Alcohol use and problems in daily and non-daily coffee drinking college females

Background: For more than a decade, a large proportion of research on caffeine use in college students has focused on energy drinks (ED), demonstrating an association between ED consumption and heavy/problem alcohol use. The present study examined the relationship between daily coffee (DC) consumption and varied measures of alcohol use and problems in a sample of college women. Methods: Participants were undergraduate females (N = 360) attending an urban university in 2001–02 and prior to the rise in ED popularity on college campuses. Analyses compared women who reported drinking coffee daily (DC; 16.9%), to women who did not (non-daily coffee [NDC]; 83.1%) on standardized measures of alcohol use and problems. Results: For both past month and year of drinking, DC women generally reported consuming more alcohol and were 2.1–2.6 times more likely to screen at risk for alcohol problems than their NDC counterparts. DC women were also more likely than NDC women to report problems related to drinking (e.g., experiencing blackouts, inability to stop drinking after they had started). Conclusions: Findings support potential benefits of health education and screening that goes beyond EDs, focusing on varied forms of caffeine consumption.     

Violence and Substance Use among an Injured Emergency Department Population

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated a sample of emergency department (ED) patients for history of violence and substance abuse. METHODS: Injured patients (n = 320) completed questionnaires (14% refusal rate) during a visit to a Level 1 urban ED after an acute injury. Specific questions were asked regarding whether the injury was related to acute violence (AV), whether there was past-year violence history (VH), including violence victimization and perpetration in both partner and nonpartner relationships, as well as any substance use in the past month and any substance-related consequences in the past year. RESULTS: Fourteen percent of the participants presented with an AV-related injury, and 53% reported VH. Most AV patients (89%) reported VH. No significant differences were found between the participants with AV and VH in demographic, substance use, or substance-related consequences. The AV and VH groups were combined (V), with analyses comparing these participants with those without AV and VH. Men were significantly more likely than women to report V (odds ratio = 2.0). V was significantly related to substance use and substance-related consequences. For example, in comparison with the participants reporting no alcohol or drug use, those reporting illicit drug use were 6.2 times as likely to report V, and those drinking any alcohol only were 2.0 times as likely to report V. CONCLUSIONS: A large percentage of injured patients in this urban ED experienced violence in the past year. Alcohol and illicit drugs appear to be concomitant with violence.     

Predictors of perceived health status of tuberculosis-infected homeless

This study examines the predictors of perceived health status among homeless adults with latent tuberculosis (TB) in Los Angeles, especially in relation to gender differences. Total, 415 men and women enrolled in a TB-adherence trial completed baseline assessments concerning health status. Results indicated that women were more likely than men to report being in fair or poor health and to have experienced health problems. More women than men self-reported daily drug use and poor mental health. Homeless women were also more likely than their male counterparts to receive support from non-drug-users. Homeless adults who reported fair or poor health were also more likely than those who reported better health to have used injection drugs, to report experiencing depressive symptoms and poor mental health, and to have been homeless more than 3 years. Predictors of fair or poor health included being female and experiencing more depressive symptoms.     

Going out drinking: the centrality of heavy alcohol use in English adolescents’ leisure time and poly-substance-taking repertoires

Using data from a large-scale longitudinal study, this paper highlights the development and centrality of regular, heavy drinking in the leisure priorities of a cohort of English adolescents (13-18 years). A core cohort (n = 815) with complete survey data across the study is used alongside qualitative interview data. Weekly drinking increased incrementally from 22.9% at 13 years to 73.7% at 18 years. A third of the cohort at 18 years, based on past 7-day consumption, were drinking over twice ‘safe’ limits. Heavy drinkers were far more likely to be smokers and two-thirds (67.5%) had also used an illicit drug in the past year. The combining of alcohol and illicit drugs was widespread on ‘nights out’. Drug use was facilitated by going out drinking in respect of set, setting, access and intoxicated decision making. The ‘going out’ sub-sample in this cohort who drank heavily/used drugs have displayed few psychosocial risk markers. Most share the protective factors of being in education, employment or training and coming from conventional families. Practically significant ‘risks’ in the going-out group were situational and consequential, being related to their propensity to prioritise going out at weekends to get intoxicated as part of their ‘time out’. Public health/harm reduction initiatives are recommended to reduce negative outcomes.     

Drinking context and alcohol’s harm from others among men and women in the 2010 US National Alcohol Survey

Background: Little is known about how drinking in different contexts is associated with harms from someone else’s drinking, including marital problems, financial problems, and assault. We examined how drinking in four different contexts was associated with alcohol’s harm from others (AHFO). Methods: We utilized the landline sample of the 2010 US National Alcohol Survey (n = 5885) to examine associations between drinking context and AHFO using weighted binary logistic regression. Results: For women, drinking when friends dropped over was positively associated with assault and financial troubles due to someone else’s drinking. Drinking when friends dropped over was negatively associated with assault for men. For men, drinking at a bar, party, or during a quiet evening at home were each significantly associated with more assault by someone who had been drinking. Bar drinking among women was significantly associated with more marital problems, whereas drinking at a party at someone else’s home was associated with significantly less marital problems. Conclusions: Context-specific drinking has differential associations with specific types of harms from someone else’s drinking for men and women. Additional research on drinking context, relationship to the harmer, and violence experienced by men and women is needed.     

Interactions between migraine and tension-type headache and alcohol drinking, alcohol flushing, and hangover in Japanese

The aim of the study was to investigate associations between headache types and alcohol drinking, alcohol flushing, and hangover. Alcohol consumption is inhibited by the presence of inactive aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) whose carriers are susceptible to alcohol flushing and hangovers. We conducted a cross-sectional study of the 2,577 subjects (men/women: 1,018/1,559) who reported having ever experienced headaches unrelated to common colds and alcohol hangovers among 5,408 (2,778/2,630) Tokyo health checkup examinees. We used a questionnaire inquiring about current and past facial flushing after drinking a glass of beer which identifies the presence of inactive ALDH2 with a sensitivity and specificity of approximately 90%. Based on ICHD-II criteria migraine was diagnosed in 419 (75/344) subjects, and tension-type headache (TTH) in 613 (249/364). We classified the headaches of the remaining 1,545 (694/851) of headaches sufferers into the category “other headaches (OH)”. The migraineurs drank alcohol less frequently than the subjects with TTH among current/past alcohol flushers and than the subjects with OH regardless of flushing category. No such difference in drinking frequency was observed between TTH and OH. Current/past flushers drank alcohol less frequently than never flushers, and the likelihood that male migraineurs would avoid alcohol drinking than men with TTH or OH was stronger among current/past flushers than among never flushers. Flushers and women were more susceptible to hangover than never flushers and men, respectively, regardless of headache type. Among never flushers, women with migraine were more susceptible to hangover than women with OH. The difference in alcohol sensitivity may partly explain less alcohol consumption by migraineurs.     

Nonfatal overdose from alcohol and/or drugs among a sample of recreational drug users

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine nonfatal overdose events experienced among a sample of recreational drug users. We sought to determine predictors of nonfatal overdose from alcohol and/or drugs among a sample of recreational drug users. In addition, we examined the substance(s) used at the last overdose event. Methods: Participants were 637 recreational illicit drug users (had used illicit drugs other than marijuana, in a club or party setting), aged 19 or older, from Victoria or Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Data were obtained in structured interviews conducted from 2008 to 2012 as part of the Canadian Recreation Drug Use Survey (CRDUS). Results: In the 12 months prior to interview, 19.3% (n?=?123) of the participants had experienced an overdose. In multivariate analysis, younger age, unstable housing, and usually consuming eight or more drinks containing alcohol, when drinking, significantly increased overdose risk. In addition, polysubstance use was reported by 67.5% (n?=?83) participants at their last overdose event. Conclusions: Intervention and prevention measures seeking to reduce overdoses among recreational drug users should not only address illicit drug use but also alcohol and polysubstance use. In addition, measures may target those who usually consume high amounts of alcohol when drinking are younger and who experience housing instability.     

Context‐related drinking assessment in a community sample

Aims: The objective of this report was to determine if a context‐related drinking assessment would aid in the prediction of alcohol problems and alcohol dependence beyond the information provided by more general quantity/frequency measures.

Methods: Individuals were recruited from a study on bar violence (n = 637). In addition to a general quantity/frequency assessment of alcohol consumption, participants were asked to report their usual quantity and frequency of consumption in the past year at eight different situations. The context‐related measure was compared to the more general quantity/frequency assessment in terms of similarities between the assessments and their relation to measures of alcohol problems and dependence.

Findings: Both assessment techniques were highly correlated to each other and to all measures of alcohol problems and dependence. Among men, the context‐related assessment was significantly associated with alcohol problems and dependence, and it provided unique information beyond the general quantity/frequency measure. Among women, the context‐related measures provided no additional information.

Conclusions: For men, the addition of a context‐related drinking assessment to a more general quantity/frequency measure of consumption provides additional information about the relation between alcohol consumption and certain alcohol‐related problems.     

Do severity levels of substance use relate to self-reported variations in psychosocial distress?

This study aimed to examine whether patients who reported different severity levels of illicit substance use and alcohol differed in contemporary psychological distress and interpersonal problems. A patient sample (n = 352) was established from 16 treatment facilities for substance use disorders in Norway and by mailed questionnaires to patients at waiting lists and individuals who had completed their treatment. The response rates were 53 and 28% for data collected at the clinics and by mailed questionnaires, respectively. The questionnaire consisted of validated measures of substance use and the psychological constructs. The results showed stronger symptom load in the group manifesting severe levels of illicit substance use. Differences in alcohol consumption also reached significance. For illicit substances these differences were stronger for symptoms related to depression, anger and somatic issues, whereas differences were more substantial in anxiety symptoms related to alcohol consumption. Differences in interpersonal problems were marginal both for illicit substance use and alcohol. The results indicate that psychological distress is more directly associated with substance use than interpersonal problems. The role of interpersonal problems for substance consumption may be of a more indirect character than the connection between psychological distress and substance use.     

Substance use and problem awareness among drug-involved prisoners in Norway

This study aimed to investigate why female clients have a greater overall contact with the Leicestershire Community Alcohol Services compared with male clients. Data were collected from two main sources: the Service's database records on more than 500 clients, and a small sample structured questionnaire on 30 consecutive referrals. Results showed that, on entry to the treatment services, men tended to perceive alcohol as the cause of their other problems, whereas women considered that their problems caused them to drink alcohol. However, results also suggested that men were as likely as women to drink alcohol as a response to difficult situations, and it was found that there were no gender differences in the ‘readiness to change’ drinking behaviour. It was therefore concluded that gender differences in contact length with the community alcohol services were unlikely to be due to women not accepting alcohol as their main problem. However, differences in contact length could be affected by key workers tending to record and focus treatment only on the problem drinking per se in men, while attempting to resolve underlying problems as well as treating the drinking problems, in women. The discussion also considers whether gender differences in contact length may be affected by gender differences in the clients' alcohol-related problems, which were found to be of a more psychological nature in women, and a more socio-behavioural type in men.     

Alcohol consumption, clinical findings and retrospective psycho social data in a random sample of men in suburban Stockholm

A sample of 200 men from the general population of suburban Stockholm was investigated regarding alcohol consumption, with the aim of studying psychosocial factors in relation to consumption. Three symptoms related to heavy drinking were studied: (1) Inability to cut down or stop drinking, referred to here as subjective, relative loss of control over drinking; (2) morning shakes and malaise relieved by drinking, termed morning drinks; and (3) amnesia induced by alcohol, referred to as blackouts. The subjects were divided into three groups: (I) 41 men with low alcohol consumption without any symptom of alcoholism, (II) 106 men with low, moderate or high alcohol consumption with different numbers of such symptoms and (III) 53 heavy-drinking men with two or three symptoms. There was a higher frequency of psycho-somatic problems in group III (51%) (p less than 0.01) than in group I (22%). The children of group III had greater problems at school. Group III had more often been judged guilty of crimes (26%) (p less than 0.01) than groups II (12%) and I (5%). Group III had a significantly higher frequency of nervous problems (61%) than the other groups, and 8% of group III had been in-patients at a clinic for treatment of alcoholics.     

Association of Cannabis Use and At-Risk Alcohol Use With Intimate Partner Violence in an Urban ED Sample

IntroductionUrban ED patients have elevated rates of substance use and intimate partner violence. The purpose of this study is to describe the risk profiles for intimate partner violence among urban ED patients who report at-risk alcohol use only, cannabis use only, or both types of substance use.MethodsCross-sectional survey data were collected from study participants (N = 1037; 53% female; ages 18-50) following informed consent. We measured participants’ past-year at-risk drinking (women/men who had 4+/5+ drinks in a day), cannabis use, psychosocial and demographic characteristics, and past-year physical intimate partner violence (assessed with the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale). We used bivariate analysis to assess whether rates of intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization differed by type of substance use behavior. Multivariate logistic regression models were estimated for each intimate partner violence outcome. All analyses were stratified by gender.ResultsRates of intimate partner violence differed significantly by type of substance use behavior and were highest among those who reported both at-risk drinking and cannabis use. Multivariate analysis showed that women who reported at-risk drinking only, cannabis use only, or both types of substance use had increased odds for intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization compared with women who reported neither type of substance use. Men’s at-risk drinking and cannabis use were not associated with elevated odds of intimate partner violence perpetration or victimization.DiscussionBrief screening of patients’ at-risk drinking and cannabis use behaviors may help identify those at greater risk for intimate partner violence and those in need of referral to treatment.     

Alcohol use among young adults presenting to the emergency department

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of young ED patients at risk from hazardous alcohol consumption, to identify high‐risk patient subgroups and evaluate the feasibility of use of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) in this setting. Methods: We undertook a cross‐sectional survey of 336 ED patients aged 18–30 years, inclusive. All were breathalysed prior to self‐administering the AUDIT. A ‘positive’ AUDIT score (≥8) defined hazardous alcohol consumption. AUDIT scores were correlated with sex and trauma diagnosis. Results: One hundred and thirty‐one (39.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 33.8–44.5) patients were classified as AUDIT‐positive. Men were significantly more likely to be AUDIT‐positive (49%vs 23%, P < 0.001) and had significantly higher total AUDIT scores (P < 0.001) than women. Trauma patients were significantly more likely to be AUDIT‐positive (P < 0.001) and had significantly higher AUDIT scores than non‐trauma patients (P < 0.001). Of the six patients who recorded a positive breath alcohol reading, all were AUDIT‐positive. One hundred (76.3%, 95% CI 68.0–83.1) AUDIT‐positive patients did not report others being concerned about their drinking or had not been given advice to cut down. Conclusion: It is feasible to use the AUDIT screening tool in the ED to identify those at risk from hazardous drinking. In our ED there is a high prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption in young adult patients, many of whom have not previously received advice to cut down on their drinking.     

Illicit drug use and experience of harm in the night-time economy

Abstract

The study investigates illicit drug use in the night-time economy and its association with intoxication, harm and violence experienced by licensed venue patrons. Five-minute structured interviews measuring event-level data were conducted over a 15-month period (March 2010–June 2011) between 9 pm and 1 am. A total of 3949 patrons were interviewed in Newcastle and Geelong, Australian regional cities close to capital cities. Mean age was 24.3 years old (SD=5.8) and 54.4% were male. Six percent of the sample self-reported consuming illicit substances at the time of interview; 7.3% at nightclub venues, 11.8% in the street, 5.5% in pubs and 2.8% in bars. Amphetamines, methamphetamines and ecstasy accounted for two-thirds of substance use. Patrons who reported consuming illicit drugs were 1.90 times as likely to be involved in a prior violent incident (OR 1.35–2.70 95% CI, p?<?0.001). Participants who reported illicit drug use at the time of interview were likely to be 0.89 (p?<?0.001) points higher on self-reported intoxication scale (0–10), and were more likely to have engaged in high risk alcohol consumption χ² (1, n?=?3396)?=?9.63, p?<?0.01) than those who did not report using drugs. Illicit drug use contributes significantly to the burden of harm and intoxication in night-time environments, despite being a minority behavior.     

Myocardial infarction: gender differences in coping and social support

AIM: The aim of this review is to summarize current knowledge about gender differences in perceptions of coping and social support among patients who have experienced myocardial infarction. RATIONALE: Women with coronary heart disease have physical, social and medical disadvantages compared with their male counterparts, which can influence their perception of recovery after cardiac events. No review has been found which focuses on gender differences in coping and social support in myocardial infarction patients. METHOD: A computerized search was conducted using the keywords 'myocardial infarction', 'coping', 'gender differences' and 'social support'. Forty-one articles, published between 1990 and October 2002, were scrutinized. FINDINGS: Two studies report that women used more coping strategies than men. Several qualitative studies found that women used a variety of coping strategies. Women minimized the impact of the disease, tended to delay in seeking treatment and did not want to bother others with their health problems. Household activities were important to them and aided their recovery. Men were more likely to involve their spouses in their recovery, and resuming work and keeping physically fit were important to them. Women tended to report that they had less social support up to 1 year after a myocardial infarction compared with men. They received less information about the disease and rehabilitation and experienced lack of belief in their heart problems from caregivers. Further, they received less assistance with household duties from informal caregivers. Men tended to report more support from their spouses than did women. CONCLUSIONS: Traditional gender-role patterns may influence the recovery of patients who have experienced myocardial infarction. Caregivers may need to be more sensitive to gender-specific needs with regard to risk profiles, social roles, and the patient's own role identity. For many women, especially older ones, household duties and family responsibilities may be an opportunity and a base for cardiac rehabilitation.     

Perceived health status in African American and Caucasian men 40 to 70 years old

There is limited data on the relationship between perceived health status and the demographic variables of education and income in African American men. A sample of 2,001 men (72% African Americans and 28% Caucasians) who were participating in prostate cancer screening was studied to identify predictors of men's health status. Data on the concepts of self-rated health status, age, race, education, income, living arrangements, and marital status were collected. Findings indicated that men who were more likely to report excellent health status were older Caucasians, had more than a high school education, an annual income over 25,021 dollars, were living with others, and were married. Men more likely to report fair health status were older African Americans, unmarried, had less than a high school education, had an annual income less than 9,600 dollars, were living alone, and were unmarried. Implications for targeting at-risk men are presented.     

Screening for hazardous drinking in a population of well women

Previous research suggests that only about 15% of people who experience alcohol problems come to the notice of healthcare providers. Research has also shown that there is often a failure among healthcare providers to identify alcohol problems in patients whose primary presentation is not overtly alcohol related. It has been implied that this failure is contributed to by a lack of training and support on the part of the organization. This article reports on a project in which a group of health visitors were trained in a brief method of screening for and intervention with alcohol problems and then supported in identifying and intervening with women among their caseload who were drinking at unsafe levels. The sample comprised 430 'well women' between the ages of 18 and 45 years, with no known previous or current alcohol-related problem. All the women were on the caseloads of health visitors in one health board area and all women had children under the age of 16 years. It was found at screening that 13% of the sample consumed more than 14 units of alcohol per week. Consumption was measured 6 months after one session of minimal intervention, and it was found that 92% of the intervention group reduced their alcohol consumption. Mean consumption had decreased by 55%, from 21.11 units to 9.24 units per week. Among those women whose drinking had been at levels which were potentially problematic (capable of sustaining physical, psychological or social problems due to alcohol consumption), the mean weekly amount consumed decreased by 59% from 30.7 units weekly to 12.43 units.     

"Nurse, I only had a couple of beers": validity of self-reported drinking before serious vehicular injury.

BACKGROUND: Of the more than 40000 Americans killed each year in vehicular crashes, 40% are involved in alcohol-related collisions. Although self-reported alcohol use has become an anchor for alcohol intervention after traffic crashes, clinicians are often skeptical about the truthfulness of self-reporting. OBJECTIVE: To determine the validity of self-reported alcohol consumption of vehicular occupants hospitalized for a serious, alcohol-related injury. METHODS: Non-alcohol-dependent subjects 18 years and older who were injured in motor vehicle crashes were interviewed. The self-reported number of standard drinks, time that drinking commenced, sex, and weight were used to calculate estimated blood alcohol concentration. This value was compared with the blood alcohol concentration measured at admission. RESULTS: Of the 181 subjects, 60% provided sufficient data to calculate the estimated concentration. Seven men with admission concentrations of 10 mg/dL or more denied drinking. Among the 113 subjects with estimated concentrations who acknowledged drinking (excluding the 7 who denied drinking), the mean concentration at admission was 158.67 mg/dL, and mean estimated concentration was 83.81 mg/dL. According to multiple regression analyses, weight and number of drinks accounted for 3% of the variance in alcohol concentration at admission for women (R=0.174, F2,40=0.623, P=.54) and for 29% of the variance in men (R=0.543, F2,128=26.71, P< .001). CONCLUSIONS: Most persons who drink before vehicular injury acknowledge drinking. Self-reported data from men generally reflect the overall trend of alcohol consumption but with systematic underreporting. Reports from women are less predictable.     

The association of social networks with substance use among homeless men in Los Angeles who have unprotected sex with women

Abstract

This study examined the association between social network characteristics and heavy drinking and crack use among homeless men who had unprotected sex with women. This study focused on network members with whom homeless men used substances. Of 305 randomly selected homeless men in Los Angeles, California, 182 participants who had unprotected sex with women during the previous 6 months were included in the final analysis. To obtain social network data, respondents were asked to provide the first names of 20 individuals they had contact with during the previous 6 months. In the final multivariate logistic regression model, social network characteristics were examined as possible influences on heavy drinking and crack use. The likelihood of heavy drinking was significantly increased by the proportion of network members with whom homeless men used alcohol. Likelihood of crack use was also associated with the proportion of network members with whom the respondent used drugs. Results indicated that using alcohol and drugs with network members increased the odds of heavy drinking and crack use among participants. Interventions to reduce substance use among homeless men who have unprotected sex may help them reduce ties with individuals with whom they drink and use drugs.