Education and race-ethnicity differences in the lifetime risk of alcohol dependence
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2008;62:224-230

While lower socioeconomic status (SES) is related to higher risk for alcohol dependence, minority race-ethnicity is often associated with lower risk.

This study attempts to clarify the nature and extent of social inequalities in alcohol dependence by investigating the effects of SES and race-ethnicity on the development of alcohol dependence following first alcohol use.

Compared with non-Hispanic white people, age-adjusted and sex-adjusted risks of alcohol dependence were lower among black people (odds ratio (OR) = 0.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.63 to 0.78), Asians (OR = 0.65, CI = 0.49 to 0.86) and Hispanics (OR = 0.68, CI = 0.58 to 0.79) and higher among American Indians (OR = 1.37, CI = 1.09 to 1.73).

Individuals without a college degree had higher risks of alcohol dependence than individuals with a college degree or more; however, the magnitude of risk varied significantly by race-ethnicity (² for the interaction between education and race-ethnicity = 19.7, df = 10, p = 0.03); odds ratios for less than a college degree were 1.12, 1.46, 2.24, 2.35 and 10.99 among Hispanics, white people, black people, Asians, and American Indians, respectively. There was no association between education and alcohol dependence among Hispanics.

Race-ethnicity differences in the magnitude of the association between education and alcohol dependence suggest that aspects of racial-ethnic group membership mitigate or exacerbate the effects of social adversity.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: sgilman@hsph.harvard.edu

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Dietary Patterns, Supplement Use, and the Risk of Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Results from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial
American Journal of Epidemiology Advance Access published online on February 7, 2008


This study examined dietary risk factors for incident benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in 4,770 Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (1994–2003) placebo-arm participants who were free of BPH at baseline.

BPH was assessed over 7 years and was defined as medical or surgical treatment or repeated elevation (>14) on the International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire. Diet, alcohol, and supplement use were assessed by use of a food frequency questionnaire.

There were 876 incident BPH cases (33.6/1,000 person-years). The hazard ratios for the contrasts of the highest to lowest quintiles increased 31% for total fat and 27% for polyunsaturated fat and decreased 15% for protein (all p_trend <> of alcoholic beverages (0 vs. 2/day: hazard ratio (HR) = 0.67) and vegetables (<1 alt="≥" src="/math/ge.gif" border="0">4/day: HR = 0.68) and higher in daily (vs. <1/week) hr =" 1.38)."> no associations of supplemental antioxidants with risk, and there was weak evidence for associations of lycopene, zinc, and supplemental vitamin D with reduced risk.

A diet low in fat and red meat and high in protein and vegetables, as well as regular alcohol consumption, may reduce the risk of symptomatic BPH.


<sup>Read Full Abstract


Request Reprint E-Mail:</sup> akristal@fhcrc.org ).
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Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: Foetal Programming, the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and Sex Differences in Outcome
Journal of Neuroendocrinology (OnlineAccepted Articles) 8 Feb 2008

Prenatal exposure to alcohol has adverse effects on offspring neuroendocrine and behavioural functions. Alcohol readily crosses the placenta, thus directly affecting developing foetal endocrine organs. In addition, alcohol-induced changes in maternal endocrine function can disrupt the normal hormonal interactions between the pregnant female and foetal systems, altering the normal hormone balance, and indirectly, affecting the development of foetal metabolic, physiological and endocrine functions.

The present review focuses on the adverse effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on offspring neuroendocrine function, with particular emphasis on the HPA axis, a key player in the stress response. The HPA axis is highly susceptible to programming during foetal and neonatal development.

Here, we review data from our laboratory and others demonstrating that alcohol exposure in utero programmes the foetal HPA axis such that HPA tone is increased throughout life. Importantly, we show that while alterations in HPA responsiveness and regulation are robust phenomena, occurring in both male and female offspring, sexually dimorphic effects of alcohol are frequently observed.

We present updated findings on possible mechanisms underlying differential effects of alcohol on male and female offspring, with special emphasis on effects at different levels of the HPA axis, and on modulatory influences of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) hormones and serotonin.

Finally, possible mechanisms underlying foetal programming of the HPA axis, and the long-term implications of increased exposure to endogenous glucocorticoids for offspring vulnerability to illnesses or disorders later in life are discussed.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: jweinberg@exchange.ubc.ca
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Testing association in the presence of linkage using the GRE and multiple markers

Genetic Epidemiology, Early View 12 Feb 2008


It has recently been shown that testing for association in the presence of linkage using a score test based on a gamma random effects (GRE) model is substantially more powerful than using the Family-Based Association Test.

A reason for the increased power lies in better specification of the within family correlation structure, induced by linkage. The GRE, as presented in (Jonasdottir et al. [2007] Genet Epidemiol. 31:528-540), only considers one marker at a time and does not readily handle missing parental information.

Here we extend the GRE to incorporate information from more than one marker. This extension leads to a haplotype GRE test and also to efficient handling of missing data on parental genotypes.

We show that the haplotype GRE, the H-GRE, is substantially more powerful than the haplotype FBAT, the Haplotype-Based-Association Test.

We demonstrate the usefulness of the extended GRE, by reanalyzing the collaborative study on the genetics of alcoholism data, allowing for missing parental information


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Request Reprint E-Mail: gudrun.jonasdottir@ki.se
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Acculturation and Alcohol Treatment in Ethnic Minority Populations Assessment Issues and Implications
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly Volume: 25 Issue: 4, pp. 47 - 61

The roles of culture and ethnicity are crucial for understanding the relevance of personal and social factors involved in the drinking patterns of individuals. Research has shown that acculturative stress is associated with poorer health outcomes and may be linked to problematic drinking.

This article briefly outlines issues including the construct of acculturation, measuring acculturation, and understanding the implications that it has with alcohol use in ethnic minorities.

A study is presented that illustrates the association between acculturation and drinking patterns in older White and Hispanic veterans. Greater levels of past drinking were associated with more acculturation into the mainstream U.S. society for the Hispanic veterans. For the White veterans, greater levels of past drinking were associated with greater perceived discrimination and less comfort in mainstream U.S. society.

Based on the literature, implications for clinical treatment are presented. Clinicians are called upon to understand the worldview of their clients and engage in culturally sensitive alcohol treatments.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: sverney@unm.edu

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Telecounseling in Rural Areas for Alcohol Problems
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly Volume: 25 Issue: 4, pp. 31 - 45


The prevalence of alcohol problems is roughly equal in urban and rural communities. In rural areas, however, treatment options for people with problem drinking tend to be limited at best.

One way to reach rural populations is to deliver alcohol counseling services via telephone or interactive televideo links, called telecounseling in this paper. Telecounseling can overcome not only the geographic barriers to treatment, but also concerns with confidentiality and stigma, which may be particularly salient in small rural communities.

This approach to service delivery may be particularly important in areas with large rural and frontier regions.

This paper reports on current use of common long-distance methodologies, their strengths and limitations.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: baca5@umn.edu
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Helping Clients Feel Welcome Principles of Adapting Treatment Cross-Culturally
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly: Volume: 25 Issue: 4, pp. 11 - 30



Empirically supported interventions (ESIs) for treating substance problems have seldom been made available to or tested with minority populations. Dissemination of ESIs may help reduce the disproportionate health disparities that exist. However, ESIs may require some adaptation to be effective with minority populations. One ESI, motivational interviewing (MI), appears to be particularly culturally congruent for Native American communities.

We worked with Native American community members and treatment providers to adapt MI for Native communities. Reflecting their feedback and suggested amendments, we created and disseminated an intervention manual to improve the accessibility of MI within Native communities.

To help guide practitioners working with Native American clients, we used focus-group methodology to explore communication patterns for negotiating change. Native American treatment providers expressed comfort with and enthusiasm for integrating MI into their current practices. Recommendations for adaptations ranged from simple to complex changes.

The unique value and challenges of collaboration between academic and community members are presented from each author's perspective.

This culturally adapted MI manual will likely improve the accessibility and adoption ofMI practices as well as encourage controlled, clinical trials with Native communities.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: kamilla@unm.edu
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Telescoped trajectories from alcohol initiation to disorder in children of alcoholic parents.
Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 2008 Feb Vol 117(1) 63-78



The current study tested whether and why children of alcoholics (COAs) showed telescoped (adolescent) drinking initiation-to-disorder trajectories as compared with non-COAs.

Using longitudinal data from a community-based sample, the authors confirmed through survival analyses that COAs progressed more quickly from initial adolescent alcohol use to the onset of disorder than do matched controls.

Similar risks for telescoping were evident in COAs whose parents were actively symptomatic versus those whose parents had been previously diagnosed. Stronger telescoping effects were observed for COAs whose parents showed comorbidity for either depression or antisocial personality disorder.

Both greater externalizing symptoms and more frequent, heavier drinking patterns at initiation failed to explain COAs' risk for telescoping, although externalizing symptoms were a unique predictor of telescoping. This risk for telescoping was also evident for drug disorders.

These findings characterize a risky course of drinking in COAs and raise important questions concerning the underlying mechanisms and consequences of telescoping in COAs

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Request E-Mail: ahussong@email.unc.edu ______________________________________________________________

Press Release - Tackling harm caused by alcohol is at the heart of new strategy

Tackling the harm caused by alcohol is at the heart of a new 10 year substance misuse strategy issued for consultation today (Monday 11 February) by Minister for Social Justice and Local Government, Dr Brian Gibbons.
. . . . . .

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Consultation - Working Together to Reduce Harm - The Substance Misuse Strategy for Wales 2008-2018

Date consultation commenced: 11/02/2008

End of consultation: 13/05/2008

This consultation sets out and invites views on our new substance misuse strategy, entitled “Working Together to Reduce Harm”. It is a 10 year strategy which aims to set out a clear national agenda for tackling and reducing the harms associated with substance misuse in Wales.

Read Full Notice of Consultation
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Residents tackle alcohol issues

12 February 2008

People in Brechin are taking steps to tackle the alcohol problems affecting their area.

A year-long initiative is being set up, which will see community members identify specific issues and then draw up action plans to deal with them.

The Brechin Healthy, Happy Community Project will see professionals work with locals to raise awareness of the dangers of alcohol misuse.

It also aims to bring about a cultural change in attitudes to drinking.
. . . . . .

Read Full Report
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Money tight for alcohol treatment


Jill Stark
February 13, 2008

TEN times more money was spent fighting illicit drug use than preventing alcohol abuse under the Howard government.

Alcohol kills three times more Australians than all illicit drugs, but new figures reveal that only $1.2 million was dedicated to harmful drinking in 2005-06 — compared to almost $11 million for other drugs.
. . . . . .

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Dose-related effects of red wine and alcohol on hemodynamics, sympathetic nerve activity, and arterial diameter
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 294: H605-H612, 2008

The cardiovascular benefits of light to moderate red wine consumption often have been attributed to its polyphenol constituents. However, the acute dose-related hemodynamic, vasodilator, and sympathetic neural effects of ethanol and red wine have not been characterized and compared in the same individual.

We sought to test the hypotheses that responses to one and two alcoholic drinks differ and that red wine with high polyphenol content elicits a greater effect than ethanol alone.

One drink of wine and ethanol increased blood alcohol to 38 ± 2 and 39 ± 2 mg/dl, respectively, and two drinks to 72 ± 4 and 83 ± 3 mg/dl, respectively. Wine quadrupled plasma resveratrol (P <>P <> affected blood pressure.

One drink had no heart rate effect, but two drinks of wine increased heart rate by 5.7 ± 1.6 beats/min; P <> 0.3 l/min after one drink of ethanol and wine (both P <> but increased after two drinks of ethanol (+0.8 ± 0.3 l/min) and wine (+1.2 ± 0.3 l/min) (P < 0.01).

One alcoholic drink did not alter muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), while two drinks increased MSNA by 9–10 bursts/min (P < 0.001).

Brachial artery diameter increased after both one and two alcoholic drinks (P <> and the second wine dose attenuated (P = 0.02), flow-mediated vasodilation.

One drink of ethanol dilates the brachial artery without activating sympathetic outflow, whereas two drinks increase MSNA, heart rate, and cardiac output.

These acute effects, which exhibit a narrow dose response, are not modified by red wine polyphenols.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: jonas.spaak@ds.se ___________________________________________________________

Drugs for relapse prevention of alcoholism: ten years of progress
Trends in Pharmacological Sciences Article in Press, Corrected Proof 11 Feb 2008



Multiple neurochemical pathways are involved in mediating craving and relapse to alcohol.

Opioidergic and glutamatergic systems have a key role in alcoholism, as demonstrated by the clinically effective compounds naltrexone and acamprosate acting through these systems.

The dopaminergic system has long featured in alcoholism research; hitherto disappointing results from clinical studies could improve following the discovery that dopamine D3 receptor antagonism produces consistent and robust results in preclinical studies.

Corticotropin-releasing factor signalling and the endocannabinoid system integrate stress-related events and thereby mediate relapse behaviour.

Overall, these new targets have yielded several compounds that are undergoing clinical testing.

However, the heterogeneity in treatment response makes it necessary to characterize genetic and protein markers and endophenotypes for individualized pharmacotherapy.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: rainer.spanagel@zi-mannheim.de
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Repeated Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or Cytokine Treatments Sensitize Ethanol Withdrawal-Induced Anxiety-Like Behavior
Neuropsychopharmacology (2008) 33, 867–876


Previous investigations demonstrated that repeated stresses before an ethanol exposure sensitize ethanol withdrawal-induced anxiety-like behavior ('anxiety'). In addition to activating the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, acute stress also elevates cytokines in brain.

Initially, to test possible cytokine involvement in this stress/withdrawal protocol, cytokines were increased in brain with 2 weekly repeated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administrations (1000 /kg) (LPS/withdrawal protocol) or with twice weekly intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administrations of the cytokines IL-1, CCL2 (MCP-1) or TNF (cytokine/withdrawal protocol) before exposure and withdrawal from a 5-day cycle of chronic ethanol diet.

Both protocols sensitized withdrawal-induced anxiety and confirm cytokine involvement in the sensitized anxiety response. Testing of various doses of LPS (16–1000 g/kg) and TNF (3–100 ng, i.c.v.) demonstrated the dose-related nature of these protocols to sensitize withdrawal-induced anxiety.

The sensitized anxiety was not produced by a single 5-day ethanol diet cycle or by repeated LPS or cytokine treatments alone. Likewise, sensitized anxiety in these protocols could not be attributed to differences in ethanol ingestion. When challenged with a subsequent re-exposure to a 5-day ethanol diet cycle 16 days after completion of the LPS/withdrawal or cytokine/withdrawal protocols, an increase in withdrawal-induced anxiety was observed—an indication of induction of an underlying persistent adaptive change.

Finally, just as found previously with the stress/withdrawal protocol, administration of the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist flumazenil before the LPS or TNF treatments prevented anxiety sensitization.

Together, these findings indicate that increased cytokine activity induces adaptive change that supports sensitization of ethanol withdrawal-induced anxiety that may be linked to GABA_A-receptor function.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: george_breese@med.unc.edu
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Increased Leptin Permeation across the Blood–Brain Barrier after Chronic Alcohol Ingestion
Neuropsychopharmacology (2008) 33, 859–866


Leptin, a polypeptide mainly produced in the periphery, crosses the blood–brain barrier (BBB) by receptor-mediated transport to exert multiple central nervous system actions including decreased food intake. The reciprocal interactions between leptin transport and alcohol drinking are not clear.

In this study, we tested whether alcohol increases leptin entry into brain and, if this occurs, whether it is a consequence of a generalized increase in the permeability of the BBB. BBB permeability to albumin, the increased permeation of which indicates BBB disruption, as well as to leptin was measured after alcohol ingestion.

CD1 and B6 mice ingested a 5% liquid alcohol diet or its isocaloric control for 2 weeks. Alcohol ingestion resulted in increased blood-alcohol levels, decreased blood-leptin concentrations, and increased permeation of radioactively labeled leptin across the BBB as shown by in situ perfusion. Although the increased influx of the vascular marker albumin into brain showed partial disruption of the BBB, the influx of ¹²⁵I-leptin still could be suppressed by excess unlabeled leptin, indicating persistence of its saturable transport system.

When given a choice of either alcohol or control diet, even the alcohol-preferring B6 mice showed a significantly greater preference for the control liquid diet, and there was no evidence of BBB disruption or alterated leptin transport. Furthermore, acute alcohol intoxication induced by intraperitoneal injection of 20% alcohol did not result in BBB disruption or increased leptin permeation 4 h later. Thus, partial disruption of the BBB and increased permeation of leptin in both CD1 and B6 mice were only induced by chronic alcohol ingestion.

The results showing increased leptin permeation across the BBB lead to the speculation that leptin may serve as a homeostatic feeding signal in these mice.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: weihong.pan@pbrc.edu
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Alcohol Badly Affects Eye Movements Linked to Steering, Providing for Automatic in-Car Detection of Drink Driving
Neuropsychopharmacology (2008) 33, 849–858


Driving is a classic example of visually guided behavior in which the eyes move before some other action. When approaching a bend in the road, a driver looks across to the inside of the curve before turning the steering wheel. Eye and steering movements are tightly linked, with the eyes leading, which allows the parts of the brain that move the eyes to assist the parts of the brain that control the hands on the wheel.

We show here that this optimal relationship deteriorates with levels of breath alcohol well within the current UK legal limit for driving.

The eyes move later, and coordination reduces. These changes lead to bad performance and can be detected by an automated in-car system, which warns the driver is no longer fit to drive.


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Request Reprint E-Mail: D.E.Marple-Horvat@mmu.ac.uk
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Markers in the 5'-Region of GABRG1 Associate to Alcohol Dependence and are in Linkage Disequilibrium with Markers in the Adjacent GABRA2 Gene
Neuropsychopharmacology (2008) 33, 837–84


Following an initial report, there have been multiple replications of an association of alcohol dependence (AD) to markers within a haplotype block that includes the 3'-half of the gene encoding the GABA_A -2 subunit (GABRA2), on chromosome 4p.

We examined the intergenic extent of this haplotype block and the association to AD of markers in the adjacent 5' haplotype block in GABRG1, which encodes the GABA_A receptor -1 subunit.

We genotyped 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms in the GABRG1-GABRA2 interval as well as at 34 ancestry informative markers in three samples: 435 AD and 635 screened control subjects from Connecticut and 812 participants from a multicenter AD treatment trial.

We observed two large haplotype blocks in the GABRG1-GABRA2 intergenic interval with a region of increased recombination midway between the two genes. Markers in the two haplotype blocks were in moderate linkage disequilibrium.

Compared with markers in the GABRA2 haplotype block, markers in the 5' GABRG1 haplotype showed greater allelic, genotypic and haplotypic association with AD in European Americans from both AD samples.

Logistic regression analysis indicated that genetic elements in the GABRG1 haplotype block likely contribute to AD risk in an additive manner, whereas those in the GABRA2 haplotype block may act in a dominant manner in relation to risk of AD.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: jocovault@uchc.edu
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SNP threatens to tax supermarkets in war on booze culture

• Published Date: 12 February 2008
• Source: The Scotsman

By MICHAEL HOWIE AND ALASTAIR JAMIESON

THE Scottish Government is preparing to take on supermarkets and off-licences in the battle against alcohol abuse, forcing them to pay a levy under new plans to make retailers meet the social cost of the country's "bevvy culture".
. . . . . .

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Neurobehavioral Functioning in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Child Neuropsychology, Volume 12, Issue 6 December 2006 , pages 453 - 468

Neurobehavioral functioning of 50 Canadian children diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) was evaluated.

The aims of this study were to identify specific areas of weakness in neurobehavioral functioning, to examine whether neurobehavioral functioning was related to various predictor variables, and to determine which measures differentiated between children given a brain score of 2 (possible dysfunction) and 3 (probable dysfunction).

Participants displayed difficulties with many aspects of intelligence, memory, executive functioning, and attention. Measures of Full scale and Verbal IQ, as well as memory for faces and numbers differentiated between children with a brain 2 and 3 ranking.

An interesting pattern of strengths and weaknesses emerged as well as significant differences related to ethnic background, gender, and age.

Aboriginal children and Caucasian children with FASD do not appear to show the same pattern of strengths and weaknesses in neurobehavioral functioning.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: carmen@ualberta.ca
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Call for Proposals: Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap
February 11, 2008

The Open Society Institute invites proposals for its Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap initiative. The $10-million initiative is designed to increase the availability of resources for the delivery of high-quality treatment for drug and alcohol addiction for all who need it.

Grant applicants must identify a common governmental jurisdiction within which they will affect change. Partnerships at the state, county, or city level are welcome to apply. A minimum of six grants will be awarded in this call for proposals. Completed proposals are due to OSI no later than April 11, 2008.
. . . . . .

Read Full Annoucment

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Individual and Program Predictors of Attrition from VA Substance Use Treatment
The Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, Online First 11 Jan 2008

The study investigated patient- and program-level variables associated with attrition from intensive outpatient (IOP) substance use treatment in a national VA sample.

National databases were used to identify a recent cohort of veterans receiving intensive IOP substance use treatment. Attrition was defined as receiving less than five visits of IOP treatment. Patient-level variables examined included age, gender, race, and psychiatric and medical comorbidities. Program-level variables examined included the number of hours of treatment offered, the percentage of patients living on-campus, and extent of staff cuts in the past year.

Twenty-seven percent of veterans left treatment early. Being older, female, and having a psychotic disorder was associated with attrition. Program-level factors associated with attrition were the number of hours the program offered treatment, in that more treatment offered was associated with higher attrition.

Focus on individual and program level factors associated with attrition is crucial to retaining individuals in treatment.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: currangeoffreym@uams.edu
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Polymorphism in ADH and MTHFR genes in oral squamous cell carcinoma of Indians
Oral Diseases (OnlineEarly Articles) 10 Feb 2008

Alcohol consumption is known to increase the risk for several cellular disorders like oral cancer. The risk may be reinforced by polymorphism in genes like alcohol dehydrogenase.

Therefore, this study is designed to asses the polymorphic status in ADH1B (formerly ADH2), ADH1C (formerly ADH3) and MTHFR genes in order to correlate the susceptibility to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

ADH1B*1/*1 genotype in cancer patients who were heavy drinkers showed a negligible risk association with an odds ratio of 1.62; 95% CI = 1.08–2.14. In OSCC patients, ADH1C*2/*2 genotypes showed a relatively higher risk (odds ratio 2.65; 95% CI = 1.78–3.53) in heavy drinkers and a less significant risk (1.6; 95% CI = 1.15–2.03) in moderate drinkers and negligible risk in light drinkers (1.23; 95% CI = 0.77–1.63).

In contrast, MTHFR 677TT genotype showed a high risk association for OSCC in heavy drinkers (odds ratio 3.0; 95% CI = 2.02–4.0). Interestingly, the combination of ADH1B*1/*1/ MTHFR 677TT genotypes in alcoholic cancer patients showed a high risk (odds ratio 4.16; 95% CI = 2.78–5.53). A similar risk (odds ratio 4.16; 95% CI = 1.18–5.53) was shown by ADH1B*1/*2/*2/*2MTHFR 677TT genotype combination.

The ADH1C*2/*2 /MTHFR 677TT genotype combination showed the maximum risk (odds ratio 20; 95% CI = 13.45–26.64) in the heavy drinker group. This combination showed a high risk in moderate drinkers (odds ratio 5.88; 95% CI = 4.24–7.50) and relatively lower risk in light drinkers (odds ratio 2.77; 95% CI = 1.74–3.68).

The ADH1C*2/*2/MTHFR 677TT genotype combination appears to be more susceptible for OSCC, since it showed a 20-fold increase in risk in heavy drinkers and a 5.9- and 2.8-fold increase in risk respectively in moderate drinkers and light drinkers.

This study suggests the association of ADH1C*2/*2/MTHFR 677TT genotype combination as a risk factor for OSCC in alcoholics.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: shan1938@yahoo.com

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Brief Report: Lie-telling in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2008 33(2):220-225



The lie-telling abilities of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) (aged 4–8 years) were tested using a temptation resistance paradigm.

Approximately 78% of the children peeked at the toy. However, 94% of the FASD children lied about peeking, a rate that is much higher than the non-FASD control group (72%). As age increased, FASD children were better at concealing their lies and maintaining semantic leakage control than non-FASD children.

This is the first study to specifically test lying in children with FASD and has implications for remediation and understanding secondary disabilities in these children, which will lead to further research in this area.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: carmen@ualberta.ca
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Alcohol Drinking and Gastric Cancer Risk: An Evaluation Based on a Systematic Review of Epidemiologic Evidence among the Japanese Population
Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2008 38(1):8-25;



We reviewed epidemiologic studies on the association between alcohol drinking and gastric cancer among the Japanese population. This report is one of a series of articles by our research group, which is evaluating the existing evidence concerning the association between health-related lifestyles and cancer.

Of the 11 cohort studies evaluated, nine showed no association between alcohol drinking and gastric cancer, and one study showed a strong positive association among men. All of 11 case–control studies found no association between alcohol drinking and gastric cancer. By anatomical subsites of gastric cancer, only three studies have evaluated the association between alcohol drinking and gastric cancer, and one cohort study found a positive association for cardia and upper-third gastric cancer in men. Few studies conducted among the Japanese population have made a detailed assessment of alcohol drinking, possible important confounding factors such as smoking and diet and anatomical subsites of gastric cancer.

We conclude that epidemiologic evidence for an association between alcohol drinking and gastric cancer risk remains insufficient due to the methodological quality of studies that have been conducted among the Japanese population.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: tshimazu@gan2.res.ncc.go.jp
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Association of the gastric alcohol dehydrogenase gene ADH7 with variation in alcohol metabolism
Human Molecular Genetics 2008 17(2):179-189



Seven alcohol-metabolizing enzymes are encoded by the human alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) gene cluster on chromosome 4q22–23. One of these genes, ADH7, is uniquely expressed in the stomach mucosa and can influence metabolism of alcohol before its absorption into the blood. However, the contribution of ADH7 to the overall genetic variation in alcohol oxidation in vivo is unknown.

Data on in vivo alcohol metabolism were obtained for 206 Australian twin pairs of Caucasian ancestry, following ingestion of a standard dose (0.75 g kg^–1 body weight) of alcohol. Twenty-five single nucleotide polymorphisms that cover the ADH7 encoding region were genotyped. The patterns of linkage disequilibrium among these SNPs identified a recombinational hotspot within intron 7 of the ADH7 gene.

A model for the absorption and elimination of alcohol from the body led to the identification of haplotypes associated with inter-individual variation in the early stages of alcohol metabolism. These are within a 35 kb DNA tract contained in the region 5’ of intron 7 in the ADH7 gene. The region accounts for 18% of the linkage for alcohol concentration associated with the ADH region, or 11% of the genetic variance.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: nick.martin@qimr.edu.au
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Anonymous Alcoholics Will Gather in Vladivostok


This public association is a part of the World community of anonymous alcoholics, which was founded in 1935 in the USA

VLADIVOSTOK, February 10, vladivostoktimes.com

The self-help society of anonymous alcoholics of Vladivostok "Welcome" celebrates its 15th anniversary, the newspaper "Vladivostok" writes.

The celebration of the anniversary and introducing the society will be held on Saturday at noon in the Primorye State Arsenyev museum.

This public association is a part of the World community of anonymous alcoholics, which was founded in 1935 in the USA. Welcome members are trained on the program "12 steps."
. . . . . .

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Perceived parenting styles and tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use among french adolescents: Gender and family structure differentials
Alcohol and Alcoholism 2008 43(1):73-80



To assess associations between parental control or parental emotional support and current tobacco, alcohol or cannabis use among 12–18-year-old students, according to gender and family structure (intact family, reconstituted family, single-parent family).

A negative relationship exists between parental control and substance use, but this relationship is more marked for tobacco (OR a between 1.8 and 5.6 according to level of control, family status and gender) and cannabis (OR between 1.5 and 6.4) than for alcohol (OR a between 1.0 and 2.7). Parental control is more markedly related to substance use in girls than in boys. These tendencies were observed for intact families as well as for single-parent families or reconstituted families. Parental control has a greater impact than emotional support. Among girls, emotional support has a greater impact than among boys.

There is a gradient relationship between parental control and current consumption, especially among girls. Thus, there may be a need for parental control, whatever the family structure.

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Reprint Request E-Mail: Choquet@cochin.inserm.fr
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Brainy people have a higher chance of developing an alcohol problem, say scientists

By DANIEL MARTIN
10th February 2008

Intelligent people are more likely to develop alcohol-related health problems than their less brainy counterparts, a study has found.

Middle-class women are particularly likely to drink heavily in their 30s - putting them at risk of liver disease and certain types of cancer.

Scientists from the Medical Research Council say intelligent people are more likely to have stressful jobs - driving them to drink.

And women working in male-dominated professions are particularly susceptible to falling victim to alcohol problems.

The findings confirm warnings by public health minister Dawn Primarolo that the most serious drinking problems were among the middle classes.

The study, led by David Batty of the MRC's social and public health services unit at Glasgow University, concluded: "An explanation might be that success in the workplace requires, in some circumstances, a willingness to drink frequently and to excess in social situations."
. . . . . .

Read Full Article

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News Release - Research shows parents still influence their college kids
February 6, 2008

New research from Brigham Young University shows that parents influence their child’s likelihood of involvement with drugs, alcohol and risky sexual activity even after their child leaves for college.

In an upcoming issue of the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, family scientist Laura Walker’s study found that parents’ knowledge or awareness of what’s going on in their child’s life at college is associated with fewer risky behaviors.
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Similar research by Walker and her colleagues finds that delaying the transition to adulthood involves experimentation of a positive nature, indicating this life stage is not simply a period of risk-taking and delinquency.

In an upcoming issue of the Journal of Adolescence, Walker compared the altruism and positive values of two types of emerging adults: those who were already committed to an identity and those still in the process of exploring their identity.

Read Full News Release
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The Role of Perceived Parental Knowledge on Emerging Adults’ Risk Behaviors
Journal of Youth and Adolescence, Online First February 02, 2008


The purpose of this study was to gain a clearer understanding of the relation between parents’ knowledge of their emerging-adult children and emerging adults’ risk behaviors.

Results revealed that knowledge of the emerging-adult child’s activities varied as a function of parent- and child-reports, and that child outcomes associated with parental knowledge were generally positive, including less drinking, drug use, and risky sexual behavior (although this varied as a function of reporter).

The links between maternal knowledge and lower drug and alcohol use were particularly strong in the presence of maternal closeness.

Implications for understanding the parent–child relationship during the transition to adulthood were discussed.

Read Full Abstract


Request Reprint E-Mail: laura_walker@byu.edu
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Looking on the bright side: The role of identity status and gender on positive orientations during emerging adulthood
Journal of Adolescence , Article in Press, Corrected Proof 25 Oct 2007



Emerging adulthood has been characterized as an age of possibilities that involves heightened identity exploration and risk-taking. Although some scholars have investigated the relation between identity status and risk behaviors in emerging adulthood, less attention has been paid to the relation between identity status and prosocial orientations.

Thus, the current study examined how emerging adults’ engagement in positive behaviors (i.e., prosocial tendencies, internalization of values, religiosity) varied as a function of identity status and gender.

Results indicated that emerging adults who were in identity diffusion reported fewer prosocial tendencies, lower scores on internalization of values and lower religiosity, but emerging adults who were experiencing moratorium reported prosocial tendencies and levels of religiosity as frequently as emerging adults who had reached identity achievement. Also, young women reported higher levels of emotional and altruistic prosocial tendencies, higher levels of internalization of values, and higher levels of religiosity than did young men.

The discussion focuses on emerging adulthood as a period of possibilities and exploration for not only risk behaviors, but prosocial behaviors as well.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: laura_walker@byu.edu ________________________________________________________________

U.S. surveys: Girls out-drinking boys

Published: Feb. 9, 2008

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A recent series of surveys in the United States found teenage girls are now drinking alcohol as much as or more than their male counterparts.
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Read Full Article
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Ministers accused of double standards over drink
By Eddie Barnes
Political Editor
10 Feb 2008

SNP ministers have been accused of hypocrisy after it emerged they are seeking an economy-boosting tax cut on whisky while planning a crackdown on cheap alcohol to improve Scotland's health.

Finance Secretary John Swinney wrote to Alistair Darling last week urging the Chancellor to reduce excise duty on whisky in the UK. Tax on Scotland's national drink is far higher than other alcoholic drinks.

But his call comes amid a campaign by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill to end the era of cheap drink. MacAskill is considering moves to stop retailers' special offers and a new levy on off licences and bars.
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Read Full Article
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Young people and alcohol: the policy response

As previously reported, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith spoke at a briefing on 6th February to set out the Home Office response to young people's drinking.

The Home Office press release said:

The Home Secretary has announced tough police powers to prevent underage drinking, and called for more involvement by parents and the alcohol industry to deal with the problem of teenage alcohol abuse. Speaking to an audience of police, local authority licencing officers and representatives from the alcohol and retail industries, she described a package of new measures designed to address alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour among young people.

Among the actions to be taken are:

• a crackdown by police on underage drinkers consuming alcohol in public places
• extra powers for police to confiscate alcohol
• wider use of parenting contracts to get parents involved in helping their children deal with drinking addictions
• a new public information campaign directed at binge drinkers
• an independent review of how well industry standards are being met when it comes to responsible sales of alcohol

But the press release oversells things a little. There will be a new TUSAC (tackling underage sales of alcohol campaign) for this half-term, and around 10 new arrest referral schemes later this year. But the widely trailed 'new powers' were not announced; they may be brought in later if the situation does not improve. The wider use of parenting orders is a new emphasis, which may cause alarm in overstretched Youth Offending Teams. Similarly, increasing the use of alcohol arrest referral relies on available capacity in alcohol treatment services that have long suffered from under-investment.

The Home Secretary's speech can be downloaded here.

See Drug Education News for a round-up of reactions to all this, and a difference of opinions in the comments to my previous post.

Jacqui Smith took questions after delivering her speech, in a session chaired by Alcohol Concern's Srabani Sen - click on the audio player below to listen.

• 00.00 should alcohol education be a compulsory part of the school curriculum
• 00.40 how is the government going to link up treatment for harmful and dependent drinkers
• 04.04 what will the government do to enforce the law on young people who attempt to buy alcohol
• 05.56 more confiscation is to be welcomed; as is work with industry on alcohol promotions
• 08.30 what can be done to prevent irresponsible media portrayals of drinking
• 10.34 what will the government do to change the culture of drinking

Right click to download mp3

Posted by Libby Ranzetta on Sunday, February 10, 2008

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Revealed: the shocking drink and drugs truth
By Jerome Reilly
Sunday February 10 2008

ONE in five Irish drinkers want to cut back on their consumption of alcohol and nearly 10 per cent are so worried they want to banish drink from their lives for good, a Millward Brown IMS National Opinion Poll has found.

The landmark poll designed to chart how we feel about our lives in 2008, found that personal concern about alcohol consumption is even higher among 18 to 24-year-olds.
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But our personal concern about how much we drink is the most stark finding of the national poll. In all, 29 per cent admit they drink alcohol two or three times a week and 7 per cent say they drink more than four times each week.

But the level of regular drinking among 18 to 24-year-olds is deeply worrying, with one in 10 young adults drinking alcohol more than four times a week and 37 per cent drinking two or three times every seven days.

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Read Full Article

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Under-18s may face new drink ban


The home secretary is considering giving police in England and Wales the power to confiscate alcohol from any under-18 who carries it in public.

Officers can currently take alcohol from youngsters in public only if they have "reasonable suspicion" they have been drinking or are going to drink it.
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Read Full Article

Download Home Secretary's speech on underage drinking (06/02/2008) (PDF)
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