Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

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Monday, September 2, 2013

Sexual orientation identity in relation to smoking history and alcohol use at age 18/19: cross-sectional associations from the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE)

 
Information about the health behaviours of minority groups is essential for addressing health inequalities. We evaluated the association among lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) sexual orientation identity and smoking and alcohol use in young people in England.
 
Data drawn from wave 6 of the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE).
 
Self-completion questionnaires during home visits, face-to-face interviews and web-based questionnaires.
 
Data from 7698 participants (3762 men) with information on sexual orientation identity and health behaviours at age 18/19.
 
Cigarette smoking history, alcohol drinking frequency and risky single occasion drinking (RSOD).
 
LGB identity was reported by 3.1% of participants (55 gay, 33 lesbian, 35 bisexual male, 111 bisexual female), 3.5% when adjusting for the survey design. Adjusting for a range of covariates, identification as lesbian/gay was found to be associated with smoking (OR=2.23, 95% CI 1.42 to 3.51), alcohol drinking >2 days/week (OR=1.99, 95% CI 1.25 to 3.17) and RSOD (OR=1.80, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.86) more than weekly. Bisexual identity was associated with smoking history (OR=1.84, 95% CI 1.30 to 2.61) but not alcohol drinking >2 days/week (OR=1.20, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.81) or RSOD (OR=1.04, 95% CI 0.71 to 2.86).
 
In a sample of more than 7600 young people aged 18/19 years in England, lesbian/gay identity is associated with cigarette smoking, drinking alcohol frequency and RSOD. Bisexual identity is associated with smoking but not RSOD or frequent alcohol drinking.
 

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An epidemiological study of the risk of cycling in the dark: The role of visual perception,conspicuity and alcohol use


To curtail the rising numbers of cyclists seriously injured in road crashes, more insights are needed into the factors that contribute to these crashes. For instance, darkness is known to be associated with higher injury rates, but little is known about the relative influence of factors such as poor conspicuity, impaired perception and alcohol use among cyclists.

To examine these factors, the present study analysed the epidemiological crash data for three meteorological light conditions: daylight, late evening darkness and early morning darkness; for two crash types: crashes with (M-crashes) and without motorized traffic (NM-crashes); and for different age groups.

The relative injury rates (injury risk per distance travelled in darkness corrected for daylight injury risks for each age group) confirmed findings from earlier studies that cycling in late evening darkness is associated with higher injury rates than cycling in daylight conditions. This is the case for both crash types with only small differences between the age groups suggesting that poor conspicuity (M-crashes) and impaired perception (NM-crashes) may play a role. In comparison to late evening darkness, relative injury rates in early morning darkness (are much higher. This is the case for both crash types with large differences among the age groups, suggesting that in addition to the absence of daylight also age related risk factors are at play.

Support for this hypothesis was found from the analyses of hospital records, showing that the proportion of seriously injured cyclists who have been drinking is highest in early morning darkness and has strongly increased over the last decades.

These insights provide input for the selection of countermeasures such as improved lighting (both street and bicycle lights) and interventions targeting alcohol use among cyclists.


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Request Reprint E-Mail:    j.ferris@uq.edu.au
 
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Random breath testing in Queensland and Western Australia: Examination of how the random breath testing rate influences alcohol related traffic crash rates







In this paper we explore the relationship between monthly random breath testing (RBT) rates (per 1,000 licensed drivers) and alcohol-related traffic crash (ARTC) rates over time, across two Australian states: Queensland and Western Australia. We analyse the RBT, ARTC and licensed driver rates across 12 years; however, due to administrative restrictions, we model ARTC rates against RBT rates for the period July 2004 to June 2009.
The Queensland data reveals that the monthly ARTC rate is almost flat over the five year period. Based on the results of the analysis, an average of 5.5 ARTCs per 100,000 licensed drivers are observed across the study period. For the same period, the monthly rate of RBTs per 1,000 licensed drivers is observed to be decreasing across the study with the results of the analysis revealing no significant variations in the data.

The comparison between Western Australia and Queensland shows that Queensland's ARTC monthly percent change (MPC) is 0.014 compared to the MPC of 0.47 for Western Australia. While Queensland maintains a relatively flat ARTC rate, the ARTC rate in Western Australia is increasing. Our analysis reveals an inverse relationship between ARTC RBT rates, that for every 10 percent increase in the percentage of RBTs to licensed driver there is a 0.15 decrease in the rate of ARTCs per 100,000 licenced drivers. Moreover, in Western Australia, if the 2011 ratio of 1:2 (RBTs to annual number of licensed drivers) were to double to a ratio of 1:1, we estimate the number of monthly ARTCs would reduce by approximately 15.

Based on these findings we believe that as the number of RBTs conducted increases the number of drivers willing to risk being detected for drinking driving decreases, because the perceived risk of being detected is considered greater. This is turn results in the number of ARTCs diminishing. The results of this study provide an important evidence base for policy decisions for RBT operations.


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Request Reprint E- Mail:   j.ferris@uq.edu.au
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Latest IAS alcohol alert; DDN; newsletters

 
The latest Alcohol Alert Issue 2 2013 from the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) is now available. See the cover story Government reads last rites over alcohol strategy or also in the issue reports on:
 
The latest Drink and Drugs News issue can be found here, including afeature on the Findings Drug and Alcohol Matrixes.
 
See here for the latest Alcohol Concern newsletter or NWPHO alcohol e-shot.
 
The latest Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS) newsletters can be found here.
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160 Swedish CSOs recognize alcohol as a hindrance to development

 
 


The Swedish NGO umbrella organisation “Forum Syd” has adopted a policy document which points at alcohol as a hindrance to development and a factor which can obstruct work for rights and poverty reduction. 160 NGOs are members of Forum Syd
 
In spite of the WHO Global Strategy to Reduce Harmful Use of Alcohol, which was adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2010 and in spite of a considerable increase of scientific evidence about the harm caused to individuals, families, communities and society, it is rare that alcohol is recognized as an obstacle to development.  > > > >  Read More


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Alcohol News - 35/2013




 
 
News of Iceland (Iceland) - The financial crash reduced smoking and alcohol consumption
The study aims to find out whether and how the economic crash influenced alcohol and tobacco consumption, specifically considering changes in the labour market, i.e. the reduction in the number of work hours and lowering of real income.
The Local (Norway) - Progress Party pledges to legalize moonshine
Norway's Progress Party has said it would end bans to poker, professional boxing, and home-distilled moonshine in a nakedly populist plan to remove 30 different prohibitions.
BMC Public Health (Sweden) - Prevalence of alcohol use before and during pregnancy and predictors of drinking during pregnancy: a cross sectional study in Sweden
The prevalence of drinking during pregnancy is relatively low in Sweden. However, 84% of the women report drinking in the year preceding pregnancy and most of these women continue to drink until pregnancy recognition, which means that they might have consumed alcohol in early pregnancy.
Radio Sweden (Sweden) - Alcohol tax to rise 13 per cent?
The Swedish government may increase tax on alcohol by 13 per cent, financial paper Dagens Industri reports, citing TV4.
Health Aim - Study: Drinking Prior to First Pregnancy Could Increase Breast Cancer Risk
Drinking just one drink with alcohol a day during the years prior to a woman’s first pregnancy could increase the risk of her developing breast cancer at a later stage in life, indicated a large study that was just published.
RT (UK) - 'Addicted man of Europe': Study says drug, alcohol addiction a crisis in UK
The UK is the addiction capital of Europe, with some of the highest rates of opiate and alcohol dependency as well as a worldwide hub for so-called ‘legal highs’.
PsychCentral.com - Alcohol Disrupts Brain Links That Help Read Social Cues
Alcohol intoxication reduces the communication between the two areas of the brain that work together to properly interpret and respond to social signals, according to a new study.
HealthDay - Alcohol Dominates in Pop Music Lyrics: Study
Today's popular music often celebrates excessive drinking as a fun, beneficial pastime, even highlighting select booze brands in many lyrics, a new study finds.
Catholic Herald Online - Pope to young people: Avoid drug and alcohol culture
Fight off a drug- and alcohol-pushing culture and other hazardous trends sweeping across today’s world, Pope Francis has told young people.
AllAfrica.com (South Africa) - South Africa: Proposed Alcohol Advertising Ban May Be Just the Start
Alcohol abuse is the third biggest cause of premature death in South Africa, and researchers argue a total ban on alcohol advertising should be just the start.
Monthly Prescribing Reference - Alcohol Consumption Tied to Endometriosis Risk
Alcohol consumption seems to be associated with increased endometriosis risk, according to a meta-analysis published in the August issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Express.co.uk (UK) - Society is being destroyed by UK's drink and drug addictions, warns think-tank
Think-tank The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) says addicts are buying class A drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine from mail order websites, and the UK has become a hub for websites peddling "legal highs" or "club drugs" such as Salvia or Green Rolex.
Times of Malta (Malta) - Should minimum drinking age be raised?
The adverse social and health consequences of excessive drinking are well known. The battle to tackle anti-social drinking in modern, more affluent societies like ours has to start early if it is to be successful.
The Press (New Zealand) - Alcohol-related harm the focus for policy
A new one-way door policy stopping people from entering bars after 1am could become compulsory from December, says Marlborough alcohol advisory committee member John Leggett.
Herald Scotland (Scotland) - Alcohol-related fatalities fall 13%
THE number of people in Scotland dying from alcohol-related diseases has fallen to its lowest level since the 1990s.
About - News & Issues (USA) - Colleges Failing at Curbing Binge Drinking
If you are sending children off to college this year you may not find much comfort in the fact that most colleges are failing miserably in trying to curtail dangerous binge drinking on campus and in their communities.
 
 
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Ethanol Regulation of Serum Glucocorticoid Kinase 1 Expression in DBA2/J Mouse Prefrontal Cortex



We previously identified a group of glucocorticoid-responsive genes, including Serum Glucocorticoid kinase 1 (Sgk1), regulated by acute ethanol in prefrontal cortex of DBA2/J mice. Acute ethanol activates the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA) causing release of glucocorticoids. Chronic ethanol dysregulates the HPA response in both humans and rodents, possibly contributing to important interactions between stress and alcoholism. Because Sgk1 regulates ion channels and learning and memory, we hypothesized that Sgk1 contributes to HPA-dependent acute and adaptive neuronal responses to ethanol. These studies characterized acute and chronic ethanol regulation of Sgk1 mRNA and protein and their relationship with ethanol actions on the HPA axis.

Acute ethanol increased Sgk1 mRNA expression in a dose and time dependent manner. Three separate results suggested that ethanol regulated Sgk1 via circulating glucocorticoids: acute ethanol increased glucocorticoid receptor binding to the Sgk1 promoter; adrenalectomy blocked ethanol induction of Sgk1 mRNA; and chronic ethanol exposure during locomotor sensitization down-regulated HPA axis activation and Sgk1 induction by acute ethanol. SGK1 protein had complex temporal responses to acute ethanol with rapid and transient increases in Ser422 phosphorylation at 15 min. following ethanol administration. This activating phosphorylation had functional consequences, as suggested by increased phosphorylation of the known SGK1 target, N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1). After repeated ethanol administration during locomotor sensitization, basal SGK1 protein phosphorylation increased despite blunting of Sgk1 mRNA induction by ethanol.

These results suggest that HPA axis and glucocorticoid receptor signaling mediate acute ethanol induction of Sgk1 transcription in mouse prefrontal cortex. However, acute ethanol also causes complex changes in SGK1 protein expression and activity. Chronic ethanol modifies both SGK1 protein and HPA-mediated induction of Sgk1 mRNA. These adaptive molecular responses of glucocorticoid-responsive gene expression and SGK1 in prefrontal cortex may contribute to mechanisms underlying behavioral responses to chronic ethanol exposure.


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NO QUICK FIX Exposing the depth of Britain’s drug and alcohol problem

 Addiction and alcohol and drug abuse are taking a heavy toll on Britain. One in 20 adults in England (1.6 million) is dependent on alcohol. 1 and one in 100 (380,000) is addicted to heroin or crack cocaine.2 This human tragedy is accompanied by eye-watering economic costs. The annual bill to society is over £21 billion in alcohol-related harm and a £15 billion cost from illicit drugs. There is a perception amongst some that alcohol and drug abuse are in remission. Our research shows the opposite. The costs to society of substance abuse are rising. Use of opiates and crack remains high and roughly one new drug enters the market each week. Alcohol-related admissions to hospital have more than doubled in a decade, costing the NHS more every year. Since the CSJ published Breakthrough Britain in 2007, the amount of opiate substitutes the state prescribes to heroin addicts has increased by 40 per cent. New ‘legal highs’ are entering the market at the rate of one a week, whilst ‘virtual currency’ is making it possible for illegal drugs to be bought and sold anonymously over the internet without fear of detection.

The consequences of addiction and abuse are dire with the effects felt most by those who are already highly vulnerable. There are communities across Britain that are still ravaged by drugs and alcohol. Alcohol and drug-related violence, domestic abuse, worklessness, child neglect, debt and educational failure, all disproportionately affect poorer communities and are regularly intertwined.  > > > >  Read More
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The Associations between Self-Consciousness, Depressive State and Craving to Drink among Alcohol Dependent Patients Undergoing Protracted Withdrawal



In order to understand how certain personality traits influence the relation between depression symptoms and craving for alcohol, trait self-consciousness (trait SC) was examined during a withdrawal and detoxification program.


Craving (Obsessive and Compulsive Drinking Scale), depressive state (Beck Depression Inventory) and trait SC (Revised Self-Consciousness Scale) were assessed in alcohol-dependent inpatients (DSM-IV, N = 30) both at the beginning (T1: day 1 or 2) and at the end (T2: day 14 to18) of protracted withdrawal during rehabilitation.


A significant decrease in craving and depressive symptoms was observed from T1 to T2, while SC scores remained stable. At both times, strong positive correlations were observed between craving and depression. Moreover, regression analyses indicated that trait SC significantly moderated the impact of depression on cravings for alcohol.

This study was performed on a relatively small sample size. Administration of medications during detoxification treatment can also be a confounding factor. Finally, craving could have been evaluated through other types of measurements.


During protracted withdrawal, alcohol craving decreased with the same magnitude as depressive mood. Depressive symptoms were related to alcohol craving but only among patients with high trait SC scores. Our results suggest that metacognitive approaches targeting SC could decrease craving and, in turn, prevent future relapses.



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Sunday, September 1, 2013

Validation of survey information on smoking and alcohol consumption against import statistics, Greenland 1993-2010





 


Questionnaires are widely used to obtain information on health-related behaviour, and they are more often than not the only method that can be used to assess the distribution of behaviour in subgroups of the population. No validation studies of reported consumption of tobacco or alcohol have been published from circumpolar indigenous communities.

The purpose of the study is to compare information on the consumption of tobacco and alcohol obtained from 3 population surveys in Greenland with import statistics.

Estimates of consumption of cigarettes and alcohol using several different survey instruments in cross-sectional population studies from 1993–1994, 1999–2001 and 2005–2010 were compared with import statistics from the same years.

For cigarettes, survey results accounted for virtually the total import. Alcohol consumption was significantly under-reported with reporting completeness ranging from 40% to 51% for different estimates of habitual weekly consumption in the 3 study periods. Including an estimate of binge drinking increased the estimated total consumption to 78% of the import.

Compared with import statistics, questionnaire-based population surveys capture the consumption of cigarettes well in Greenland. Consumption of alcohol is under-reported, but asking about binge episodes in addition to the usual intake considerably increased the reported intake in this population and made it more in agreement with import statistics. It is unknown to what extent these findings at the population level can be inferred to population subgroups.



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