A novel SNP in COMT is associated with alcohol dependence but not opiate or nicotine dependence: a case control study

It is well established that COMT is a strong candidate gene for substance use disorder and schizophrenia. Recently we identified two SNPs in COMT (rs4680 and rs165774) that are associated with schizophrenia in an Australian cohort. Individuals with schizophrenia were more than twice as likely to carry the GG genotype compared to the AA genotype for both the rs165774 and rs4680 SNPs. Association of both rs4680 and rs165774 with substance dependence, a common comorbidity of schizophrenia has not been investigated.

To determine whether COMT is important in substance dependence, rs165774 and rs4680 were genotyped and haplotyped in patients with nicotine, alcohol and opiate dependence.

The rs165774 SNP was associated with alcohol dependence. However, it was not associated with nicotine or opiate dependence. Individuals with alcohol dependence were more than twice as likely to carry the GG or AG genotypes compared to the AA genotype, indicating a dominant mode of inheritance. The rs4680 SNP showed a weak association with alcohol dependence at the allele level that did not reach significance at the genotype level but it was not associated with nicotine or opiate dependence. Analysis of rs165774/rs4680 haplotypes also revealed association with alcohol dependence with the G/G haplotype being almost 1.5 times more common in alcohol-dependent cases.

Our study provides further support for the importance of the COMT in alcohol dependence in addition to schizophrenia. It is possible that the rs165774 SNP, in combination with rs4680, results in a common molecular variant of COMT that contributes to schizophrenia and alcohol dependence susceptibility. This is potentially important for future studies of comorbidity. As our participant numbers are limited our observations should be viewed with caution until they are independently replicated.

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ULTRAFILTRATION PREPARATION OF POTENT BIOACTIVE CORN PEPTIDE AS ALCOHOL METABOLISM STIMULATOR IN VIVO AND STUDY ON ITS MECHANISM OF ACTION

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential capability of an alcalase-hydrolyzed corn protein and fractions with different molecular mass (Mm) to facilitate alcohol metabolism by activating hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH).

Results showed that corn peptide (CP) fraction with Mm fewer than 1,000 Da (CP < 1,000) exhibited the highest activity to activate ADH in vitro.

The fraction administration (200 mg/kg body weight) with Mm fewer than 5,000 Da (CP < 5,000) demonstrated maximum ability to decrease blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in mice. There was a 45.1% reduction in BAC compared with that of the control group.

Moreover, there was a strong linear relationship between BAC elimination rate and hepatic ADH activation rate (r = 0.9961).

CP's potent capability to facilitate alcohol metabolism could be mainly correlated with the activation of hepatic ADH by hydrophobic CP with low Mm. CP's ·OH scavenging activity may also have synergistic contribution to the oxidative stress release.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: hehui@mail.hzau.edu.cn

Genome-Wide Association Study in Bipolar Patients Stratified by Co-Morbidity

Bipolar disorder is a severe psychiatric disorder with high heritability. Co-morbid conditions are common and might define latent subgroups of patients that are more homogeneous with respect to genetic risk factors.

In the Caucasian GAIN bipolar disorder sample of 1000 cases and 1034 controls, we tested the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms with patient subgroups defined by co-morbidity.

Bipolar disorder with psychosis and/or substance abuse in the absence of alcohol dependence was associated with the rare variant rs1039002 in the vicinity of the gene phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) on chromosome 6q27 (p = 1.7×10⁻⁸). PDE10A has been implicated in the pathophysiology of psychosis. Antagonists to the encoded protein are currently in clinical testing. Another rare variant, rs12563333 (p = 5.9×10⁻⁸) on chromosome 1q41 close to the MAP/microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 1 (MARK1) gene, approached the genome-wide level of significance in this subgroup. Homozygotes for the minor allele were present in cases and absent in controls. Bipolar disorder with alcohol dependence and other co-morbidities was associated with SNP rs2727943 (p = 3.3×10⁻⁸) on chromosome 3p26.3 located between the genes contactin-4 precursor (BIG-2) and contactin 6 (CNTN6). All three associations were found under the recessive genetic model. Bipolar disorder with low probability of co-morbid conditions did not show significant associations.

Conceptualizing bipolar disorder as a heterogeneous disorder with regard to co-morbid conditions might facilitate the identification of genetic risk alleles. Rare variants might contribute to the susceptibility to bipolar disorder.

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Neuroticism and extraversion personality traits, health behaviours, and subjective well-being: the Fukuoka Study (Japan)

We evaluated personality dimensions captured by an abbreviated 8-item questionnaire and examined associations of the personality traits with health behaviours and subjective well-being (SWB) measures.

The subjects were 11,554 participants in the Kyushu University Fukuoka Cohort Study who completed a self-administered questionnaire inquiring health behaviours, morbidity, personality, and SWB. Personality was assessed by using a questionnaire appeared to capture neuroticism and extraversion traits, and SWB-related variables were assessed with 3 single-item questions.

Neuroticism was negatively and extraversion was positively associated with BMI. Extraversion, but not neuroticism, was positively associated with smoking and alcohol drinking. After multivariate adjustment, neuroticism was strongly associated with each of 3 SWB measures. The multivariate-adjusted odds ratios for the highest versus lowest quintile of neuroticism were 6.09 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.05–7.33) for perceived stress; 0.21 (95% CI, 0.18–0.25) for good health condition; and 0.26 (95% CI, 0.22–0.31) for life satisfaction. Extraversion showed no clear association with the SWB measures.

The neuroticism and extraversion scales were associated with health behaviours and BMI differently. The neuroticism scale, but not the extraversion scale, was strongly associated with higher perception of stress, poorer perceived health, and lower satisfaction with life in a Japanese population.


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Request Reprint E-Mail: joto@phealth.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Ego depletion increases ad-lib alcohol consumption: Investigating cognitive mediators and moderators.

When self-control resources are depleted (“ego depletion”), alcohol-seeking behavior becomes closely associated with automatic alcohol-related processing biases (e.g., Ostafin, Marlatt, & Greenwald, 2008).

The current study aimed to replicate and extend these findings, and also to investigate whether the effects of ego depletion on drinking behavior would be mediated by temporary impairments in executive function or increases in impulsivity.

Eighty heavy social drinkers (46 female) initially completed measures of automatic approach tendencies (stimulus response compatibility [SRC] task) and attentional bias (visual probe task) elicited by alcohol-related cues. Participants were then exposed to either an ego depletion manipulation or a control manipulation, before completing a bogus taste test in order to assess ad-lib alcohol consumption. In a subsequent testing session, we examined effects of the ego depletion manipulation (vs. control manipulation) on 3 aspects of executive function (inhibitory control, phonemic fluency, and delay discounting).

Results indicated that the ego depletion manipulation increased ad-lib drinking, relative to the control manipulation. Automatic approach tendencies, but not attentional bias, predicted ad-lib drinking, although this effect was not moderated by ego depletion.

Ego depletion had inconsistent effects on measures of executive function and impulsivity, and none of these measures mediated the effect of ego depletion on ad-lib drinking. However, the effect of ego depletion on ad-lib drinking was mediated by self-reported effort in suppressing emotion and thoughts during the manipulation.

Implications for the effects of self-control strength on drinking behavior, and cognitive mediators of these effects, are discussed.



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Request Reprint E-Mail: J.C.Cole@liverpool.ac.uk

The separate and combined effects of alcohol and nicotine on anticipatory anxiety: A multidimensional analysis

Individuals who smoke cigarettes are significantly more likely to smoke more when they drink alcohol. Indeed, smoking and drinking appear strongly linked, at both between- and within-person levels of analyses. Anecdotal evidence further suggests that alcohol consumption in combination with smoking cigarettes reduces anxiety, yet the mechanisms by which this may occur are not well understood.

The current study assessed the separate and combined effects of alcohol and nicotine on self-reported and psychophysiological (startle eyeblink magnitude) indices of anxiety.

Results indicated that alcohol provided anxiolytic benefits alone and in combination with nicotine, as evidenced by significant reductions in startle eyeblink magnitude.

According to self-reported anxiety, alcohol and nicotine exerted a conjoint effect on diminishing increases in anxiety subsequent to a speech stressor.

These data highlight the importance of studying both the separate and combined effects of these two widely used substances, as well as the advantages of employing a multimodal assessment of emotional response.



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Request Reprint E-Mail: jkassel@uic.edu

The stress-response dampening hypothesis: How self-esteem and stress act as mechanisms between negative parental bonds and alcohol-related problems in

The stress dampening model (Marlatt, 1987; Sayette, 1993; Sher, 1987) suggests certain individuals may use alcohol to escape from their negative life experiences.

Pathological reasons for drinking (e.g. using alcohol as a means to cope) reflect the degree to which individuals are motivated to use alcohol in order to dampen or alleviate the stress they are experiencing (Johnson, Schwitters, Wilson, Nagoshi, & McClearn, 1985).

Direct and mediational links among parental bonds (rejection, care, overprotection, autonomy, and neglect), self-esteem, stress, pathological reasons for drinking, and alcohol-related problems were explored. A Structural Equation Model with (405 students; 164 women, 241 men) college students was examined.

Three path mediational analyses revealed several mediated pathways.

Greater feelings of perceived father/mother neglectfulness (i.e. offspring feeling parents do not show up for them) were indirectly linked to more alcohol-related problems (e.g. indicative of alcohol use or dependence in emerging adulthood) through increased stress and pathological reasons for drinking.

Furthermore, higher levels of father rejection (i.e. perception of feeling unwanted) were indirectly linked to more pathological reasons for drinking through low self-esteem and increased stress.

However, greater feelings of mother care (affectionate and attentive) were indirectly linked to fewer pathological reasons for drinking through higher self-esteem and lower levels of stress.

Moreover, high self-esteem was found to be indirectly linked to fewer alcohol-related problems through decreased stress and pathological reasons for drinking.

These findings suggest several specific pathways for using alcohol to self-medicate (i.e. consume alcohol for a specific purpose) or dampen feelings of stress.



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Request Reprint E-Mail: Lindsey_Backer@baylor.edu

Impaired control over alcohol use: An under-addressed risk factor for problem drinking in young adults?

Impaired control over alcohol use may be defined as “a breakdown of an intention to limit consumption in a particular situation” (Heather, Tebbutt, Mattick, & Zamir, 1993, p. 701) and has long been considered an important feature of alcohol dependence.

Evidence suggests impaired control is highly relevant to young adult problem drinking. In the natural history of problem drinking, impaired control tends to develop early and may predict alcohol-related problems prospectively in undergraduates. Impaired control over alcohol use may be a facet of generalized behavioral undercontrol specifically related to drinking.

In particular, impaired control is theoretically and empirically related to impulsivity. The question of whether impaired control represents a facet of impulsivity or a related but separate construct requires further study.

However, theoretical arguments and empirical evidence suggest that there are unique qualities to the constructs. Specifically, existing data suggest that self-report measures of impaired control and impulsivity over alcohol use relate distinctly to problem drinking indices in young adults.

Several lines of future research concerning impaired control are suggested, using the impulsivity literature as a guide.

We conclude that impaired control is a valuable construct to the study of young adult problem drinking and that measures of impaired control should be included in more young adult alcohol studies.

The extent to which impaired control over the use of other substances and impaired control over engagement in other addictive behaviors are clinically relevant constructs requires additional study.



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Request Reprint E-Mail: robert.leeman@yale.edu

The Relationship of Alexithymia to Emotional Dysregulation Within an Alcohol Dependent Treatment Sample

Difficulties regulating emotions have implications for the development, maintenance, and recovery from alcohol problems.

One construct thought to impede the regulation of emotion is alexithymia. Alexithymia is characterized by difficulties identifying, differentiating and expressing feelings, a limited imagination and fantasy life, and an externally-oriented thinking style (e.g., prefer talking about daily activities rather than feelings).

Given that poor emotion regulation skills have been found to predict posttreatment levels of alcohol use, and that several defining characteristics of alexithymia bear similarity to deficits in emotion regulation skills, it is possible that alexithymia may predict poorer alcohol treatment outcomes.

Thus, the present study first examined the relationship of alexithymia to several other emotion regulation measures and then investigated the impact of alexithymia on attrition and alcohol treatment outcomes in men and women (N = 77) enrolled in a 12-week cognitive-behavioral intervention for alcohol dependence.

At baseline, higher scores on alexithymia were associated poorer emotion regulation skills, fewer percent days abstinent, greater alcohol dependence severity, and several high-risk drinking situations. Alexithymia was unrelated to attrition and to level of alcohol consumption at posttreatment

Overall, the construct of alexithymia is shown to be related to several theoretically-related constructs (e.g., emotion regulation, mindfulness) but demonstrated a limited relationship to drinking outcomes in those seeking treatment for alcohol dependence.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: stasiewi@ria.buffalo.edu

Baclofen promotes alcohol abstinence in alcohol dependent cirrhotic patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD), either alone or in combination, count for more than two thirds of all liver diseases in the Western world. There is no safe level of drinking in HCV-infected patients and the most effective goal for these patients is total abstinence.

Baclofen, a GABA_B receptor agonist, represents a promising pharmacotherapy for alcohol dependence (AD). Previously, we performed a randomized clinical trial (RCT), which demonstrated the safety and efficacy of baclofen in patients affected by AD and cirrhosis.

The goal of this post-hoc analysis was to explore baclofen's effect in a subgroup of alcohol-dependent HCV-infected cirrhotic patients.

Any patient with HCV infection was selected for this analysis. Among the 84 subjects randomized in the main trial, 24 alcohol-dependent cirrhotic patients had a HCV infection; 12 received baclofen 10 mg t.i.d. and 12 received placebo for 12-weeks.

With respect to the placebo group (3/12, 25.0%), a significantly higher number of patients who achieved and maintained total alcohol abstinence was found in the baclofen group (10/12, 83.3%; p = 0.0123).

Furthermore, in the baclofen group, compared to placebo, there was a significantly higher increase in albumin values from baseline (p = 0.0132) and a trend toward a significant reduction in INR levels from baseline (p = 0.0716).

In conclusion, baclofen was safe and significantly more effective than placebo in promoting alcohol abstinence, and improving some LFTs (i.e. albumin, INR) in alcohol-dependent HCV-infected cirrhotic patients. Baclofen may represent a clinically relevant alcohol pharmacotherapy for these patients.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: Lorenzo_Leggio@brown.edu

Effect of the increase in “alcopops” tax on alcohol-related harms in young people: a controlled interrupted time series

To measure alcohol-related harms to the health of young people presenting to emergency departments (EDs) of Gold Coast public hospitals before and after the increase in the federal government “alcopops” tax in 2008.

Interrupted time series analysis over 5 years (28 April 2005 to 27 April 2010) of 15–29-year-olds presenting to EDs with alcohol-related harms compared with presentations of selected control groups.

Proportion of 15–29-year-olds presenting to EDs with alcohol-related harms compared with (i) 30–49-year-olds with alcohol-related harms, (ii)15–29-year-olds with asthma or appendicitis, and (iii) 15–29-year-olds with any non-alcohol and non-injury related ED presentation.

Over a third of 15–29-year-olds presented to ED with alcohol-related conditions, as opposed to around a quarter for all other age groups. There was no significant decrease in alcohol-related ED presentations of 15–29-year-olds compared with any of the control groups after the increase in the tax. We found similar results for males and females, narrow and broad definitions of alcohol-related harms, under-19s, and visitors to and residents of the Gold Coast.

The increase in the tax on alcopops was not associated with any reduction in alcohol-related harms in this population in a unique tourist and holiday region. A more comprehensive approach to reducing alcohol harms in young people is needed.

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ALCOHOL RELATED CHRISTMAS IN PNG - ‘THE BLOODIEST’ EVER

This year’s Christmas in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has been labelled ‘the bloodiest’ Christmas ever in Port Moresby with two deaths, four life threatening cases and several injuries from alcohol related cases.

This remark was made by chief of emergency medicine and director of emergency at the Port Moresby General Hospital Dr Sam Yockopua.

He said that they were expecting even the worst in the New Year celebrations citing that if worse come to worse, they were prepared to shut down and walk out.

And he has called for a total ban on alcohol during the week leading to the New Year celebrations. > > > > Read More

Do 12-step meeting attendance trajectories over 9 years predict abstinence?

This study grouped treatment-seeking individuals (n = 1825) by common patterns of 12-step attendance using 5 waves of data (75% interviewed Year 9) to isolate unique characteristics and use-related outcomes distinguishing each class profile.

The “high” class reported the highest attendance and abstention.

The “descending” class reported high baseline alcohol severity, long treatment episodes, and high initial attendance and abstinence, but by Year 5, their attendance and abstinence dropped.

The “early-drop” class, which started with high attendance and abstinence but with low problem severity, reported no attendance after Year 1.

The “rising” class, with fairly high alcohol and psychiatric severity throughout, reported initially low attendance, followed by increasing attendance paralleling their abstention.

Last, the “low” and “no” classes, which reported low problem severity and very low/no attendance, had the lowest abstention.

Female gender and high alcohol severity predicted attendance all years.

Consistent with a sustained benefit for 12-step exposure, abstinence patterns aligned much like attendance profiles.


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Request Reprint E-Mail: jwitbrodt@arg.org

Perceptions About Genetic Testing for the Susceptibility to Alcohol Dependence and Other Multifactorial Diseases

Beliefs, attitudes, and preferences about the risk and benefits of genetic testing are important determinants of willingness to undergo testing.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perceived importance of genetic testing for alcohol dependence compared with other multifactorial diseases among African Americans.

Surveys were conducted with 258 participants using the Genetic Psycho-Social Implications (GPSI) questionnaire to evaluate several areas of hypothetical genetic testing for alcohol dependence. Respondents were divided into two groups: those who perceived testing for alcohol dependence to be equally important as testing for cancer and those who did not. Using chi-square, the groups' responses were compared for nine GPSI items measuring beliefs about the severity of alcohol dependence, general benefits of genetic testing, and specific benefits of genetic testing for diabetes, hypertension, or a disease affecting a family member.

Nearly 86% of respondents believed that genetic testing for alcoholism was equally as important as testing for cancer. Those who reported parity of importance of alcohol dependence and cancer screening were more likely to believe that alcoholism is a deadly disease (p<0.001) and genetic testing influences health (p<0.001). Conclusion: African Americans reported favorable attitudes and beliefs in possible availability of susceptibility genetic testing for alcohol dependence. The perceived importance of testing for alcohol dependence was associated with beliefs about the severity of alcoholism and certain benefits of genetic testing in general.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: vjmarshall@howard.edu

Cameron eyes up minimum pricing says The Telegraph

The Prime Minister David Cameron is reportedly instructing officials to look at minimum pricing options, the much debated population level policy approach to reducing alcohol-related harm. Although Whitehall officials say no decision has yet been made, a Daily Telegraph report suggests measures could be outlined in the forthcoming national alcohol strategy expected in February 2012.

Cameron is reported to have instructed Whitehall officials to look at options to achieve a minimum price by either tax restructuring or, as currently being sought in Scotland, a standard minimum price per unit. Both could face difficulties under EU law as minimum pricing opponents state it breaches competition law, whilst the IFS recently advised lobbying for EU law changes to achieve tax restructuring for this purpose. > > > > Read More

Attrition in Web-Based Treatment for Problem Drinkers

Web-based interventions for problem drinking are effective but characterized by high rates of attrition. There is a need to better understand attrition rates in order to improve the completion rates and the success of Web-based treatment programs.

The objectives of our study were to (1) examine attrition prevalence and pretreatment predictors of attrition in a sample of open-access users of a Web-based program for problem drinkers, and (2) to further explore attrition data from our randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the Web-based program.

Attrition data from two groups of Dutch-speaking problem drinkers were collected: (1) open-access participants enrolled in the program in 2009 (n = 885), and (2) RCT participants (n = 156). Participants were classified as noncompleters if they did not complete all 12 treatment sessions (9 assignments and 3 assessments). In both samples we assessed prevalence of attrition and pretreatment predictors of treatment completion. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore predictors of treatment completion. In the RCT sample, we additionally measured reasons for noncompletion and participants’ suggestions to enhance treatment adherence. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

The open-access and RCT group differed significantly in the percentage of treatment completers (273/780, 35.0% vs 65/144, 45%, χ²₁ = 5.4, P = .02). Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant contribution of treatment readiness, gender, education level, age, baseline alcohol consumption, and readiness to change to predict treatment completion. The key reasons for noncompletion were personal reasons, dissatisfaction with the intervention, and satisfaction with their own improvement. The main suggestions for boosting strategies involved email notification and more flexibility in the intervention.

The challenge of Web-based alcohol treatment programs no longer seems to be their effectiveness but keeping participants involved until the end of the treatment program. Further research should investigate whether the suggested strategies to improve adherence decrease attrition rates in Web-based interventions. If we can succeed in improving attrition rates, the success of Web-based alcohol interventions will also improve and, as a consequence, their public health impact will increase.


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EUCAM meeting March 29-30, 2012

EUCAM organizes in cooperation with PARPA its fourth conference on alcohol marketing in Europe 29 and 30 March 2012 in Warsaw, Poland. The EUCAM contact persons of Public Health NGOs, governmental organizations and research institutes are invited to participate.

The topic of the training will be:

-Alcohol and sport sponsoring

-Training how to monitor alcohol marketing effectively

> > > > Read More

Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC): alcohol and tobacco consumption versus non-consumption. A study in a Portuguese population

There has been an increase in the incidence of carcinoma of the tongue, particularly among alcohol and tobacco non-users. However, the number of studies that would allow a better understanding of etiological factors and clinical features, particularly in the Portuguese population, is very limited.

This study was based on patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior two thirds of the tongue that were treated at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery of the “Instituto Portugues de Oncologia de Lisboa - Francisco Gentil” (IPOLFG) in Lisbon, Portugal, between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2009.

The patients were divided in alcohol and tobacco users and non-users in order to evaluate the differences between these 2 groups based on gender, age, tumor location, denture use, and tumor size, metastasis and stage. Of the 354 cases, 208 were users and 146 were non-users.

The main location in both groups was the lateral border of the tongue. Denture use showed no significant effect in both study groups.

It was possible to conclude that patients who did not drink or smoke were older and presented with smaller tumor size, lower incidence of ganglion metastasis and lower tumor stage compared with alcohol and tobacco users.


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Working with Older Drinkers

Background

Evidence suggests that a significant and growing number of older people are at risk of alcohol-related harm:

• 20% of men and 10% of women aged 65 and over exceed recommended drinking guidelines and 3% of men and 0.6% of women aged 65-74 are alcohol dependent

• There has been a steady increase in the amount of alcohol consumed by older age groups in recent years.

• Consumption patterns suggest that the ‘baby-boomer’ cohort is likely to have higher levels of alcohol consumption in old age than previous cohorts of older people.

Increased alcohol consumption coupled with the projected increase in the population of older people will place increasing pressure on substance misuse and health and social care services. However, little is known about the nature of the problem and what strategies and treatment approaches work best with older drinkers. The aim of this study was to address this deficit by synthesising relevant published literature, insight from substance misuse practitioners who specialise in working with older people and the perspectives of older people with alcohol problems.


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Clustering of multiple healthy lifestyles among older Korean adults living in the community

Despite the predictive value of combined healthy lifestyles in maintaining physical and cognitive functioning in late life, little is known about the clustering patterns of healthy lifestyle behaviors in older people. The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence, clustering and population characteristics of adherence to multiple health behaviors in community-dwelling older Korean adults.

The study population consisted of a nationally representative sample of 4165 Korean adults aged 65 years and older in 2006. Healthy lifestyles, defined as adherence to recommended guidelines, included non-smoking, no heavy drinking, physical activity and healthy weight. Combinations of behavioral patterns and prevalence odds ratios for pairwise clusters were analyzed. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify demographic and health-related characteristics associated with the number of adherence to guideline recommendations.

Those who adhered to all four guideline recommendations constituted the minority (11.7%). More women than men engaged in a higher number of healthy lifestyles. Clustering was more pronounced in men for whom no heavy alcohol drinking and physical activity centered around non-smoking. In women, clustering patterns were less obvious. Men, those with low levels of education, income and wealth, and the functionally impaired were less likely to adhere to multiple healthy lifestyles.

Clustering of healthy lifestyles, especially among older men, supports the potential benefit of a multiple behavior change approach. Health promotion efforts should target the socially disadvantaged and functionally compromised segment of the older population presenting low adherence to recommended behaviors.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: yhlee@ajou.ac.kr

Beyond Primary Prevention of Alcohol Use: A Culturally Specific Secondary Prevention Program for Mexican Heritage Adolescents

Classroom-based primary prevention programs with adolescents are effective in inhibiting the onset of drug use, but these programs are not designed to directly address the unique needs of adolescents at higher risk of use or already using alcohol and other drugs.

This article describes the initial efficacy evaluation of a companion psychosocial small group program which aims at addressing the needs of Mexican heritage students identified by their teachers as being at higher risk for substance use or already experimenting with alcohol and other drugs.

The adolescent (7th grade) small group curricula, REAL Groups, is a secondary prevention program which supplements the primary classroom-based substance use prevention program, keepin’ it REAL.

Following a mutual aid approach, a total of 109 7th grade students were referred by their teachers and participated in the REAL Groups. The remaining 252 7th grade students who did not participate served as the control group. To account for biased selection into REAL Groups, propensity score matching (PSM) was employed. The estimated average treatment effect for participants’ use of alcohol was calculated at the end of the 8th grade.

Results indicate that alcohol use decreased among students who participated in the REAL Groups relative to matched students who did not participate.

These findings suggest that REAL Groups may be an effective secondary prevention program for higher-risk Mexican heritage adolescents.



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Request Reprint E-Mail: marsiglia@asu.edu.

Alcohol New - 52/2011

PsychCentral.com - Alcohol Ups Aggression in Present-Focused Drinkers

Getting drunk increases aggression in people who have one particular personality trait: the inability to consider the future consequences of current behavior, according to new research.

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MarketWatch (USA) - Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) Charts Alcohol Industry's Digital Marketing, Questions Adequacy of Industry's Self-Regulation to Avoid Exposing Youth to "Alcohol Experience"

The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health today released a four-part YouTube movie ( http://www.youtube.com/user/JohnsHopkinsSPH ) charting the alcohol industry's push into digital marketing and raising questions whether the industry's self-regulation is adequately protecting underage youth from exposure to the "alcohol experience" available on social marketing platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

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Reuters (Philippines) - Philippines to review alcohol taxes after WTO ruling

The Philippines will review taxes on foreign alcohol products following a World Trade Organisation decision that the current system was discriminatory and the trade minister said the government will look at how to assist affected local distillers.

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Telegraph.co.uk (UK) - Hidden alcohol problem among elderly

A growing number of older people are exceeding the recommended alcohol limit, many of whom only develop harmful drinking habits when faced with bereavement, tedium and other stresses of retirement.

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aidsmap - Alcohol increases desire for sex without condoms: systematic review

Alcohol consumption has an impact on the intention of individuals to have unprotected sex, according to the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal Addiction.

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Scottish Daily Record (Scotland) - Plan for minimum alcohol prices will be contested in court admits Nicola Sturgeon

LEGISLATION for a minimum unit price for alcohol is "almost certain" to meet a legal challenge, the Health Secretary has said.

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Scotsman (Scotland) - One in seven children ‘drinking regularly’

THE scale of Scotland’s under-age alcohol problem was laid bare yesterday when a new survey showed that more than one third of 15 year-olds and one in seven 13 years olds admitted that they had taken a drink in the previous week.

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Vibe Ghana (Ghana) - Chief alarmed at rate of alcohol consumption in Builsa

The Nasuing Naab, Alex Azantilow, Regent of the Builsa Traditional Area, on Wednesday said alcohol consumption among the people is assuming an alarming proportion and affecting the manpower of the area.

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The Stir - Alcohol Hits Women Way Harder Than Men

You know how your husband can drink a few beers and not even blink, whereas you're wearing the proverbial lampshade after only a glass and a half of wine? A new study has underscored what we all know to be true: Alcohol affects women much more dramatically than it does men.

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The New Age Online (South Africa) - Presidential adviser’s blood ‘free of alcohol’

“The police are in sh*t. Blood sample results are back, alcohol in my blood: zero. I told them, banyile ngekhe ndibayeke.” So tweeted President Jacob Zuma’s adviser, Zizi Kodwa, on Tuesday.

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Daily Mail (UK) - A taste for champers! Cuts-hit BBC ran up a £366,000 bill on alcohol in five years

BBC executives were last night accused of ‘living it up on the licence fee’ after it emerged that the Corporation has spent £366,000 on alcohol in the past five years.

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Irish Times (Ireland) - No cheery side to excessive drinking at Christmas time

HOW OFTEN have you heard it said that drinking is part of our culture, part of our social norm, part of our economy? There’s reality and truth in this. You’re not a bad person if you like a drink, or for that matter if you don’t, and the Irish pub is a venue to be preserved as part of our natural heritage.

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Medscape - Help for Drinking Unpopular During Minor Injury Treatment

Patients presenting at minor injuries units (MIUs) in the United Kingdom may often fit the profile of "hazardous"" drinkers, making such settings ideal for interventions and advice to support problem drinking, according to a pilot study published online December 21 in Emergency Medicine Journal.

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IIPS Scotland: Calling time on hazardous drinking: minimum pricing and behaviour change

The IIPS held a breakfast briefing to consider how we can influence and change one of the most significant public health issues in Scotland today. Through new research, we used the example of Scotland’s problematic drinking culture to bring to life behaviour change theory, and examine the possible effects of minimum pricing.

At this event, we were joined by Dr Bruce Ritson who responded to our presentation, in which we:

1. Considered the culture of drinking in Scotland, reflecting on the current strategy for behaviour change,
2. Presented the findings of new research into attitudes towards minimum pricing and examine the reported effect this may have on drinking behaviour,
3. Reviewed research into attitudes towards alcohol, setting this in the wider context, highlighting areas in which we can further influence a change in behaviour.

> > > > Read More