Medvedev proposes anti-alcoholism measures

MOSCOW, September 11 (RIA Novosti)

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered the government on Friday to prepare draft laws on his package of measures to counter alcohol abuse, the Kremlin said.

On August 12 the president said that measures taken so far to curb alcohol abuse and other addictions in the country had been insufficient, and ordered the government to develop new rules for the sale of alcohol.

The proposals include tougher sanctions against retailers who break alcohol sale laws, which may lead to criminal proceedings against repeat violators.

The law will also enable regional authorities to introduce restrictions on the times, conditions and locations of alcohol sales.

The measures also include a ban on selling low-alcoholic drinks in containers of more than 330 ml. . . . . . .

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Screening for atypical suicide risk with person fit statistics among people presenting to alcohol and other drug treatment

Drug and Alcohol Dependence Article in Press, 12 Sep 2009

Symptoms of internalizing disorders (depression, anxiety, somatic, trauma) are the major risk factors for suicide. Atypical suicide risk is characterized by people with few or no symptoms of internalizing disorders.

In persons screened at intake to alcohol or other drug (AOD) treatment, this research examined whether person fit statistics would support an atypical subtype at high risk for suicide that did not present with typical depression and other internalizing disorders.

Person fit statistics were useful in identifying persons with atypical suicide profiles and in enlightening aspects of existing theory concerning atypical suicidal ideation.

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EEG spectral phenotypes: Heritability and association with marijuana and alcohol dependence in an American Indian community study

Drug and Alcohol Dependence Article in Press, 12 Sep 2009

Native Americans have some of the highest rates of marijuana and alcohol use and abuse, yet neurobiological measures associated with dependence on these substances in this population remain unknown.

The present investigation evaluated the heritability of spectral characteristics of the electroencephalogram (EEG) and their correlation with marijuana and alcohol dependence in an American Indian community.

These data suggest that the traits of EEG delta and high beta/gamma activity are correlated with MJ dependence and alcohol dependence, respectively, in this community sample of Native Americans.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: cindye@scripps.edu

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Alcohol and Cognitive Function: Assessment in Everyday Life and Laboratory Settings Using Mobile Phones

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research Early View 9 Sep 2009

Mobile phone (cellphone) technology makes it practicable to assess cognitive function in a natural setting. We assessed this method and compared impairment of performance due to alcohol in everyday life with measurements made in the laboratory.

We found that mobile phones allowed practical research on cognitive performance in an everyday life setting. Alcohol impaired function in both laboratory and everyday life settings at relevant doses of alcohol.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: brian@penscreen.com

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The Mammalian Circadian Clock Exhibits Acute Tolerance to Ethanol

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research Early View 9 Sep 2009

Tolerance to ethanol is observed over a variety of time courses, from minutes to days. Acute tolerance, which develops over 5 to 60 minutes, has been observed for both behavioral and neurophysiological variables and may involve changes in signaling through NMDA, GABA, or other receptors.

Previous work has shown that both acute and chronic ethanol treatments modulate photic and nonphotic phase resetting of the mammalian circadian clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Although not specifically tested, the data thus far do not point to the development of chronic tolerance to the modulatory effects of ethanol.

Here we investigated whether acute tolerance the ethanol occurs with respect to in vitro phase modulation of the SCN clock.

Both the inhibiting and enhancing effects of ethanol on in vitro SCN clock phase resetting show acute tolerance. Additional experiments are needed to determine whether more slowly developing forms of tolerance also occur with respect to the SCN circadian clock.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: rprosser@utk.edu

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Roles of the Genetic Polymorphisms of Alcohol-Metabolizing Enzymes on the Immunology in High-Risk Drinkers

Toxicological Sciences 2009 111(2):267-276

Alcohol metabolism involves several enzymes and the individual genetic variations in the alcohol metabolism are related to the absorption, distribution, and elimination of alcohol and metabolites such as acetaldehyde. Therefore, the genetic variations of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes are responsible for the different toxicity of alcohol in several organs like liver and immunological systems.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the life styles such as drinking and smoking and the genetic variations of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes (ADH2, ALDH2, CYP2E1, and CAT) were associated with the immunological biomarkers.

Our results suggested that the habits of drinking, smoking, and betel chewing, and genetic variations of alcohol metabolism were associated with the immunological biomarkers.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: tsliyu@kmu.edu.tw

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SNP curb on drink prices is condemned in America
12 September 2009 By Tom Peterkin

THE Scottish Government's flagship proposal to tackle the nation's alcohol problem has been attacked by US drinks companies who have urged ministers to abandon their minimum pricing policy.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States has warned that the controversial policy may contravene international rules and will affect trade.

The intervention by the national trade association representing America's leading distillers is a further setback for the policy which is at the heart of the Scottish Government's measures to crack down on alcohol abuse. . . . . . .

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Alcohol Assessment Among College Students Using Wireless Mobile Technology

J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs 70: 771-775, 2009

This study used a two-group randomized design to assess the validity of measuring self-reported alcohol consumption among college students using the Handheld Assisted Network Diary (HAND), a daily diary assessment administered using wireless mobile devices.

The study findings support the validity of wireless mobile devices as a daily assessment of alcohol use among college students.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: jbernhardt@cdc.gov


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Subjective Stimulant and Sedative Effects of Alcohol During Early Drinking Experiences Predict Alcohol Involvement in Treated Adolescents

J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs 70: 660-667, 2009)

Research on low subjective response to alcohol has focused primarily on alcohol's sedative effects during early drinking experiences. This study examined subjective response to both stimulant and sedative effects of alcohol during initial drinking experiences as predictors of treated adolescents' severity of alcohol involvement before treatment and over 1-year follow-up.

Study findings suggest potentially important roles for both early subjective stimulant and sedative effects of alcohol in relation to adolescent alcohol involvement

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Request Reprint E-Mail: chungta@upmc.edu

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Seven Years Later: Developmental Transitions and Delinquent Behavior for Male Adolescents Who Received Long-Term Substance Treatment

J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs 70: 641-651, 2009)

Few studies have applied the "life course perspective" to the study of drug use, a noticeable omission in the field. The current study addresses this gap by examining patterns of interpersonal crime, substance use, and emotional problems over 7 years for a sample of 196 high-risk males as they transition from adolescence to young adulthood, with a specific focus on the role of transitions (living alone, employment, marrying or cohabiting with a romantic partner, graduating from high school or acquiring a General Equivalency Diploma, and becoming a parent) on these patterns.

Living independently and cohabiting were associated with decreased substance problems. Living with children was associated with increased interpersonal crime. Living away from parents was associated with an increase in substance problems following the transition and then a subsequent decrease in problems over time. No effects were found for receiving a diploma or having employment.

It is crucial to begin to understand how developmental transitions may affect high-risk adolescents' involvement in criminal behavior, substance use, and emotional problems. The current study suggests that several transitions were associated with a reduction in problems as these youth transitioned into young adulthood

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Request Reprint E-Mail: elizabeth_d'amico@rand.org

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Intergenerational Transmission of Alcohol Expectancies in a High-Risk Sample

J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs 70: 675-682, 2009

The goal of the present study was to examine prospectively two interrelated processes simultaneously: (1) the intergenerational transmission of alcohol expectancies and (2) the intergenerational transmission of alcohol use.

These results suggest that fathers' alcohol-use behavior is more influential in boys' alcohol expectancy development than are fathers' expectancies and that alcohol expectancies during emerging adulthood may be one mechanism underlying the intergenerational transmission of drinking among males.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: elizabeth.handley@asu.edu

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Detecting Alcohol-Related Problems in Developing Countries: A Comparison of 2 Screening Measures in India

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research Early View 9 Sep 2009

There is inadequate recognition of alcohol misuse as a public health issue in India. Information on screening measures is critical for prevention and early intervention efforts. This study critically evaluated the full and shorter versions of the AUDIT and RAPS4-QF as screening measures for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in a community sample of male drinkers in Goa, India.

All measures were efficient at detecting AUDs. When screening for alcohol-related problems among males in the general population in India, cut-off scores for screeners may need to be adjusted. Selecting an appropriate screening measure and cut-off score necessitates careful consideration of the screening context and resources available to confirm alcohol-related diagnoses.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: mnayak@arg.org

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Prevalence and Patterns of Alcohol Consumption and Health-Risk Behaviors Among High School Students in Thailand

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research Early View 0 Sep 2009

Underage drinking is a significant social and public health problem in Thailand. We report the prevalence and patterns of alcohol consumption and associated health-risk behaviors using data from a 2007–2008 national school survey.

Alcohol consumption is a serious problem among adolescents in Thailand and is strongly associated with various health-risk behaviors. Effective age- and gender-specific interventions should be implemented to discourage underage drinking and associated adverse health and social consequences.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: savitree.a@psu.ac.th

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Sex Differences in Acoustic Startle Responses and Seizure Thresholds between Ethanol-Withdrawn Male and Female Rats

Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access published online on September 10, 2009

We have found consistent and significant sex differences in recovery from the increased seizure susceptibility observed during ethanol withdrawal (EW) in our rat model system. The main objective of the present study was to determine if sex differences in EW generalized to an additional behavioral measure startle reactivity.

Observed sex differences in the startle reactivity during EW were consistent with earlier findings comparing EW seizure risk in male and female rats. Responses of OVX suggested that both hormones and differences in brain structures between males and females have a role in these sex differences. Our findings add weight to recommendations that treatment of alcohol withdrawal in humans should consider hormonal status as well as withdrawal time.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: devaudl@husson.edu

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Computer-delivered interventions to reduce college student drinking: a meta-analysis

Addiction Early View 10 September 2009

This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of computer-delivered interventions (CDIs) to reduce alcohol use among college students

The effects of CDIs depended on the nature of the comparison condition: CDIs reduced quantity and frequency measures relative to assessment-only controls, but rarely differed from comparison conditions that included alcohol-relevant content. Small-to-medium within-group effect sizes can be expected for CDIs at short- and long-term follow-ups; these changes are less than or equivalent to the within-group effect sizes observed for more intensive interventions.

CDIs reduce the quantity and frequency of drinking among college students. CDIs are generally equivalent to alternative alcohol-related comparison interventions.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: lajss@syr.edu

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Drink and drugs a leading cause of youth deaths

Sarah Boseley, health editor
The Guardian, Friday 11 September 2009

The deaths of more than 3,000 young people in the UK every year could be prevented and many are precipitated by Britain's drink and drugs culture, a leading child health expert claims.

"Britain has much higher rates of alcohol and drug misuse than many other high income countries," said Russell Viner, from the Institute of Child Health, in London, one of the authors of a global study on the scale and causes of adolescent deaths published today by the Lancet medical journal. . . . . .

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Treatment, Alcoholics Anonymous, and 16-Year Changes in Impulsivity and Legal Problems Among Men and Women With Alcohol Use Disorders

J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs 70: 714-725, 2009

The link between impulsive personality traits and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) is well established. No studies, however, have investigated whether receipt of help for AUDs predicts change in impulsivity or whether such change is associated with relevant outcomes such as legal problems.

The present study examined predictive associations between the duration of help for AUDs (Alcoholics Anonymous [AA], professional treatment) and impulsivity and legal problems over 16 years in men and women with AUDs.

The results highlight the potential for AA and professional treatment to reduce the expression of impulsivity and related disinhibitory traits and legal problems in individuals with AUDs.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: bloni001@stanford.edu

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A systems approach to college drinking: development of a deterministic model for testing alcohol control policies.

J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2009 Sep;70(5):805-21.

The misuse and abuse of alcohol among college students remain persistent problems. Using a systems approach to understand the dynamics of student drinking behavior and thus forecasting the impact of campus policy to address the problem represents a novel approach. Toward this end, the successful development of a predictive mathematical model of college drinking would represent a significant advance for prevention efforts.

A simple, five-state compartmental model adequately predicted the actual drinking patterns of students from a variety of campuses surveyed in the Social Norms Marketing Research Project study. The model predicted the impact on drinking patterns of several simulated interventions to address heavy episodic drinking on various types of campuses.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: rscrib@lsuhsc.edu

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p38SJ, a novel DINGG protein protects neuronal cells from alcohol induced injury and death

Journal of Cellular Physiology Early View 8 Sep 2009

Ethanol induces neuronal cell injury and death by dysregulating several signaling events that are controlled, in part, by activation of MAPK/ERK1/2 and/or inactivation of its corresponding phosphatase, PP1. Recently, we have purified a novel protein of 38 kDa in size, p38SJ, from a callus culture of Hypericum perforatum, which belongs to an emerging DINGG family of proteins with phosphate binding activity.

Here, we show that treatment of neuronal cells with p38SJ protects cells against injury induced by exposure to ethanol. Furthermore, pre-treatment of neuronal cells with p38SJ diminishes the level of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and some events associated with apoptosis such as caspase 3 cleavage. In addition, by inducing stress, alcohol can elevate production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that leads to a decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD).

Our results showed that p38SJ restores the activity of SOD in the ethanol treated neuronal cells. These observations provide a novel biological tool for developing new approaches for preventing neuronal cell death induced by ethanol and possibly treatment of neurological disorders associated with alcohol abuse. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: ashohreh@temple.edu

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A validation study of the alcohol dependence scale.

J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs 70: 689-699, 2009

The primary purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive assessment of the underlying factor structure of the Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS). Secondary goals included assessing concurrent validity of the total ADS and subscales derived from the factor analyses with variables related to alcohol dependence and further evaluating the validity of two proposed dichotomously scored, reduced-item ADS measures.

These findings support a three-factor solution for the ADS and its ability to assess the construct of alcohol dependence in a reliable and valid manner. The 12-item reduced ADS measure (reflecting mostly dependence-related items), as opposed to the 9-item reduced ADS measure (generally excessive drinking items), provided validity coefficients comparable to the total, 25-item ADS.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: srdoyle@u.washington.edu

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