School performance and alcohol use problems in early adulthood: a longitudinal study.

There is inconsistent evidence about the association between school performance and subsequent use of alcohol and alcohol problems in adolescents and young adults.

This study examines whether school performance at 14 years is associated with drinking problems in early adulthood; and whether this association is explained by family and individual factors in childhood and adolescence.

Data were from a 21-year follow-up of 3,478 Australian young adults from birth to the age of 21 years when data on use of alcohol were collected. Child school performance (CSP) was assessed at 14 years via self- and maternal report. Alcohol consumption at 21 years was measured via self-report, and alcohol abuse and dependence were assessed by the computerized version of Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-Auto). Potential confounding factors were prospectively measured between the child’s birth and age of 14 years.

School performance at 14 years predicted young adults’ alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorders (AUDs). After controlling for confounding, children who had lower school performance had increased risk of drinking more than two glasses of alcohol per day in early adulthood (odds ratio=1.7; 95% confidence interval: 1.1–2.6).

There was a similar pattern of association between CSP and young adults’ alcohol abuse and dependence (AUD) measured by CIDI-Auto.

Level of academic performance in high school children predicts their drinking problems as young adults, independently of a selected group of individual and family confounders.

Exploration of the pathway linking school performance and alcohol problems in young people may help identify opportunities for preventive interventions.


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Request Reprint E-Mail:  m.hayatbakhsh@uq.edu.au 

A Simple Way to Measure Ethanol Sensitivity in Flies

Low doses of ethanol cause flies to become hyperactive, while high doses are sedating. The sensitivity to ethanol-induced sedation of a given fly strain is correlated with that strain s ethanol preference, and therefore sedation is a highly relevant measure to study the genetics of alcohol responses and drinking. 

We demonstrate a simple way to expose flies to ethanol and measure its intoxicating effects. 

The assay we describe can determine acute sensitivity, as well as ethanol tolerance induced by repeat exposure. 

It does not require a technically involved setup, and can therefore be applied in any laboratory with basic fly culture tools.

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Launch Video

Belfast to set minimum alcohol price

Northern Ireland’s power-sharing executive aims to become the first government in Europe to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol in a bid to tackle binge drinking and anti-social behaviour and cut the region’s health bill.

Alex Attwood, the social development minister and Michael McGimpsey, health minister, launched a consultation process on Monday calling for a minimum price of between 40p and 70p for a unit of alcohol in off-licences, pubs and registered clubs.  > > > >   Read More

Individual and household-level socioeconomic position is associated with harmful alcohol consumption behaviours among adults

To examine associations between individual-, household- and neighbourhood-level socioeconomic position (SEP) and harmful alcohol consumption.

Adults aged 18–76 residing in 50 neighbourhoods in Melbourne completed a postal questionnaire (n= 2349, 58.7% response rate). Alcohol-related behaviours were classified by risk of short- and long-term harm. Individual-, household- and neighbourhood-level SEP were ascertained by education, household income and proportion of low-income households, respectively. The association were examined by multi-level logistic regression.

Participants lower education or household income were less likely to consume alcohol frequently compared to their more-advantaged counterparts. Lower-educated men were more likely to be at risk of short-term harm [OR 1.75 (1.23 to 2.48)]. Low-income women were less likely to be at risk of short-term harm [OR 0.44 (0.23 to 0.81)]. Neighbourhood disadvantage was not associated with alcohol consumption.

Men and women from socioeconomically advantaged backgrounds were more frequent consumers of alcohol, whereas their disadvantaged counterparts drank less frequently but in greater quantities on each drinking occasion.


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Request Reprint E-Mail:    K.giskes@qut.edu.au 

Alcohol and depression

To examine the literature on the associations between alcohol use disorders (AUD) and major depression (MD), and to evaluate the evidence for the existence of a causal relationship between the disorders.

PsycInfo; PubMed; Embase; Scopus; ISI Web of Science database searches for studies pertaining to AUD and MD from the 1980 to the present. Random-effects models were used to derive estimates of the pooled adjusted odds ratios (AOR) for the links between AUD and MD among studies reporting an AOR.

The analysis revealed that the presence of either disorder doubled the risks of the second disorder, with pooled AORs ranging from 2.00 to 2.09. 

Epidemiological data suggest that the linkages between the disorders cannot be accounted for fully by common factors that influence both AUD and MD, and that the disorders appear to be linked in a causal manner. 

Further evidence suggests that the most plausible causal association between AUD and MD is one in which AUD increases the risk of MD, rather than vice versa. 

Potential mechanisms underlying these causal linkages include neurophysiological and metabolic changes resulting from exposure to alcohol. 

The need for further research examining mechanisms of linkage, gender differences in associations between AUD and MD and classification issues was identified.

The current state of the literature suggests a causal linkage between alcohol use disorders and major depression, such that increasing involvement with alcohol increases risk of depression. 

Further research is needed in order to clarify the nature of this causal link, in order to develop effective intervention and treatment approaches.



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Request Reprint E-Mail:   dm.fergusson@otago.ac.nz  

Alcohol-related discussions in health care—a population view

The present study aimed to evaluate the frequency and the target group of alcohol screening and brief interventions in health-care settings and how well this level of activity reflects public opinion.

A general population survey.

A random sample of Finns aged 15–69 years with a 74% response rate (n = 2725).

Frequency counts were used to evaluate the level of activity. Logistic regression models were used to examine which groups were asked and advised about alcohol use and which groups considered it useful.

More than 90% had positive attitudes towards being asked about their alcohol use. Of those who had been in contact with health care (n = 2062) in the 12 months before the survey, 33.3% had been asked about their alcohol use, being most often men, young, heavy drinkers and those of high socio-economic status. Thirty-seven per cent of those who had been asked were given advice, being most often heavy drinkers and those with a normal body mass index. However, 50% of heavy drinkers who had been asked about their alcohol use had not been advised about it. Of those who had been advised, 71.9% considered it useful, especially older subjects, and also including heavy episodic drinkers, although less than others.

In Finland, the frequency of health-care professionals asking and giving advice on alcohol is relatively low. However, public opinion towards these discussions is positive. 

Our results encourage the support and uptake of systematic screenings and brief interventions in health-care settings.



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Request Reprint E-Mail:  pia.makela@thl.fi 

Alcohol's harm to others: reduced wellbeing and health status for those with heavy drinkers in their lives

The impact of alcohol on those other than the drinker is an under-researched area with important policy implications. 

This study is a first step in investigating relationships between exposure to heavy drinkers in respondent's lives with measures of health status and wellbeing.

A cross-sectional general population survey was carried out among 3068 New Zealand residents aged 12–80 years (response rate 64%) using an in-house computer-assisted telephone interviewing system.

Respondents' estimates of health status (European Quality of Life–5 Dimensions) and subjective wellbeing (Personal Wellbeing Index) were measured along with self-reports of heavy drinkers in their lives, demographic variables and own drinking.

More than one in four of the sample had experienced someone they considered to be a heavy drinker in their environment in the past 12 months. An index of exposure to heavy drinkers, reflecting numbers of heavy drinkers and cohabitation, predicted lower health status and personal wellbeing while controlling for demographic variables and respondent's own drinking

Cross-sectional data from a general population sample suggest that there is a relationship between exposure to heavy drinkers and reduced personal wellbeing and poorer health status. Exposure to heavy drinkers may have negative impacts for others.   


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Request Reprint E-Mail:   s.casswell@massey.ac.nz 

Letter - ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION DECREASES WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF DISEASE

I have read with interest the recent paper by Liang & Chikritzhs in Addiction[1] and venture to make some comment on it, as it is an area of the alcohol story in which I have a long-standing interest through the British Regional Heart Study (BRHS; http://www.ucl.ac.uk/primcare-popsci/brhs) [2].

The term ‘sick quitters’[3] is unfortunate, in that it carries the unintended implication that the person who has quit drinking or reduced their alcohol intake has done so for reasons associated with alcohol usage. Although it is usually made clear that being a ‘sick quitter’ need not be due to alcohol, most readers still assume this to be so. Any study of ex-drinkers or those who have markedly reduced their alcohol intake will show that only a minority have done so through an illness associated directly with the use of alcohol. Most ex-drinkers and most of those who make significant reductions in their intake usually do so as they age and because of physical or mental ill health, medication, economic factors or other changes in life-style conducive to a reduction in alcohol consumption [4,5]. Abandoning this term would be a useful starter in fresh thinking about alcohol usage and health.

There is an assumption, rather too easily made, that most modern epidemiological studies are careful not to include ‘sick quitters’ within the non-drinking category and will use life-long abstainers or light drinkers as their baseline. The problem with this assumption is that different authors vary in their definition of ‘sick quitters’; few studies use regular (i.e. with repeated measurements) light drinkers as the baseline and the use of life-long abstainers has other problems (vide infra).  

 
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Addiction Research Centres and the Nurturing of Creativity. National Institute on Alcohol and Drugs Policies, Brazil

The National Institute of Public Policy for Alcohol and Other Drugs (INPAD) is based at the Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil, and was created to collect scientific evidence regarding epidemiology, develop new therapeutic approaches, study health economics and provide education to subsidize the proper measures to change the Brazilian scenario of alcohol and drug consumption. 

Policies directed towards the control of alcohol and drugs in Brazil are fragmented, poorly enforced and therefore ineffective. The unregulated market of alcohol in Brazil has contributed to the worsening health of the Brazilian population. 

Since 1994, INPAD has participated actively in academic debates and discussions about alcohol and drug policies and their effects on the political welfare of the country. 

Many scientific papers and books have been published on this subject, and the internet and other media have provided excellent opportunities for the dissemination of specialized information to the general population.

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Request Reprint E-Mail:  sandro@uniad.org.br 

Conflict over liquor sachets in Malawi

A few years ago a variety of small plastic sachets with 40 % spirits were introduced to the markets place in a number of African countries. Now problems have become very visible from the sale and use of such alcoholic beverages, in particular among the youth and the poor. This has resulted in public outcry and political discussions in an attempt to do something to the problem.

In Malawi there was an encouraging political process last year which aimed at banning the sale of liquor in plastic sachets. Now, as a result of a court decision, the process has stalled. Governments and NGOs have their hands tied up by the court injunction, while the strong liquor continues to be sold to minors, through legal and illegal channels.    > > > >    Read More

Alcohol News 10/2011

University Post (Denmark) - Asians feel pressure to drink

For Asian students in Denmark, saying no to alcohol is not always easy. Refraining can lead to an ‘interrogation’, says Pakistani student. The Northern European culture of binge drinking can lead to uncomfortable situations for students from parts of the world where alcohol plays a smaller role in social events.

Read more

Helsinkin Sanomat (Finland) - Political gulf kills off legislative initiative on restrictions on alcohol advertising

Much as predicted, the Finnish government will not produce a legislative proposal to impose restrictions on image advertising of alcoholic beverages during the current term of office.

Read more

Denmark.dk (Denmark) - Sin tax gets strong public support

Higher fees on cigarettes, booze and junk food would lead to rise in smuggling and cross-border shopping. Duties on cigarettes, booze and unhealthy food are too low, say most Danes, according to Epinion/DR poll.

Read more

Yahoo! News (USA) - Law Would Lower Drinking Age on Military Bases

During a hearing among lawmakers this week with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Representative Jack Kingston (R) Georgia, brought up the topic of allowing 18-year-old service members to be allowed to drink on military bases.

Read more

BBC News (UK) - Supermarkets urged to keep alcohol separate

Alcohol should be kept away from food and soft drinks in supermarkets, according to a campaign group.

Read more

EmpowHer - Low to Moderate Alcohol Use Boosts Cancer Risk

Having a glass of wine might be good for your heart, but even low-to-moderate alcohol consumption could be raising your risk for several cancer types and other serious illness.

Read more

Montreal Gazette (Israel) - Vitamin A could curb fetal-alcohol effects: Israeli research

It's too early to call it a cure, but plain old vitamin A could curb the devastating effects of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. New research by an Israeli scientist suggests vitamin A could act almost like an antidote to the effects of alcohol on very early embryos during the critical development of the head and central nervous system. That's when the worst effects of FASD start.

Read more

Daily Mail - Binge-drinking is in the genes: Scientists isolate brain chemical that makes us crave alcohol

It has long been believed that alcoholism runs in the family - now scientists have pinpointed why. They have identified a binge-drinking gene, offering new hope in combating the growing social problem, it was revealed today.

Read more

UPI.com (Canada) - Neighborhood type affects male alcohol use

Men living in poorer areas tend to drink more alcohol than men living in affluence but women drink about the same in either location, a Canadian study suggests.

Read more

The Citizen Daily (Tanzania) - Govt launches drive against alcohol abuse

Tanzania yesterday launched a nationwide campaign to tackle excessive drinking.The government’s initiative against irresponsible drinking has the backing of local brewers and is supported by international organisations with the United States Agency for International Development (Usaid) being its major financier.

Read more

Malaysia Star (Malaysia) - Kelantan assembly: Storm brews over gambling and alcohol

State opposition leader Datuk Md Alwi Che Ahmad had a heated argument with State Local Government, Culture, Arts and Tourism committee chairman Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan over alcohol and gambling.

Read more

The Guardian (UK) - There is no such thing as a safe level of alcohol consumption

Last week I attended a discussion group chaired by the Observer's health correspondent Denis Campbell where one of the other experts, a public health doctor, asserted that alcohol should be treated differently from tobacco (and by inference other drugs) because there is no safe dose of tobacco whereas alcohol is safe until a person's drinking gets to "unsafe" levels.

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thenews.pl (Poland) - Alcohol to vanish from petrol stations?

In an effort to reduce the number of drink-driving incidents on Polish roads, a bill forbidding the sale of alcohol at petrol stations has been proposed by a senatorial group from across the political spectrum.

Read more

PhysOrg.com - Parents important for keeping adolescents off alcohol

Parents who are both present and engaged are the very best way of preventing teenagers from consuming large quantities of alcohol. Adolescents who smoke, stay out with their friends and have access to alcohol - from their parents, for example - when they are as young as 13 are at greater risk of becoming binge drinkers in their late teens, reveals a new thesis from Karolinska Institutet.

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BusinessWings (UK) - Booze is favourite midweek hobby for UK workers

Research revealed a stressful day at work leaves the typical adult reaching into the fridge for a cold alcoholic beverage just an hour and 25 minutes after arriving home.

Read more

PR-USA.net (USA) - Study Finds Mandatory Alcohol Testing for Truck Drivers Has Paid Off

A study conducted by researchers at Columbia University found that mandatory alcohol testing of motor carrier drivers has resulted in a significant decrease in fatal crashes involving truck, bus and other commercial drivers and alcohol use. The study was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Read more

TODAYonline (Singapore) - Early action against alcohol addiction

Viewing alcoholism as a simmering issue, some community groups are not waiting and are tackling the problem now. They are diagnosing patients with alcohol-related disorders, doubling meetings for alcoholics and calling for more attention to be devoted to fighting alcohol addiction here.

Read more

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Thesis - Adolescent alcohol use: Implications for prevention

Background Alcohol use, especially heavy episodic drinking, at an early age has been associated with various problems (e.g. risky sexual behaviours, health problems, depression, and heavy alcohol consumption at a later age). Thus, a better understanding of the risk and protective factors that influence adolescent alcohol use is crucial to developing effective prevention strategies. 

The aim of this thesis is to examine the importance of risk and protective factors in the development of heavy episodic drinking and subsequent problems for adolescent boys and girls. In addition, the prevention paradox (most alcohol-related problems occur in the 90 % of the population with lowest alcohol consumption) was examined among adolescents in Sweden and Europe. 

Data from three different questionnaire studies were analysed: (1) a longitudinal cohort study with 1222 adolescents from Stockholm, aged 13 to 19 years, (2) a cross-sectional study with 3000 adolescents aged 15 years and 17 years from random samples of school classes throughout the whole of Sweden, and (3) a cross-sectional study (the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs, ESPAD) performed in 35 countries among students who turned 16 during the year of the data collection. Twenty-three countries with 38 370 alcohol-consuming adolescents were included. 

Smoking and peer alcohol use were strongly associated with heavy drinking among both boys and girls, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Some gender differences were found; parental provision of alcohol in the 7th grade increased the odds for heavy alcohol use in girls two years later, and truancy was associated with later heavy alcohol use in boys. For boys, heavy episodic drinking at age 13 was one of the most distinct predictors of later heavy episodic drinking. For girls, secure bonds to parents lowered the risk for heavy episodic drinking, even if the girls had friends who drank alcohol, money to spend, or parents who offered them alcohol. For boys whose parents offered them alcohol, parental monitoring had a protective effect. Also, we found that adolescents on a consistent high alcohol use trajectory during early adolescence had higher levels of heavy episodic drinking and alcohol-related problems at age 19. 

Furthermore, the prevention paradox was valid for adolescent boys and girls in Sweden and in most European countries; despite differences in annual alcohol consumption, levels of heavy episodic drinking, and reported problems, the heavy episodic drinkers in the bottom 90% consumer group accounted for a majority of all reported problems. 

Effective population strategies may have large potential to reduce risk drinking and the overall problem level. A comprehensive prevention strategy should nevertheless also include efforts to reach adolescent high consumers. Furthermore, our results lend support to prevention initiatives to strengthen the parent–child relationship, to focus on adolescents‟ ability to resist peer pressure, and to limit parental provision of alcohol.

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Structures of Iron-Dependent Alcohol Dehydrogenase 2 from Zymomonas mobilis ZM4 with and without NAD+ Cofactor

The ethanologenic bacterium Zymomonas mobilis ZM4 is of special interest because it has a high ethanol yield. 

This is made possible by the two alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) present in Z. mobilis ZM4 (zmADHs), which shift the equilibrium of the reaction toward the synthesis of ethanol. They are metal-dependent enzymes: zinc for zmADH1 and iron for zmADH2. 

However, zmADH2 is inactivated by oxygen, thus implicating zmADH2 as the component of the cytosolic respiratory system in Z. mobilis. 

Here, we show crystal structures of zmADH2 in the form of an apo-enzyme and an NAD⁺–cofactor complex. 

The overall folding of the monomeric structure is very similar to those of other functionally related ADHs with structural variations around the probable substrate and NAD⁺ cofactor binding region. A dimeric structure is formed by the limited interactions between the two subunits with the bound NAD⁺ at the cleft formed along the domain interface. 

The catalytic iron ion binds near to the nicotinamide ring of NAD⁺, which is likely to restrict and locate the ethanol to the active site together with the oxidized Cys residue and several nonpolar bulky residues. 

The structures of the zmADH2 from the proficient ethanologenic bacterium Z. mobilis, with and without NAD⁺ cofactor, and modeling ethanol in the active site imply that there is a typical metal-dependent catalytic mechanism.


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Request Reprint E-Mail:  jsunkim@chonnam.ac.kr 

Risk factors for fatal crashes in rural Australia

This paper presents findings from the rural and remote road safety study, conducted in Queensland, Australia, from March 2004 till June 2007, and compares fatal crashes and non-fatal but serious crashes in respect of their environmental, vehicle and operator factors. 

During the study period there were 613 non-fatal crashes resulting in 684 hospitalised casualties and 119 fatal crashes resulting in 130 fatalities. Additional information from police sources was available on 103 fatal and 309 non-fatal serious crashes. 

Over three quarters of both fatal and hospitalised casualties were male and the median age in both groups was 34 years. 

Fatal crashes were more likely to involve speed, alcohol and violations of road rules and fatal crash victims were 2½ times more likely to be unrestrained inside the vehicle than non-fatal casualties, consistent with current international evidence. 

After controlling for human factors, vehicle and road conditions made a minimal contribution to the seriousness of the crash outcome. 

Targeted interventions to prevent fatalities on rural and remote roads should focus on reducing speed and drink driving and promoting seatbelt wearing.


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Request Reprint E-Mail:  v.siskind@qut.edu.au   

Let them experience a ride under the influence of alcohol; A successful intervention program?

A considerable amount of all traffic accidents can be attributed to driving under the influence of alcohol. 

In particular the group of drivers aged 18–24 years is involved in many serious traffic accidents where alcohol turns out to be a major factor. In fact this age group shows about three times as many alcohol related traffic fatalities as all other categories of road users. 

The intervention program “Alcohol-free on the road” (Dutch: “Alcoholvrij op weg”) aims to enhance young people's awareness of the effects of alcohol by letting them personally experience the effect of alcohol on their driving abilities. 

To this end, young drivers were invited to a closed circuit and allowed to drive first sober and then intoxicated, guided and guarded by driving instructors. 

Based on several other studies it was thought that a realistic experience of the effects of alcohol on driving abilities may contribute to a better understanding of the impact of alcohol and may stimulate attitudes that are needed to support the conscious decision not to drive while intoxicated.

After more than ten years of running and data collection, 1200 young drivers have participated in the intervention program. In a quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent group design, the program is evaluated in order to assess its effectiveness both with respect to the attitudes of the participants and the actual relevant behaviour in the years after the alcohol experience intervention program they attended, i.e. the incidence of actually driving under the influence of alcohol. 

To do this, a questionnaire was sent to a subset (415) of the participants who have completed the program, along with a control group (450), to compare attitudes and actual behaviour. In addition, the Public Prosecutor checked the files of those who responded, for the occurrence of driving under the influence of alcohol. 

The group that participated in the alcohol intervention program showed more awareness about the dangers of driving while intoxicated than the control group, and this group reported improved alcohol law compliance. 

Furthermore, less participants in the intervention program than in the control group were present in the Public Prosecutor files, respectively 0.7% and 4.2%. Hence, the alcohol driving experience intervention program might turn out to be effective and successful in decreasing driving under the influence of alcohol. 

Although the results of the present study are no more than suggestive, they may be considered a first step towards demonstrating the effectiveness of this type of intervention. 

However, the intervention is unique and warrants a more robust evaluation. A large-sized randomized controlled trial should be conducted in the next phase to confirm the findings that the intervention program is a suitable educational tool to decrease driving under the influence of alcohol. 

The present paper serves to raise awareness of this intervention and its potential.


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Request Reprint E-Mail:  K.A.Brookhuis@rug.nl 

Validation of sobriety tests for the marine environment

The objective of this project was to develop sobriety tests that can be administered in the seated position to assist water patrol officers in detecting alcohol-related impairment in boaters. 

Four seated sobriety tests were administered to 330 boaters to determine the tests’ usefulness in classifying boaters as having blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) below the illegal limit (BAC < .08%) or above the illegal limit (BAC ≥ .08%). 

Data were obtained by a team of four marine officers and two civilian observers on Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri. 

The overall correct percentages, sensitivity, and specificity of the tests were consistent with what is typically reported in literature on the roadside sobriety tests. The tests’ reliability was also consistent with what is typically reported in literature on the roadside sobriety tests. 

Thus, the four tests may assist marine officers with assessments of alcohol-related impairment in boaters.


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Request Reprint E-Mail:  dary.fiorentino@gmail.com  

Alcohol-related traffic accidents with fatal outcomes in the city of Sao Paulo

The aims of the present study were to characterize fatal traffic accident victims in a major urban center in Brazil and their association with alcohol consumption.

Cross-sectional study of 907 fatal traffic accident victims in Sao Paulo, in 2005.

Adult males between the ages of 25 and 54 represented the majority of cases with positive blood alcohol concentrations (BAC). Overall, males had a higher proportion of BAC and mean BAC than females. Pedestrians, particularly those with no detectable BAC, were typically older than other victims. Most accidents (total and BAC-positive) happened on weekends between midnight and 6 a.m. Considering all victims, 39.4% were positive (BAC over 0.1 g/l). When only drivers (automobile, motorcycle and bicycle) were evaluated, 42.3% had BAC over the legal limit (0.6 g/l).

Alcohol is associated with nearly half of all traffic accident deaths in the city of Sao Paulo, especially for days and times associated with parties and bars (weekends between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m.).


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Request Reprint E-Mail:   juliocp@gmail.com 

Alcohol pouring practices among 65- to 74-year-olds in Western Australia

Alcohol pouring practices have relevance to the validity of self-reported alcohol consumption. However, little research has focused on older populations nor investigated relationships between volumes poured and participants' estimations of beverages in terms of Australian standard drinks. The aim of this study was to address these issues.

Interviews were conducted (in participants' homes) with 844 current drinkers, aged 65–74 years, from Perth, Western Australia. Participants poured their ‘usual’ serving of alcohol into their ‘usual’ drinking vessel and were asked questions regarding the volumes poured.

Older men poured drinks that were 32% larger than a standard drink (10 g of ethanol). The comparable figure for older women was 16%. However, over 25% of all men and 20% of all women indicated they would not record (in a self-report assessment of consumption) the amount poured as one standard drink. Despite participants making corrections, men and women still underestimated amounts poured (men by 23% and women by 16%).

As with younger populations, older people pour drinks that are, on average, larger than standard drinks. To increase the accuracy of self-reported consumption, it is recommended that researchers consider pouring practices and people's perceptions of alcohol volumes poured in relation to a standard drink. 

Further research on this issue may reduce the discrepancy between self-reported levels of consumption and national per capita alcohol sales.


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Request Reprint E-Mail:  c.wilkinson@ecu.edu.au 

Characteristics of Probation and Parole Admissions Aged 18 or Older

The most common substances of abuse reported by probation or parole admissions were alcohol (30.6 percent), marijuana (26.4 percent), and methamphetamines (15.6 percent); more than one half reported more than one substance of abuse at admission (59.2 percent). 

The majority of probation or parole admissions were male (76.6 percent), had never married (63.1 percent), were between the ages of 18 and 44 (81.3 percent), and were non-Hispanic White (52.3 percent). 

Over one third of the probation and parole admissions had less than a high school education (39.6); the majority of these admissions were unemployed (36.8 percent) or not in the labor force (26.2 percent). 

The majority had been in treatment at least once before (57.5 percent); 18.4 percent reported three or more prior treatment episodes. 

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Parents can help their children develop healthy attitudes toward drinking while minimizing its risk

Drinking alcohol undoubtedly is a part of American culture, as are conversations between parents and children about its risks and potential benefits. However, information about alcohol can seem contradictory. Alcohol affects people differently at different stages of life—small amounts may have health benefits for certain adults, but for children and adolescents, alcohol can interfere with normal brain development. Alcohol’s differing effects and parents’ changing role in their children’s lives as they mature and seek greater independence can make talking about alcohol a challenge. Parents may have trouble setting concrete family policies for alcohol use. And they may find it difficult to communicate with children and adolescents about alcohol-related issues.

Research shows, however, that teens and young adults do believe their parents should have a say in whether they drink alcohol. Parenting styles are important—teens raised with a combination of encouragement, warmth, and appropriate discipline are more likely to respect their parents’ boundaries. Understanding parental influence on children through conscious and unconscious efforts, as well as when and how to talk with children about alcohol, can help parents have more influence than they might think on a child’s alcohol use. Parents can play an important role in helping their children develop healthy attitudes toward drinking while minimizing its risk.  > > > >   Read More

The effects of a large reduction in alcohol prices on hospitalizations related to alcohol: a population-based natural experiment

Finland experienced a large reduction in alcohol prices in 2004 due to in the lowering of alcohol taxes by about one-third and the abolition of duty-free allowances for travellers from the European Union. We examined the effects of these changes on alcohol-related hospitalizations.

Time—series intervention analyses of monthly aggregations of hospitalization for acute and chronic causes among men and women aged 15–39, 40–49, 50–69 and more than 69 years.

 After the price reduction the chronic hospitalization rate for men increased among those below age 70 years. It was largest among those aged 50–69 years: 22%, which implies an increase of 18.0 monthly hospitalizations per 100 000 person-years, and there was an 11% and 16% (11.5 and 4.8 monthly hospitalizations) increase among those aged 40–49 and 15–39, respectively. Among the women the rate increased by 23% (4.0 monthly hospitalizations) in the 50–69-year-olds, and decreased in the under-40s. The increase in all the population groups was due mainly to an increase in mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol. Acute hospitalizations increased by 17% and 20% (6.2 and 7.0 per month) among men aged 40–49 and 50–69 years, respectively, and by 38% among women aged 50–69 years (2.3 per month).

The results, obtained in a natural experimental setting when trends and seasonal variation had been taken into account, suggest that the reduction in alcohol prices led to increases in alcohol-related hospitalization in certain population groups, mainly among 50–69-year-olds, in Finland.



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Request Reprint E-Mail:   kimmo.herttua@helsinki.fi 

Factors Related to Medicaid Payment Acceptance at Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

To examine factors associated with Medicaid acceptance for substance abuse (SA) services by outpatient SA treatment programs.

Secondary analysis of 2003–2006 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services data combined with state Medicaid policy and usage measures and other publicly available data.

We used cross-sectional analyses, including state fixed effects, to assess relationships between SA treatment program Medicaid acceptance and (1) program-level factors, (2) county-level sociodemographics and treatment program density, and (3) state-level population characteristics, SA treatment-related factors, and Medicaid policy and usage.
State Medicaid policy data were compiled based on reviews of state Medicaid-related statutes/regulations and Medicaid plans. Other data were publicly available.

Medicaid acceptance was significantly higher for programs: (a) that were publicly funded and in states with Medicaid policy allowing SA treatment coverage; (b) with accreditation/licensure and nonprofit/government ownership, as well as mental- and general-health focused programs; and (c) in counties with lower household income.

SA treatment program Medicaid acceptance related to program-, county, and state-level factors. The data suggest the importance of state policy and licensure/accreditation requirements in increasing SA program Medicaid access.



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Request Reprint E-Mail:    yterry@umich.edu. 

The Seven Key Messages of the Alcohol Industry

The alcohol and tobacco industry sell products that can be dangerous to our health. For this reason, governments take action by, for example, raising taxes, enforcing age limits, prescribing warning labels and restricting advertising and sponsoring.

Literature shows that the “industry”—the alcohol and tobacco companies—have traditionally
worked closely together, sharing information and concerns about regulation. They have used similar arguments to defend their products in order to prevent or delay restrictions being placed on them (Bond, et al. 2010).

The intention of this brochure is to inform professionals about the attempts made by the alcohol industry to influence alcohol policy
globally and to subsequently arm them against the industry’s methods to prevent effective policies from being made.

If you have comments regarding this brochure or examples of the alcohol industry’s lobbying practices please send them by email to the
European Centre for Monitoring Alcohol Marketing (EUCAM).



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Smoking and alcohol consumption in relation to risk of triple-negative breast cancer in a cohort of postmenopausal women

Little is known about the risk factors for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which has a worse prognosis compared to hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

We examined the association of smoking and alcohol intake with TNBC and estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer.  

 Among 148,030 women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative, 300 TNBC cases and 2,479 ER+ cases were identified over a median of 8.0 years of follow-up. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

 Cigarette smoking was not associated with TNBC, whereas drinkers had reduced risk compared to never drinkers. In contrast, both exposures showed slight positive associations with ER+ breast cancer: for women with ≥40 pack-years of smoking, the HR was 1.24, 95% CI 1.06–1.44; for women consuming ≥7 servings of alcohol per week, the HR was 1.26, 95% CI 1.06–1.50. Intakes of wine and hard liquor were also significantly positively associated with ER+ breast cancer.

 These findings from a large cohort of postmenopausal women suggest that smoking and alcohol consumption are not associated with increased risk of TNBC, but may be modestly associated with increased risk of ER+ breast cancer.


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Request Reprint E-Mail:   geoffrey.kabat@einstein.yu.edu  

Conference - Innovation on the ATOD Frontier: Now's the Time

33rd Annual SALIS Conference

May 3-6, 2011

Kansas City, Missouri

Registration is OPEN for the 33rd Annual SALIS Conference in Kansas City, hosted by Laurie Krom, Director of the Addiction Technology Transfer Centers (ATTC) National Office, featuring presentations by SALIS members and invited speakers. The conference hotel will be the Hilton President-Kansas City.  > > > >   Read More

Disruption of Functional Connectivity of the Default-Mode Network in Alcoholism

The default mode network (DMN) comprises brain structures maximally active at rest. Disturbance of network nodes or their connections occurs with some neuropsychiatric conditions and may underlie associated dysfunction. DMN connectivity has not been examined in alcoholism, which is marked by compromised DMN nodes and impaired spatial working memory.

To test whether performance would be related to DMN integrity, we examined DMN functional connectivity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data and graph theory analysis. We assumed that disruption of short paths between network nodes would attenuate processing efficiency. Alcoholics and controls were scanned at rest and during a spatial working memory task.

At rest, the spontaneous slow fluctuations of fMRI signals in the posterior cingulate and cerebellar regions in alcoholics were less synchronized than in controls, indicative of compromised functional connectivity.

Graph theory analysis indicated that during rest, alcoholics had significantly lower efficiency indices than controls between the posterior cingulate seed and multiple cerebellar sites.

Greater efficiency in several connections correlated with longer sobriety in alcoholics.

During the task, on which alcoholics performed on par with controls, connectivity between the left posterior cingulate seed and left cerebellar regions was more robust in alcoholics than controls and suggests compensatory networking to achieve normal performance.


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Request Reprint E-Mail:   edie@stanford.edu.