it is very difficult to extend generalizations about drinking-related consequences to the overall population since many environmental and biological differences come into play for every individual. Three of these variables shown to have significant impact on cognitive sensitivity to alcohol are age of first alcohol use (age of drinking initiation), specific pattern of alcohol consumption and gender. Potential insight can be gained into how individual drinking scenarios differ in risk for cognitive decline by assessing how each of these important factors influences cognition independently. Although some overlap exists between categories, each still appears to contribute unique influence on likelihood and presentation of cognition-related effects. Based on existing and current research, age and gender tend to augment baseline sensitivity to alcohol, with patterns of alcohol intake also influencing how changes appear. Given these categorical differences, it is important to consider personal alcohol drinking history rather than just aggregate alcohol intake as risk factors in the cognitive impacts of drinking. The objective of this brief review is to examine the role of these factors on the effect of alcohol on cognition.

A Curriculum Infusion Module for an Undergraduate Course in Psychology of Substance Abuse

Summary Curriculum Infusion is the process of integrating information about alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse prevention into the curriculum of regularly taught courses. In this brief note a novel curriculum infusion module is presented, as developed for an undergraduate course entitled Psychology of Substance Abuse. The module consisted of two sub-modules: (1) eliciting risk estimates for various substances and then attempting to re-norm students' risk perceptions by discussing discrepancies between students' estimates and risk estimates reported in the literature, and (2) asking students to maintain an alcohol expectancy diary for seven consecutive days in which they recorded all of the sources and types of alcohol expectancy information that they encountered. The role of expectancies in influencing personal alcohol use behavior was highlighted and strategies for weakening the link between expectancies and alcohol use were considered.

Comparison of Personality of Alcoholics & Drug Addicts versus Non-Alcoholics & Non-Drug Addicts

Comparison of Personality of Alcoholics & Drug Addicts versus Non-Alcoholics & Non-Drug Addicts

Feedback‐Based Alcohol Interventions for Mandated Students: An Effectiveness Study of Three Modalities

The present study used a randomized clinical trial design to examine the effectiveness of personalized alcohol feedback delivered individually, in a group and via computer on alcohol use and related negative consequences in a sample of 173 college students referred for alcohol-related violations. Findings revealed statistically significant reductions in alcohol use and related harms for the individually delivered intervention, with significant reductions in alcohol-related harms for the electronically delivered intervention. No statistically significant results were found for the group-delivered intervention or between groups, and a main effect of time was noted for all outcome variables. This study adds to the literature by being the first randomized clinical trial to include analyses of an empirically supported individually delivered personalized alcohol feedback intervention with more cost-effective group-delivered and electronically delivered feedback formats within a single research design, by expanding the range of participant drinking habits reported at baseline to include all drinking levels and not solely those classified as 'heavy drinking' and by providing anonymity pre-intervention and post-intervention given the potential demand characteristics to underreport illegal and/or illicit behaviours in this vulnerable population. Personalized alcohol feedback delivered in a one-on-one, face-to-face format serves to decrease both alcohol use and harms in mandated college students. The use of web-delivered personalized alcohol feedback may be clinically useful when working with a mandated student population to reduce alcohol-related harms. Personalized alcohol feedback delivered in a group setting may not be indicated for use with a mandated student population as it does not demonstrate decreases in either alcohol use or harms, possibly because of the normalization of deviant behaviour.

The Disguise of Sobriety: Unveiled by Alcohol in Persons With an Aggressive Personality

This investigation examined the factor structure of 8 well-validated self-report measures that assess traits that fall under the rubric of an "aggressive personality" and then determined how those factor(s) moderated the association between alcohol intoxication and aggression. Participants were 518 (252 men and 266 women) healthy social drinkers between 21 and 35 years of age. Following the consumption of an alcoholic or a placebo beverage, participants were tested on a laboratory aggression paradigm in which electric shocks were received from, and administered to, a fictitious opponent. Aggression was operationalized as the shock intensities and durations administered to the opponent. Results demonstrated a unidimensional factor structure for the aggressive personality traits, which were then combined into a latent variable. The aggressive personality variable moderated the alcohol-aggression relation. Specifically, alcohol was significantly more likely to increase aggression in persons with higher, compared with lower, aggressive personality scores.

Isolation of Dental Caries Bacteria from Dental Plaque and Effect of Tooth Pastes on Acidogenic Bacteria

Destruction of calcified tissue was caused by acids which are by product of carbohydrate metabolism of acidogenic bacteria consequent to dental caries. The purpose of this study was to assess the existence of acidogens potentially causing the dental caries and comparatively evaluation of efficacy of different toothpastes. The dental plaques of fifty persons belong to three age groups (1 - 20, 21 - 40, 41 - 60 year and above) were examined to identify microorganisms by the culture method. Thirty nine bacteria were isolated by spread plate method on BSMY I minimal media. Thirteen out of thirty nine, acidogens colonized in the dental plaques. Seven potentially acidogens CD17, CD26, CD27, CD28, CD29, CD34 and CD35 were treated with five different toothpastes. Inhibition effect of Triclosan and Fluoride containing tooth pastes were found more efficient. The results of the present study revealed that bacteria that commonly cause dental caries colonized in dental plaques of children and alcoholic person. Therefore, dental plaques must be considered a specific reservoir of colonization and subsequent dental caries. To reduce the dental problem triclosan and fluoride containing product should be recommended.

P-101 - Naltrexone efficacy in alcohol dependence with comorbid axis ii diagnosis

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of naltrexone in patients with dual diagnosis- alcohol dependence and personality disorder. Methods A group of 24 patients, mean age 38.7, admitted in our department for alcohol dependence, were also diagnosed with axis II pathology. The diagnosis of personality disorder was based upon Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Disorder (SCID -II) and clinical psychiatric evaluation. Patients received naltrexone 50 mg/day, after the initial detoxification period. Patients were monitored using Inventory of Drug Taking Situations- alcohol focused version (IDTS), Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and Clinical Global Impressions (CGI-S/I). These measurements were applied every week during the first month and every 4 weeks for another 5 months. Results At week 24, patients had an overall improved IDTS score (−45.2 points to baseline, p Conclusions Naltrexone decreased significantly alcohol consumption in situations of “physical discomfort” and testing of personal control in patients with associated personality disorders.

Current practices and intention to provide alcohol-related health advice in primary dental care

To determine whether general dental practitioners (GDPs) currently provide alcohol-related advice (ARA) and to inform the development of an intervention, should one be required. Cross-sectional postal survey of a random sample of 300 GDPs in Scotland. The questionnaire assessed beliefs derived from psychological models that explain behaviour in terms of beliefs that are amenable to change, and so may inform development of an intervention to encourage the provision of ARA. Sixty percent of GDPs responded. Eighty-three percent of participating GDPs (145/175) had not provided ARA to patients in the previous ten working days. Attitude (perceived consequences), control beliefs (perceived difficulty), subjective norm (perceived social pressure), and self-efficacy (confidence) significantly predicted intention to provide ARA. Alcohol-related knowledge or personal alcohol behaviour did not predict intention to provide ARA. There is scope to increase the provision of ARA in primary care dentistry and this study identified predictive beliefs, which could be targeted to encourage this behaviour. The next phase is to develop and test an intervention to encourage GDPs to provide ARA.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Issues in Older Persons as Revealed Through the Comprehensive Drug, Alcohol, and Mental Health Treatment Systems

A substantial and growing percentage of older adults misuse alcohol, prescription drugs, or other substances. The number of older adults in need of substance abuse treatment is expected to more than double from 1.7 million in 2000 and 2001 to 4.4 million in 2020. One in four older adults has a significant mental disorder. Among the most common mental health problems in older persons are depression, anxiety disorders, and dementia (Bartels, Blow, Brockmann, & Van Citters, 2005). Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers' (New York) Department of Community Medicine operated a comprehensive ambulatory substance abuse/mental health program at the Barbara S. Kleiman (BSK) shelter for homeless men in New York from October 2006 through May 2010. This shelter was the site of the described study that was approved by the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS). The analyses and interpretations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DHS or its staff. The study concerns homeless men of all ages but the relevance to older homeless persons is evident. This is particularly so when it is recognized that chronic homelessness causes marked decline in age of survival. At BSK, shelter care, medical care, substance abuse, and mental health care were integrated in a single setting-a large urban homeless shelter. By using a continuum of addiction and mental health services, it promoted a flexible, supportive, and noncoercive environment for clients. We used the principles set forth in the Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 35: Enhancing Motivation for Change in Substance Abuse Treatment as our evidence-based practice. We were able to incorporate the transtheoretical model of change that facilitated positive outcomes in the patient population. Other elements used in our daily activities included individual counseling, small group interactions, and facility or community-level interventions. Little or no adaptation/ modification was necessary to create the proposed treatment initiative at BSK. The project's goal was for clients to achieve sobriety and a positive drug-free social life, develop life skills and educational/ vocational training, and obtain and maintain independent living and employment. TARGET POPULATION Prior to full program implementation, a focus group was conducted using prospective candidates who met our admissions criteria. These persons were referred to us by the staff at the New York City DHS. The results of the focus group indicated that 53.6% would be Black or African American, 1.8% Asian, 26.8% White, 3.6% multiracial, and 14.2% from other racial population. By ethnicity, 21.4% self-reported to be Hispanic. Alcohol would be the primary drug of choice (46.4%); marijuana (19.6%); cocaine/crack (14.3%); heroin (5.4%); other opiates including benzodiazepines, percocet, and codeine (9.0%). The men averaged at least 6-12 months of homelessness each year. New York City was the target population's service area. RECRUITMENT Recruitment of clients for the program evaluation was done via the DHS assessment shelter system. Employed or employable clients with a reported substance abuse and/or mental health condition were referred to BSK. At intake, they received a biopsychosocial, psychiatric, comprehensive medical, and a drug screen using Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10). A BSK case manager assessed clients for other unmet needs. INCLUSION CRITERIA All persons were admitted who, based on a thorough clinical evaluation, were judged to benefit from ongoing treatment for substance abuse in a program of several weekly group treatments. EXCLUSION CRITERIA Potential clients without a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition Text Review (DSM IV-TR) Axis I diagnosis of a substance abuse disorder or both a substance abuse and a psychiatric disorder were excluded. Target Enrollment Number targeted for enrollment (5-year target): 390. …

Six-Month Follow-Up of Computerized Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment in the Emergency Department

ABSTRACT The goal of this observational study was to measure change in alcohol consumption at 6 months following emergency department computerized alcohol screening brief intervention (CASI) and referral to treatment (ED-SBIRT) with integrated brief negotiated interview (BNI) and computer-generated personal alcohol reduction plans. At-risk patients received a BNI by CASI, including personalized feedback, assessment of readiness to change, reasons for cutting down, goal setting, and a printed personal alcohol reduction plan. Alcohol use was assessed by telephone interview 6 months after CASI. Factors associated with lower alcohol consumption were examined. Of the 385 participants who completed the BNI, were consented, and enrolled, 221 subjects completed the 6-month follow-up interview. Forty-seven percent of the study sample of at-risk patients were no longer drinking over the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)-recommended limits. Reductions were greater for patients with Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores of 1 to 7. Readiness to change was a good predictor of drinking below the recommended limits. The use of computerized ED-SBIRT with integrated personalized messaging and BNI holds promise as a viable screening and intervention modality for a wide range of emergency department patients.

Alcoolismo no contexto familiar: um olhar fenomenológico

Conhecer o significado da convivência diária com uma pessoa alcoolista foi o objetivo do estudo fenomenológico realizado com dez familiares de alcoolistas, usuários de um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial - Álcool e Drogas, e de uma Unidade de Saúde da Família, do interior da Bahia, no primeiro semestre de 2009. As descrições vivenciais foram desveladas por meio de entrevista semiestruturada e de grupos focais e, em seguida, submetidas à analítica da ambiguidade, a qual permitiu objetivar os seguintes eixos temáticos: violência percebida e violência naturalizada; convivência por necessidade pessoal e convivência pela necessidade do outro. O fenômeno da convivência familiar com um membro alcoolista apareceu como vivência ambígua, percebido sempre em perfil, trazendo consigo vários outros perfis. Os resultados evidenciaram a necessidade de uma política de cuidado à família de pessoas alcoolistas, que seja capaz de incluí-la no planejamento da assistência integral à saúde.

Ethno-Cultural Differences in the Use of Alcohol and Other Drugs: Evidence from the Vancouver Youth Drug Reporting System

This article reports on ethno-cultural differences in the use of alcohol and other drugs by using data derived from the Vancouver Youth Drug Reporting System. Data were collected between May and August 2006 among a sample of 514 youth aged 16 to 25. Statistically significant ethno-cultural differences were reported for “lifetime” alcohol and other drugs prevalence; alcohol and other drugs experience in the peer group; parental attitudes; and in the assessment of alcohol and other drugs prevention strategies. White and Aboriginal youth reported significantly higher rates of personal and peer group alcohol and other drugs use than other groups, whereas Chinese youth reported the lowest rates.The implications of these findings for alcohol and other drug prevention efforts are briefly discussed.

Characteristics of Students and Services in New York State Student Assistance and Prevention Counseling Programs

This article reports on a review of selected New York State school prevention program student case records. Methods: Data were extracted from Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) standardized Prevention Activity Summary forms. A total of 407 records from 12 high schools throughout New York State were reviewed. Results: The age range of students in this sample was 12 to 18 years old with a mean age of 15.5 years in an approximately normal distribution. Students in this sample were typically referred to services by school sources or were self-referred. The most frequently cited reasons for admission were personal problems, family problems, and alcohol or substance use or abuse. The majority of students are referred to individual sessions. Counselors rated services as producing positive change in all problem areas, with the largest change for adolescents whose parents used alcohol or other substances. Conclusions: Findings suggest positive outcomes for prevention counseling. Severity of alcohol and drug use decreased and severity of risk factors for alcohol and drug use likewise decreased.

Alcohol Consumption Among Athletes and Non-Athletes in Christian Colleges

This research was designed to be a pilot study that examined the differences in heavy episodic drinking and perceptions of drinking between athletes and non-athletes. To the authors' knowledge, this study is the first of alcohol consumption between these groups at Christian-affiliated colleges. A random sample of participants comprised approximately 50% athlete and 50% non-athlete undergraduates from four Christian-affiliated colleges. Of the 195 participants who completed the survey, 72 were men and 123 were women. Participants completed the College Alcohol Survey developed by the Harvard School of Public Health and reported their drinking behaviors, consequences from drinking, and their perceptions of drinking at their school. The authors found that athletes took part in heavy episodic drinking more frequently, consumed more alcohol at one sitting, and perceived more drinking among their peers than non-athletes. The authors concluded that, although students at Christian-affiliated colleges may commit to abstinence from alcohol, some still engage in heavy episodic drinking. This finding is especially true for athletes, who in this study were found to engage in heavy episodic drinking almost as frequently as athletes in secular schools. Future research should examine this issue on a broader scale and correlate the relationship between students' personal religious beliefs and alcohol consumption.

Referent Group Proximity, Social Norms, and Context: Alcohol Use in a Low-Use Environment

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived normative use of alcohol and reported consumption in an environment where relatively little alcohol use occurs. Participants: A total of 585 undergraduate students completed an online survey on alcohol use in March 2006. Methods: Participants reported personal alcohol use and perceptions of use by “friends,” “the average student,” and “the average student who drinks.” Results: Due to the large number of students reporting zero alcohol use, zero-inflated negative binomial regression was used to analyze the data. Results showed that perceptions of use and beliefs about the acceptability of use by proximal groups were strongly and positively correlated with personal alcohol use. Perceptions of distal groups were either not correlated or were correlated negatively with personal use. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the use of distal referent groups for a social norms campaign in a low-use environment may have paradoxical effects.

Feasibility of Emergency Department Bilingual Computerized Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of utilizing a computerized alcohol screening and intervention (CASI) kiosk in an emergency department (ED). An interactive English and Spanish audiographical computer program, developed for used on a mobile computer cart, was administered to 5103 patients. Patients who screened at risk (19%) also received a fully computer-guided brief negotiated interview (BNI) and a printed personal alcohol reduction plan. A higher percentage of younger patients, and males (31% versus 16% females), screened at risk or dependent. Patient surveys indicated CASI was easy to use and over 75% did not prefer a medical professional over the computer. The ED-based bilingual computerized alcohol screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment required little time to administer, was acceptable to patients, identified at-risk and dependent drinkers, and was able to provide personalized feedback and brief intervention.

Case Studies of Family Care for Sufferers of Alcoholism in Delta State, Nigeria.

Background: Alcohol misuse and dependence cause serious mental health problems in the relatives of sufferers. Most studies in the past have focused on the effect of alcohol on the users but few studies have been done in Nigeria on families and carers. Aim: This study aimed at profiling significant causative conditions in terms of an alcoholic’s family social characteristics and their preferred care option. Method: The method involved 26 sufferers of ICD - 9 diagnosed alcoholism persons diagnosed in government general hospitals by physicians and social workers. The alcoholic persons’ case files led social workers to enable the researcher identify their families. A focus group discussion was held separately with each of these 26 families with the sufferers of alcoholism present. Result: The results showed that alcoholism was mostly associated with family members of low socioeconomic status and low education. Loss of a spouse was reported as an important causative factor of alcoholism. Thirdly, members said that alcoholic subjects showed significant negative relationship with significant others. And lastly, family care givers preferred unorthodox ways of treatment options for their members suffering from alcoholism. This form of care involves only chemotherapeutic measures. Conclusion: It was suggested that the implication of this form of preferred care is that, the sufferers of alcoholism has significant probability rate of relapse. Therefore it was suggested that, families be counselled by social workers and other expert mental health workers to include some form of psychotherapy in their care practices. This will enable a holistic care and reduce relapse.Key Words: Nigeria, Family, Care, Alcoholics.

Social networks and alcohol use among nonstudent emerging adults: A preliminary study

We examined the social networks and alcohol use of a community-based sample of nonstudent emerging adults ( N = 59). The research examined (1) personal network characteristics and the drinking habits of its members, (2) the link between network alcohol use and personal alcohol involvement, (3) perceived social norms as they related to network alcohol use, and (4) relationship between perceived social norms and personal alcohol involvement. Men and women ( M age = 27 years) were equally represented in the social network. Level of educational attainment of members was diverse. On average, respondents were in contact on a daily basis with network members and about 38% of the network was known between 1 and 5 years. The majority (57%) of the network consisted of household or family members. There were some associations between network drinking and personal alcohol involvement. The proportion of “drinking buddies” in one's network was directly associated with perceived drinking norms. Perceived drinking norms also were positively associated with personal alcohol use, alcohol-related problems, and approval of drinking behaviors. Findings from this study have implications for understanding social factors in the drinking behavior of nonstudent emerging adults and could inform the development of effective prevention and treatment interventions for this important, but understudied group of drinkers.

Paradoxical Effects of Alcohol Information on Alcohol Outcome Expectancies

Cognitive associations with alcohol predict both current and future use in youth and young adults. Much cognitive and social cognitive research suggests that exposure to information may have unconscious influences on thinking and behavior. The present study assessed the impact of information statements on the accessibility of alcohol outcome expectancies. The 2 studies reported here investigated the effects of exposure to alcohol statements typical of informational approaches to prevention on the accessibility of alcohol outcome expectancies. High school and university students were presented with information statements about the effects of alcohol and other commercial products. The alcohol statements were taken from expectancy questionnaires. Some of these statements were presented as facts and others as myths. The retention of detailed information about these statements was manipulated by (i) divided attention versus focused attention or (ii) immediate versus delayed testing. Accessibility of personal alcohol outcome expectancies was subsequently measured using an open-ended question about the expected effects of alcohol. Participants reported more alcohol outcomes seen during the information task as personal expectations about the effects of alcohol use than similar unseen items. Paradoxically, myth statements were also more likely to be reported as expectancies than unseen items in all conditions. Additionally, myth statements were generated less often than fact statements only under the condition of immediate testing with strong content processing instructions. These observations are consistent with findings from cognitive research where familiarity in the absence of explicit memory can have an unconscious influence on performance. In particular, the exposure to these items in an informational format increases accessibility of the seen items even when the participants were told that they were myths. The findings have implications for the development of effective prevention materials.

Minority Women Victims of Recent Sexual Violence: Disparities in Incident History

The aims of this descriptive study were to (1) describe assault and care characteristics and (2) determine differences in assault and care characteristics between black women and white women who sought emergency care following sexual violence. A retrospective, cross-sectional design was used to examine forensic examination data characterizing the incident history reported by women victims of sexual violence at the time of a forensic nurse examination. Examinations occurred at an urban university-affiliated hospital emergency department (ED) over a 2-year period. Of the women (n = 173) seeking care in the ED, 58.4% were black and 41.6% were white. When compared with white women, black women were more likely to have weapons used in their assaults (42.6% vs. 16.7%, p < 0.00) and to be assaulted in the city rather than the suburbs (82.8% vs. 56.5%, p < 0.00). In general, substance use prior to the assault was reported to have occurred in 49.1% of the victims and 41% of the assailants; however, differences existed in the type and pattern of substance use by race/ethnicity. Black victims were more likely to report use of illicit drugs (28.7% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.01). White women were more likely than black women to report personal alcohol use prior to their assault, with significant differences for drinking by victims (47.2% vs. 23.8%, p = 0.01) or assailant use of alcohol (47.2% vs. 23.8%, p = 0.00). White women were more likely than black women to report both they and the assailant had used some type of substance (38.9 vs. 21.8, p = 0.01). Black women were more likely to arrive to the ED via EMS services (45.5% vs. 29.2%, p = 0.03). There were no reported differences in care characteristics by race. Findings from this study suggest that differences exist in assault characteristics between black and white women. Use of substances, including alcohol, plays an important role in sexual violence in women and should be a focus of preventive intervention initiatives when conducting a forensic examination. Both coordinated responses and comprehensive, individualized care by specially trained providers are important in the emergency care of minority women who are victims of recent sexual violence.