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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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Alcohol News - 35/2012


15min.lt (Lithuania) - Lobbying in Lithuania - conservative MP suspected of taking bribe for revoking alcohol ad ban
55 thousand litas (16 thousand euros) in exchange for three bills. Such a deal was allegedly struck by conservative MP Vitas Matuzas. If suspicions are proven correct, it will be a major embarrassment not only for the Conservative Party, but for the entire Parliament that passed the bought bills.
riga.com (Latvia) - Illegal alcohol market proportion in Latvia is nearly 40%
During the first half-year of 2012, excise tax on alcoholic beverage (except beer) was collected in the amount of 39.55 million LVL, which is 2.16 million LVL or 6% more than was collected in the same period of 2011.
Econpapers (Sweden/Finland) - Cross-Border Health and Productivity Effects of Alcohol Policies
This paper studies the cross-border health and productivity effects of alcohol taxes. We estimate the effect of a large cut in the Finnish alcohol tax on mortality, alcohol related illnesses and work absenteeism in Sweden.
Grapevine.is (Iceland) - Alcohol Permitted In Nursing Homes
City council has just passed a measure that would allow the sale of beer and wine in nursing homes.
CBS News (USA) - Survey: "Digital peer pressure" fueling drug, alcohol use in high school students
Back-to-school season is just around the corner, and researchers at Columbia University are warning that teens could face added drug and alcohol risks once classes start up.
World Socialist Web Site (South Africa) - Rising incidence of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in South Africa
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) describes a range of permanent birth defects caused by the maternal intake of alcohol. The term Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is applied to children at the severe end of the spectrum. South Africa’s Western Cape and Northern Cape Provinces have the highest FAS prevalence in the world.
Stuff.co.nz (New Zealand) - 6% alcohol limit for RTDs dumped
The liquor industry has scored a win over the planned regulation of RTDs in the Government's alcohol reform package.
The Australian (Australia) - Alcohol use putting workers at safety risk
Many Australian construction workers are putting their safety at risk by drinking heavily and using drugs, a national survey shows.
Laboratory Equipment - Research Explains How Alcohol is a Carcinogenic
Almost 30 years after discovery of a link between alcohol consumption and certain forms of cancer, scientists are reporting the first evidence from research on people explaining how the popular beverage may be carcinogenic. The results, which have special implications for hundreds of millions of people of Asian descent, were reported at the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.
Firstpost - Just one alcoholic drink a day may up risk of cancer: Study
Binge drinkers are not the only ones who need to worry about the health implications of alcohol, even light drinking increases the cancer risk significantly, a new study has claimed.
Counsel & Heal - Imaging Study Sheds New Light on Alcohol-related Birth Defects
Researchers said maternal alcohol use is the leading known and preventable cause of birth defects and mental disability in the United States and alcohol's effects can cause a range of cognitive, developmental and behavioral problems that typically become evident during childhood, and last a lifetime.
Bangkok Post (Thailand) - Alcohol, tobacco taxes up
The cabinet on Tuesday approved the Finance Ministry's proposal to raise the excise tax on liquor and tobacco, meaning an immediate increase in the retail price of liquor and cigarettes, but not beer or wine.
Daily Mail (UK) - Parents who buy alcohol are 'creating underage drinking problems' for teenage girls
Parents are contributing to teenagers' drinking problems by buying them bottles of cheap booze, a probation watchdog has warned. Liz Calderbank, HM Chief Inspector of Probation, says parents underestimate the risks of buying 'boxes of lager' for their teenage children.
Wall Street Journal (USA) - Liquor Ads Win Airtime
The broadcasters are easing decades-old voluntary bans that limited their national alcohol advertising to beer and wine, which have less alcohol by volume than spirits.
New Zealand Doctor Online (New Zealand) - Regulate alcohol first, then ciggies: experts
Alcohol regulation should have preceded tobacco regulation because the direct harm to others from overuse of alcohol is the greater, addiction specialist Doug Sellman argues.
New Zealand Herald (New Zealand) - New research shows alcohol causes most harm to innocent victims
Stark new research has laid bare alcohol's toll on innocent victims, with liquor playing a major part in large numbers of murders, fires, car crashes, random assaults and violence in the home.


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Monday, August 27, 2012

Quantitative trait loci for response to ethanol in an intercontinental set of recombinant inbred lines of Drosophila melanogaster



Alcohol, a drug widely abused, impacts the central nervous system functioning of diverse organisms. The behavioral responses to acute alcohol exposure are remarkably similar among humans and fruit flies. In its natural environment, rich in fermentation products, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster encounters relatively high levels of ethanol. The effects of ethanol and its metabolites on Drosophila have been studied for decades, as a model for adaptive evolution. Although extensive work has been done for elucidating patterns of genetic variation, substantially less is known about the genomic regions or genes that underlie the genetic variation of this important trait.

To identify regions containing genes involved in the responses to ethanol, we used a mapping population of recombinant inbred (RIL) lines to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) that affect variation in resistance and recovery from ethanol sedation in adults and ethanol resistance in larvae. We mapped fourteen QTL affecting the response to ethanol on the three chromosomes. Seven of the QTL influence the resistance to ethanol in adults, two QTL are related to ethanol-coma recovery in adults and five affect the survival to ethanol in larvae.

Most of the QTL were trait specific, suggesting that overlapping but generally unique genetic architectures underlie each trait. Each QTL explained up to 16.8% of the genetic variance among lines. Potential candidate loci contained within our QTL regions were identified and analyzed.



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Request Reprint E-Mail: raqueldefays@hotmail.com
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Alcohol Justice Blasts California Legislature for Buckling to Big Alcohol’s Demand for Booze Sweepstakes and Contests


In stunning denial of the public health and safety threats of encouraging more alcohol consumption, the California State Legislature has passed a bill to allow the use of sweepstakes and contests to promote alcohol sales in the state.

”We are deeply disturbed by this election year gift to Big Alcohol,” stated Alcohol Justice Public Affairs Director Michael Scippa. “We are calling upon Governor Brown to veto this irresponsible measure because overturning the state’s existing ban on alcohol-related contests will lead to increased over-consumption and increased public health and safety costs.”

Proponents of SB 778, led by Wine Institute, the bill’s sponsor, and Senator Alex Padilla (D-San Fernando Valley), the bill’s author, pleaded that California was at a competitive disadvantage by being one of the only states in the country that did not allow alcohol sweepstakes and contests. This hollow argument ignores the facts that California not only leads the country in alcohol sales at nearly $22 billion a year, but also leads the country in alcohol-related harm, which was estimated in 2008 to be more than $38 billion a year. > > > > Read More
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Sunday, August 26, 2012

Unmet need for treatment for substance use disorders across race and ethnicity


The objective was to analyze disparities in unmet need for substance use treatment and to observe variation across different definitions of need for treatment.

Data were analyzed from the 2002 to 2005 National Survey of Drug Use and Health and the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Logistic regressions estimated the likelihood of specialty substance use treatment across the two data sets. Parallel variables for specialty, informal and any substance abuse treatment were created. Perceived need and normative need for substance use treatment were defined, with normative need stratified across lifetime disorder, past twelve month disorder, and heavy alcohol/any illicit drug use. Treatment rates were analyzed, comparing Blacks, Asians and Latinos to non-Latino whites across need definitions, and adjusting for age, sex, household income, marital status, education and insurance.

Asians with past year substance use disorder had a higher likelihood of unmet need for specialty treatment than whites. Blacks with past year disorder and with heavy drinking/illicit drug use had significantly lower likelihood of unmet need. Latinos with past year disorder had a higher likelihood of unmet need for specialty substance abuse treatment. Asians with heavy drinking/illicit drug use had lower likelihood of unmet need.

The findings suggest that pathways to substance abuse treatment differ across groups. Given high rates of unmet need, a broad approach to defining need for treatment is warranted. Future research to disentangle social and systemic factors from factors based on diagnostic criteria is necessary in the identification of need for treatment.


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Request Reprint E-Mail: Norah_MulvaneyDay@abtassoc.com

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Neighborhood context and substance use disorders: A comparative analysis of racial and ethnic groups in the United States


There is evidence that ethnic/racial minorities are conferred differential risk for substance use problems based on where they live. Despite a burgeoning of research focusing on the role of neighborhood characteristics on health, limited findings are available on substance use. Our study uses nationally representative data (N = 13,837) to examine: (1) what neighborhood characteristics are associated with risk of substance use disorders?; (2) do the associations between neighborhood characteristics and substance use disorders remain after adjusting for individual-level factors?; and (3) do neighborhood characteristics associated with substance use disorders differ by race/ethnicity after adjusting for individual-level factors?

Data were drawn from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Studies (CPES-Geocode file) with 836 census tracts. Analyses included African Americans, Asians, Caribbean Blacks, Latinos, and non-Latino whites. Separate logistic regression models were fitted for any past-year substance use disorder, alcohol use disorder, and drug use disorder.

Living in more affluent and residentially unstable census tracts was associated with decreased risk of past-year substance use disorder, even after adjusting for individual-level factors. However, when we investigated the interaction of race/ethnicity and census latent factors with past-year substance use disorders, we found different associations for the different racial/ethnic groups. We also found different associations between neighborhood affluence, residential instability and any past-year substance use and alcohol disorders by nativity.

Characteristics of the environment might represent differential risk for substance disorders depending on a person's ethnicity/race and nativity status.



Request Reprint E-Mail: kmolina@psy.miami.edu
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Substance use and sexual behavior among recent Hispanic immigrant adolescents: Effects of parent–adolescent differential acculturation and communicati


To ascertain the effects of parent–adolescent acculturation gaps, perceived discrimination, and perceived negative context of reception on adolescent cigarette smoking, alcohol use, sexual activity, and sexual risk taking. We used an expanded, multidimensional model of acculturation.

A sample of 302 recently immigrated parent–adolescent dyads (152 from Miami and 150 from Los Angeles) completed measures of acculturation (Hispanic and American practices and identifications, and individualist and collectivist values) and parent–adolescent communication. Adolescents completed measures of recent cigarette smoking, alcohol use, sexual behavior, and sexual risk taking.

Parent–adolescent gaps in American practices and ethnic identity, and perceptions of a negative context of reception, predicted compromised parent–adolescent communication. In Miami only, adolescent-reported communication negatively predicted odds of cigarette smoking, occasions of drunkenness, and number of sexual partners. Also in Miami only, parent-reported communication positively predicted these outcomes, as well as occasions of adolescent binge drinking, drunkenness, number of sexual partners, and odds of unprotected sex. The only significant findings in Los Angeles were protective effects of parent-reported communication on frequency of alcohol use and of binge drinking. Mediational effects emerged only in the Miami sample.

Efects of parent–adolescent acculturation gaps vary across Hispanic groups and receiving contexts. The especially strong parental control in many Mexican families may account for these differences. However, other important differences between Hispanic subgroups and communities of reception could also account for these differences. Prevention efforts might encourage Hispanic youth both to retain their culture of origin and to acquire American culture.



Request Reprint E-Mail: SSchwartz@med.miami.edu
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The efficacy of Familias Unidas on drug and alcohol outcomes for Hispanic delinquent youth: Main effects and interaction effects by parental stress an


Drug and alcohol use disproportionately affect Hispanic youth. Despite these disparities, few empirically supported preventive interventions are available to ameliorate this public health concern among Hispanic youth. This study examined the effects of Familias Unidas, relative to Community Practice, in reducing past 90-day substance use, alcohol and marijuana dependence, and having sex while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Additionally, this study explored whether Familias Unidas’ effects varied by environmental context, namely parental stress and social support for parents.

A total of 242 delinquent Hispanic youth aged 12–17 years and their primary caregivers were randomized to either Familias Unidas or Community Practice and assessed at three time points.

Familias Unidas was efficacious in reducing past 90-day substance use, illicit drug use, and in reducing the proportion of youth with an alcohol dependence diagnosis, relative to Community Practice. Results also showed a reduction in the proportion of youth who reported having sex while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. No differences between conditions were observed in past 90-day alcohol use or marijuana dependence. Intervention effects on illicit drug use and alcohol dependence varied by environmental context. For example, Familias Unidas was most efficacious for adolescents with parents exhibiting high stress and lower levels of social support.

Familias Unidas was efficacious in reducing some drug and alcohol related outcomes. The findings also support the concept of targeting family-based interventions, such as Familias Unidas, for adolescents with parents exhibiting high stress and low levels of social support.


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Request Reprint E-Mail: gprado@med.miami.edu

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Mexican immigration to the US and alcohol and drug use opportunities: Does it make a difference in alcohol and/or drug use?


Mexican immigrants in the US do not have increased risk for alcohol use or alcohol use disorders when compared to Mexicans living in Mexico, but they are at higher risk for drug use and drug use disorders. It has been suggested that both availability and social norms are associated with these findings. We aimed to study whether the opportunity for alcohol and drug use, an indirect measure of substance availability, determines differences in first substance use among people of Mexican origin in both the US and Mexico, accounting for gender and age of immigration.

Data come from nationally representative surveys in the United States (2001–2003) and Mexico (2001–2002) (combined n = 3432). We used discrete time proportional hazards event history models to account for time-varying and time-invariant characteristics. The reference group was Mexicans living in Mexico without migration experience.

Female immigrants were at lower risk of having opportunities to use alcohol if they immigrated after the age of 13, but at higher risk if they immigrated prior to this age. Male immigrants showed no differences in opportunity to use alcohol or alcohol use after having the opportunity. Immigration was associated with having drugs opportunities for both sexes, with larger risk among females. Migration was also associated with greater risk of using drugs after having the opportunity, but only significantly for males.

The impacts of immigration on substance use opportunities are more important for drugs than alcohol. Public health messages and educational efforts should heed this distinction.


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Request Reprint E-Mail: guibor@imp.edu.mx

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Current Issue: July–August 2012



Interventions and Assessments

  • Prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorder Symptoms Increased after Bariatric Surgery
  • Interim Methadone with Limited Counseling for 4 Months Yields Similar 12-Month Outcomes as Methadone with Standard Counseling
  • A Retrospective Study of High-Dose Baclofen for High-Risk Drinking Supports the Need for a Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Does Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment Work for Adolescents Presenting to Emergency Departments?

Health Outcomes

  • Do Patients with Alcoholic Cirrhosis Require Surveillance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma?
  • Even Occasional Cocaine, Opioid, or Amphetamine Use Persisting into Middle Age Increases Mortality
  • Higher Quality of Life Seen among Regular Moderate Drinkers than among Abstainers in Canada

HIV and HCV

  • Association between HIV Treatment Status and Alcohol Metabolism
  • Injection-Drug and Heavy Alcohol Use Did Not Affect Hepatitis-C Treatment Outcomes in an Australian Study
  • Providing Rapid HIV Testing in Drug Treatment Centers Increased Testing Rates, but Adding Counseling Did Not Reduce Sex-Risk Behaviors
  • Entering MeBoldthadone Maintenance Treatment Has Little Impact on HIV Sex-Risk Behaviors in Heroin-Addicted Adults
  • Screening Tool to Identify Candidates for Pre-exposure HIV Prophylaxis in Men Who Have Sex with Men Includes Amphetamine and Alkyl Nitrite Use

Slide Presentations

  • Update on Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Health
  • Journal Club

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Friday, August 24, 2012

First European Alcohol Policy Youth Conference (1st EAPYC)



The idea of the conference is to bring together 100+ young people from across Europe to build capacity to become advocates of a better alcohol policy in Europe.

Date: 8th – 14th November 2012 (including travel days)

Venue: Bled, Slovenia
Aims and purpose

The first European Alcohol Policy Youth Conference aims to:

raise interest among young people and youth organizations in Europe about alcohol policy,

empower the participants with the necessary skills and capacities in order to actively promote their views on alcohol,

engage with these views in the policy-making, by capacitating them to be of influence next to institutions and authorities, as well as for raising awareness next to their constituencies and partners at the local, national or European levels,

provide the necessary tools and training for participants to be able to conduct community based projects to reduce the alcohol related harm on youth,

bring their own expertise and best practice and exchange them with the rest of the participants, as well as gain more skills on advocacy and policy-making,

foster cooperation and networking among the participants and organisations present at the event.


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The burden and cost of disorders of the brain in Europe with the inclusion of harmful alcohol use and nicotine addiction


Recent publications calculated an annual prevalence of 38% of the population within the European Union having a “disorder of the brain” including substance use disorders (SUD) (Wittchen et al., 2011). The overall economic burden was estimated at 789 billion € (Gustavsson et al., 2011). While these calculations included alcohol dependence, harmful use of alcohol, a common ICD-10 diagnosis, was not considered appropriately. Tobacco related figures were completely left out.

We hence estimated burden and costs of these diagnoses for the European Union by extrapolating basic figures from Germany, which have average proportions of alcohol and tobacco related consumption and prevalence rates. Several German Data sets were used to estimate prevalence, disability adjusted life years (DALYs) and Cost-of-Illness for alcohol and tobacco use disorders in Germany. Results were obtained by focussing on the burden of SUD including well-known comorbidities. Results were then extrapolated to the European level. Compared with the earlier estimations DALYs increased from 2.8 million to over 6.6 million for SUDs. Costs augmented from 65.68 billion € PPP to about 350 billion € PPP.

We discuss the robustness and validity of our findings under different assumptions and with regard to methodology. We further took into account that in the new DSM 5 alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence – and similar tobacco – will be collapsed into one category of “alcohol related disorder”.

If added to the burden and cost calculations the substance use disorders rank on top of all disorders of the brain in Europe. Regardless of the calculation procedure our figures represent lower estimates and have to be regarded as conservative approaches.



Request Reprint E-Mail: Effertz@mba.uni-hamburg.de
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Interactions Between the Apolipoprotein A1/C3/A5 Haplotypes and Alcohol Consumption on Serum Lipid Levels


The interactions between apolipoprotein (Apo) A1/C3/A5 haplotypes and alcohol consumption on serum lipid profiles have not been previously explored. The present study was undertaken to detect the polymorphisms of ApoA1 −75 bp G>A (rs1799837), ApoC3 3238C>G (rs5128), ApoA5 −1131T>C (rs662799), ApoA5 c.553G>T (rs2075291), and ApoA5 c.457G>A (rs3135507) and the interactions between their haplotypes and alcohol consumption on serum lipid levels.

Genotyping was performed in 1,030 unrelated subjects (516 nondrinkers and 514 drinkers) aged 15 to 89. The interactions between ApoA1/C3/A5 haplotypes and alcohol consumption on serum lipid levels were detected by factorial regression analysis after controlling for potential confounders.

The frequencies of ApoC3 3238 CG/GG genotypes and ApoA1 −75 bp A allele in nondrinkers were higher in females than in males (p < 0.05). The frequencies of ApoC3 3238 CG/GG genotypes and G allele in drinkers were higher in females than in males (p < 0.05). The frequencies of ApoA1 −75 bp GA/AA genotypes and A allele in males were higher, and those of ApoC3 3238 CG/GG genotypes were lower in drinkers than in nondrinkers (p < 0.05 to 0.01). The frequency of ApoC3 3238 GG genotype in male drinkers was also higher in ≥25 g/d than in <25 g/d subgroups (p < 0.05). There were 11 haplotypes with a frequency >1% in our study population. The haplotypes of G–G–T–C–G (in the order of c.553G>T, c.457G>A, −1131T>C, 3238C>G, and −75 bp G>A), G–G–T–C–A, and G–G–C–G–G were shown consistent interactions with alcohol consumption to increase serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and ApoA1 levels (p < 0.05 to 0.001). The interactions between G–G–T–G–G (HDL-C and ApoA1), G–G–C–C–A (ApoA1), G–A–T–C–G (triglyceride), G–G–T–C–G (ApoA1/ApoB ratio), and G–G–C–G–G (ApoB) haplotypes and alcohol consumption on serum lipid levels were also detected (p < 0.05 to 0.001); the levels of these serum lipid parameters were significantly higher in drinkers than in nondrinkers.

The differences in serum lipid parameters between drinkers and nondrinkers might partly result from different interactions between the ApoA1/C3/A5 haplotypes and alcohol consumption


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Request Reprint E-Mail: yinruixing@yahoo.com.cn

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Adolescent Rearing Conditions Influence the Relationship Between Initial Anxiety-Like Behavior and Ethanol Drinking in Male Long Evans Rats


Rodent studies have demonstrated that adolescent social isolation results in many behavioral perturbations, including increases in anxiety-like behaviors. Socially isolated (SI) rats have also been shown to self-administer greater amounts ethanol (EtOH) in some, but not all, studies. Here, we tested whether juvenile social isolation increases EtOH drinking using an intermittent procedure that engenders relatively high intake in normally reared animals. We also compared the behavioral phenotype of rats reared under social isolation or group-housed conditions with adult rats housed under conditions commonly used in EtOH-drinking studies.

Male Long Evans rats were procured immediately postweaning and were group housed for 1 week. Subjects were then randomly divided into 2 groups: SI rats, housed individually for 6 weeks and group-housed (GH) rats (4/cage). A third group was procured as young adults and was housed individually upon arrival for 1 week (standard housing condition). Rats were then tested in a plus-maze and novelty assay, and then, all subjects were singly housed and EtOH drinking was assessed.

SI rats displayed increased anxiety-like behaviors on the plus-maze, a greater locomotor response to a novel environment, and increased EtOH intake, relative to GH rats. Age-matched standard housed (STD) rats exhibited an anxiety-like behavioral profile on the plus-maze that was similar to SI, and not GH rats, and also drank EtOH at levels comparable with SI subjects. In addition, anxiety-like behavior on the plus-maze correlated with intermittent EtOH intake in SI and GH rats.

These data further support the validity of the rodent juvenile social isolation model for studies directed at elucidating behavioral and neurobiological mechanisms linking anxiety and EtOH drinking. These findings further suggest that housing conditions commonly employed in rodent drinking studies may recapitulate the anxiety-like and EtOH-drinking phenotype engendered by a juvenile social isolation procedure.


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Request Reprint E-Mail: jweiner@wakehealth.edu

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Array-Based Profiling of DNA Methylation Changes Associated with Alcohol Dependence


Epigenetic regulation through DNA methylation may influence vulnerability to numerous disorders, including alcohol dependence (AD).

Peripheral blood DNA methylation levels of 384 CpGs in the promoter regions of 82 candidate genes were examined in 285 African Americans (AAs; 141 AD cases and 144 controls) and 249 European Americans (EAs; 144 AD cases and 105 controls) using Illumina GoldenGate Methylation Array assays. Association of AD and DNA methylation changes was analyzed using multivariate analyses of covariance with frequency of intoxication, sex, age, and ancestry proportion as covariates. CpGs showing significant methylation alterations in AD cases were further examined in a replication sample (49 EA cases and 32 EA controls) using Sequenom's MassARRAY EpiTYPER technology.

In AAs, 2 CpGs in 2 genes (GABRB3 and POMC) were hypermethylated in AD cases compared with controls (p ≤ 0.001). In EAs, 6 CpGs in 6 genes (HTR3A, NCAM1, DRD4, MBD3, HTR2B, and GRIN1) were hypermethylated in AD cases compared with controls (p ≤ 0.001); CpG cg08989585 in the HTR3A promoter region showed a significantly higher methylation level in EA cases than in EA controls after Bonferroni correction (p = 0.00007). Additionally, methylation levels of 6 CpGs (including cg08989585) in the HTR3A promoter region were analyzed in the replication sample. Although the 6 HTR3A promoter CpGs did not show significant methylation differences between EA cases and EA controls (p = 0.067 to 0.877), the methylation level of CpG cg08989585 was nonsignificantly higher in EA cases (26.9%) than in EA controls (18.6%; p = 0.139).

The findings from this study suggest that DNA methylation profile appears to be associated with AD in a population-specific way and the predisposition to AD may result from a complex interplay of genetic variation and epigenetic modifications.


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Request Reprint E-Mail: huiping.zhang@yale.edu

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Local variations in youth drinking cultures


This study explores the lives of young people, aged 15-24, in two study areas located in regions of England where the harm caused by alcohol is markedly different. The aim of the research was to explore whether living in these places influenced young people’s drinking.

Key points

  • Significant differences in alcohol-related harms have been observed between English regions. The north has a higher degree of reported indicators of harms than the south-east and the south-west.
  • Despite these variations, young people’s drinking behaviour in the two areas studied followed similar patterns with regard to their choice of drink, where they drank, and the days of the week and times at which they drank.
  • The differences between young people’s behaviour in the case study areas was subtle and related to how those places had developed over long periods of time.
  • The pri.mary motivation for drinking at all ages was sociability, having a good time and avoiding trouble. On a ‘good night out’, laughter and fun were important. In the case of the north-eastern city, this was a significant part of local culture. Young people rarely drank on their own.
  • Young people actively sought out ‘clusters’ of youth-orientated bars. A concentration of ‘clusters’ in the north east formed part of the impetus for young people to drink more than they originally intended.
  • In the south east, young people below the legal age of drinking engaged in a wider range of leisure activities, sports and hobbies.
  • In the north east, adult drinking was more visible both in the city centre and in streets and parks. There were more spaces where young people drank alongside adults.
  • Despite a wish to limit the number of licensed premises in the north east, planning authorities had been unable to resist commercial pressures to allow clubs and bars to fill units that would otherwise be vacant

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A positive choice: Young people who drink little or no alcohol



This study examines the lives and choices of young people (aged 16-25) who drink little or no alcohol. It explores the influences that shape their decisions and how their choices and patterns of consumption affect their lives.

Key points

  • Drinking and getting drunk is not an automatic rite of passage for young people in the UK. The findings of this study reflect that it is commonplace for young people to choose to drink little or no alcohol.
  • Choosing to drink little or no alcohol is a positive choice made for many reasons. For some young people the decision not to drink is central to their identity, for others it is ‘no big deal’, just one of many life choices.
  • Major influences stem from observing people around them. Good parental role models play a part, as does witnessing the negative effects of alcohol on others.
  • Young people who choose to drink little or no alcohol do not fall into easy stereotypes; their lives are busy and varied. As alcohol does not feature in their lives they tend to prefer activities where drinking alcohol rarely plays a role.
  • Young people develop responses and strategies to help them manage not drinking alcohol. While some avoid drinking environments, many are content to socialise with those who drink.
  • The immediate effects of drinking alcohol (i.e. hangovers, loss of control) concern young people more than longer-term health effects.
  • Young people feel that alcohol education and alcohol messages are based on the assumption that young people will drink. They emphasise the importance of presenting not drinking as a legitimate option to young people, parents and society more broadly.

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Global Actions August 22, 2012



Key Recent Milestones:

· Vietnam: Global Actions Vietnam conducted the third assessment of the drink driving initiative in Da Nang City on August 14 and 15, 2012.
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Global Actions in Focus: Colombia Drink Drive Initiative

Global Actions has successfully completed “Proyecto Patrullero,” a two-day series of workshops to inform police and other transit officials about new drink driving legislation in Colombia. Held in Cali on August 14 and 15, 2012, the workshops provided the latest information on drink driving regulations and presented information to build the skills and background knowledge of police and transit officials.

Workshop sessions were led by experts from Colombia and the United States and included information about the latest drink driving detection techniques available, with participants from traffic police, inspectors, and supervisors in Cali.

“Important changes to Colombia drink drive laws took effect in July,” said Global Actions Country Manager Mario Alberto Lleras. “Global Actions convened the seminars to clarify the new provisions for police and other officials in Cali.”

Speakers included Colombian Transit Expert Dr. Salwa Maria, who outlined the changes in the law and what they mean to drink driving enforcement in Colombia. Universidad de los Andes International Expert Dr. Carlos Carvajal presented on “Alcohol Basics and Drink Drive Crash Data” from Colombia and around the world.

The International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP) consultant Jack Sullivan (in photo) spoke about the challenges of initiating drink drive prevention efforts and best practices for integrating sobriety checkpoints with public information efforts. Veteran Enforcement Supervisor Sergeant David Arenas provided practical training for drink driving protection.

The Cali Mayor’s Office and the Cali Secretary of Transit and Transport were chief allies in organizing the event, which was attended by university officials, Yumbo Mayor’s Office, transport companies, and concerned citizens. The workshops achieved training for 100% of the Cali Transit Police Academy class and their instructors. Results showed a 32% improvement in the background knowledge of alcohol basics and drink drive regulations for those in attendance as well as an 18% increase in attitude toward the importance of checkpoints in order to reduce drink driving, reaching 94% favorability.

Workshops for the cities of Bogota, Cucuta, Villavicencio, and Santa Marta are in discussion stages for September and October 2012.

What’s Happening Next:

· Mexico: Global Actions Mexico is hosting a “Train the Trainer” workshop from August 27 to 30, 2012 in Puebla. The training will be facilitated by Aguas Con el Alcohol, a local NGO and project partner, and is to raise awareness about the harmful effects of drinking and driving in young people, particularly those in high schools and universities in Puebla.
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Thursday, August 23, 2012

Previous Use of Alcohol, Cigarettes, and Marijuana and Subsequent Abuse of Prescription Opioids in Young Adult


There has been an increase in the abuse of prescription opioids, especially in younger individuals. The current study explores the association between alcohol, cigarette, and/or marijuana use during adolescence and subsequent abuse of prescription opioids during young adulthood.

We used demographic/clinical data from community-dwelling individuals in the 2006–2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. We used logistic regression analyses, adjusted for these characteristics, to test whether having previous alcohol, cigarette, or marijuana use was associated with an increased likelihood of subsequently abusing prescription opioids.

Twelve percent of the survey population of 18–25 year olds (n = 6,496) reported current abuse of prescription opioids. For this population, prevalence of previous substance use was 57% for alcohol, 56% for cigarettes, and 34% for marijuana. We found previous alcohol use was associated with the subsequent abuse of prescription opioids in young men but not young women. Among both men and women, previous marijuana use was 2.5 times more likely than no previous marijuana to be associated with subsequent abuse of prescription opioids. We found that among young boys, all previous substance use (alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana), but only previous marijuana use in young girls, was associated with an increased likelihood of subsequent abuse of prescription opioids during young adulthood.

Previous alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use were each associated with current abuse of prescription opioids in 18–25-year-old men, but only marijuana use was associated with subsequent abuse of prescription opioids in young women. Prevention efforts targeting early substance abuse may help to curb the abuse of prescription opioids.


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Request Reprint E-Mail: lynn.fiellin@yale.edu

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Temporal Associations of Popularity and Alcohol Use Among Middle School Students


The goal of this study is to better understand the longitudinal cross-lagged associations between popularity, assessed through self-rating and peer nominations, and alcohol use among middle school students.

The analytical sample comprises 1,835 sixth- to eighth-grade students who were initially recruited from three California middle schools and surveyed in the fall and spring semesters of 2 academic years. Students reported on their background characteristics, past-month alcohol use, and perceived popularity. Additionally, students provided school-based friendship nominations, which were used to calculate peer-nominated popularity. A cross-lagged regression approach within a structural equation modeling framework was used to examine the longitudinal relationship between popularity (self-rated and peer-nominated) and alcohol use.

There was a statistically significant (p = .024) association between peer-nominated popularity and the probability of alcohol consumption at the subsequent survey, but not vice versa. Our results suggest that in a scenario where 8% of students are past-month drinkers, each increase of five friendship nominations is associated with a 30% greater risk of being a current drinker at the next wave. We found no evidence of longitudinal associations between past-month alcohol consumption and self-rated popularity.

Popularity is a risk factor for drinking during the middle school years, with peer-nominated popularity being more predictive of use than self-perceptions of popularity. To inform alcohol prevention efforts for middle school students, additional research is needed to better understand why adolescents with a larger number of school-based friendship ties are more inclined to drink.


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Effects of a Natural Community Intervention Intensifying Alcohol Law Enforcement Combined With a Restrictive Alcohol Policy on Adolescent Alcohol Use



Determining whether intensified inspections on alcohol retailers, combined with a policy withdrawing liquor licenses if retailers are fined twice per annum, is effective in reducing adolescents' odds to initiate weekly drinking and drunkenness. Causal pathways by which the intervention was assumed to work were tested.

A longitudinal (2008, 2009, and 2010) quasi-experimental comparison group design including two Dutch communities, one intervention and one comparison, was used. Outcomes were assessed by following a cohort of 1,327 adolescents (aged 13–15 years at baseline).

The intervention resulted in increased retail inspections but only seven sanctions and no repeated sanctions in 1 year. The intervention did not reduce adolescents' odds to initiate weekly drinking. Weekly drinking adolescents in the intervention community were at reduced risk to initiate drunkenness. This effect was not mediated by smaller increases in the frequency of adolescents' alcohol purchases or their perceived ease of purchasing alcohol.

Intensified enforcement was effective in preventing adolescent drunkenness. No mediating causal pathways were detected. Effectiveness of enforcement could be increased by adopting enforcement methods with a high likelihood of apprehension, increasing social support for restrictive measures, and mobilizing the community to be more outspoken against adolescent (heavy) drinking.


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Request Reprint E-Mail: Karen.Offermans@maastrichtuniversity.nl

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Risky Messages in Alcohol Advertising, 2003–2007: Results From Content Analysis



To assess the content of alcohol advertising in youth-oriented U.S. magazines, with specific attention to subject matter pertaining to risk and sexual connotations and to youth exposure to these ads.

This study consisted of a content analysis of a census of 1,261 unique alcohol advertisements (“creatives”) recurring 2,638 times (“occurrences”) in 11 U.S. magazines with disproportionately youthful readerships between 2003 and 2007. Advertisements were assessed for content relevant to injury, overconsumption, addiction, and violations of industry guidelines (termed “risk” codes), as well as for sexism and sexual activity.

During the 5-year study period, more than one-quarter of occurrences contained content pertaining to risk, sexism, or sexual activity. Problematic content was concentrated in a minority of brands, mainly beer and spirits brands. Those brands with higher youth-to-adult viewership ratios were significantly more likely to have a higher percentage of occurrences with addiction content and violations of industry guidelines. Ads with violations of industry guidelines were more likely to be found in magazines with higher youth readerships.

The prevalence of problematic content in magazine alcohol advertisements is concentrated in advertising for beer and spirits brands, and violations of industry guidelines and addiction content appear to increase with the size of youth readerships, suggesting that individuals aged <21 years may be more likely to see such problematic content than adults.



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Request Reprint E-Mail: djernigan@jhsph.edu


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Ethanol-Induced Face-Brain Dysmorphology Patterns Are Correlative and Exposure-Stage Dependent



Prenatal ethanol exposure is the leading preventable cause of congenital mental disability. Whereas a diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) requires identification of a specific pattern of craniofacial dysmorphology, most individuals with behavioral and neurological sequelae of heavy prenatal ethanol exposure do not exhibit these defining facial characteristics.

Here, a novel integration of MRI and dense surface modeling-based shape analysis was applied to characterize concurrent face-brain phenotypes in C57Bl/6J fetuses exposed to ethanol on gestational day (GD)7 or GD8.5.

The facial phenotype resulting from ethanol exposure depended upon stage of insult and was predictive of unique patterns of corresponding brain abnormalities.

Ethanol exposure on GD7 produced a constellation of dysmorphic facial features characteristic of human FAS, including severe midfacial hypoplasia, shortening of the palpebral fissures, an elongated upper lip, and deficient philtrum.

In contrast, ethanol exposure on GD8.5 caused mild midfacial hypoplasia and palpebral fissure shortening, a shortened upper lip, and a preserved philtrum.

These distinct, stage-specific facial phenotypes were associated with unique volumetric and shape abnormalities of the septal region, pituitary, and olfactory bulbs.

By demonstrating that early prenatal ethanol exposure can cause more than one temporally-specific pattern of defects, these findings illustrate the need for an expansion of current diagnostic criteria to better capture the full range of facial and brain dysmorphology in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.


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Effects of Heavy Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Iron Deficiency Anemia on Child Growth and Body Composition through Age 9 Years


Prenatal alcohol exposure has been associated with pre- and postnatal growth restriction, but little is known about the natural history of this restriction throughout childhood or the effects of prenatal alcohol on body composition. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure on longitudinal growth and body composition.

Eighty-five heavy drinking pregnant women (≥2 drinks/d or ≥4 drinks/occasion) and 63 abstaining and light-drinking controls (<1 drink/d, no binging) were recruited at initiation of prenatal care in an urban obstetrical clinic in Cape Town, South Africa and prospectively interviewed during pregnancy about alcohol, smoking, drug use, and demographics. Among their children, length/height, weight, and head circumference were measured at 6.5 and 12 months and at 5 and 9 years. Percent body fat (BF) was estimated at age 9 years using bioelectric impedance analysis.

In multiple regression models with repeated measures (adjusted for confounders), heavy alcohol exposure was associated with reductions in weight (0.6 SD), length/height (0.5 SD), and head circumference (0.9 cm) from 6.5 months to 9 years that were largely determined at birth. These effects were exacerbated by iron deficiency in infancy but were not modified by iron deficiency or measures of food security at 5 years. An alcohol-related postnatal delay in weight gain was seen at 12 months. Effects on head circumference were greater at age 9 than at other age points. Although heavy alcohol exposure was not associated with changes in body composition, children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and partial fetal alcohol syndrome (PFAS) had lower percent BF than heavy exposed nonsyndromal and control children.

Heavy prenatal alcohol exposure is related to prenatal growth restriction that persists through age 9 years and an additional delay in weight gain during infancy. FAS and PFAS diagnoses are associated with leaner body composition in later childhood.


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Request Reprint E-Mail: RobertColin.Carter@childrens.harvard.edu

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Ethanol-Induced Mast Cell-Mediated Inflammation Leads to Increased Susceptibility of Intestinal Tumorigenesis in the APCΔ468 Min Mouse Model of Colon


Chronic and frequent alcohol (ethanol [EtOH]) intake has been associated with an increased incidence of several types of cancers including breast, mouth, throat, esophageal, stomach, and colorectal (CRC). The underlying mechanism of this deleterious carcinogenic effect of alcohol has not been clearly established but inflammation may be 1 unifying feature of these cancers. We have recently shown that intestinal mast cells play a central role in intestinal carcinogenesis. In this study, we tested our hypothesis that mast cell-mediated inflammation is 1 underlying mechanism by which chronic alcohol promotes intestinal tumorigenesis.

APCΔ468 mice were fed either an alcohol-containing Nanji liquid diet or isocaloric dextrose-containing Nanji diet for 10 weeks and then sacrificed to collect small and large intestine samples. Assessments of tumor number and size as well as mast cell number and mast cell activity and histology score for invasion were compared between Control (dextrose-fed) and alcohol-fed APC∆468 mice. The effect of alcohol on mast cell-mediated tumor migration was also assessed using an in vitro migration assay.

Alcohol feeding increased both polyp number and size within both the small and the large intestines of APC∆468 mice. Only alcohol-fed mice showed evidence of tumor invasion. Chronic alcohol feeding also resulted in an increased mast cell number and activity in tumor stroma and invading borders. In vitro migration assay showed that alcohol significantly increases mast cell-mediated tumor migration in vitro.

Our data show that chronic alcohol intake promotes: (i) intestinal tumorigenesis and tumor invasion in genetically susceptible mice; (ii) increases in polyp-associated mast cells; and (iii) mast cell-mediated tumor migration in vitro. Both our in vivo and in vitro studies suggest that mast cell-mediated inflammation could be 1 mechanism by which alcohol promotes carcinogenesis.


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Request Reprint E-Mail: christopher_b_forsyth@rush.edu

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