Showing papers in "Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs in 1991"
TL;DR: Individual drinking patterns and the perceived typical drinking patterns of close friends and reference groups were assessed in two different studies with college students and it was interpreted that reports of others' drinking were exaggerated.
Abstract: Individual drinking patterns and the perceived typical drinking patterns of close friends and reference groups were assessed in two different studies with college students. In both studies virtually all students reported that their friends drank more than they did. These effects were found across different levels of individual drinking, within different types of samples, across gender of subjects and with different types of questionnaire assessment. In addition, students' estimates of typical or average drinking within their own social living groups were significantly higher than average drinking within the group estimated from self-reports. Because of the consistent, asymmetrical pattern of reports of self and other drinking, it was interpreted that reports of others' drinking were exaggerated. These biases were particularly evident within organized social groups (i.e., fraternities and sororities) but were minimal in reference to "students in general" or "people in general." Results are discussed in terms of cognitive and motivational factors that potentially could promote or excuse excessive drinking practices among college students.
694Â citations
TL;DR: The results of this first effort to establish initial cost/effectiveness considerations are intended to stimulate researchers to conduct the types of clinical studies where both cost and effectiveness are carefully measured to increase the scientific basis for future cost/Effect policy considerations.
Abstract: This study undertakes an analysis of cost effectiveness of alcoholism treatment modalities based upon (1) findings from clinical trials, (2) costs for treatment in settings and/or by providers and (3) recommendations from treatment experts about appropriate settings, providers and treatment events. This analysis, which assumes a prototypic patient, suggests that modalities with the most evidence of effectiveness (based on three or more clinical trials) are not the most expensive. Within this study, total cost of care was negatively related to effectiveness. Modalities categorized as having insufficient evidence of effectiveness (i.e., lacking three or more clinical trials) are in the higher cost categories. The results of this first effort to establish initial cost/effectiveness considerations are intended to stimulate researchers to conduct the types of clinical studies where both cost and effectiveness are carefully measured to increase the scientific basis for future cost/effect policy considerations. The authors expect future clinical studies will revise the results of this initial effort.
385Â citations
TL;DR: The relative risks of fatal crash involvement at various blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) were examined using data on fatal driver injuries from the Fatal Accident Reporting System in conjunction with driver exposure data from the second national road-side breath-testing survey to estimate relative risk estimates considerably higher than estimated in other studies.
Abstract: The relative risks of fatal crash involvement at various blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) were examined using data on fatal driver injuries from the Fatal Accident Reporting System in conjunction with driver exposure data from the second national road-side breath-testing survey. Based on driver fatalities in single-vehicle crashes, it was estimated that each 0.02 percentage increase in the BAC of a driver with non-zero BAC nearly doubles the risk of being in a fatal crash. Crash risk was found to increase with increasing BAC among all of the six age and sex groups studied. At BACs in the 0.05-0.09 percent range, the likelihood of a crash was at least nine times greater than at zero BAC for all age groups. Younger drivers with BACs in the 0.05-0.09 range had higher relative risks than older drivers, and females had higher relative risks than males. At very high BACs (at or above 0.15 percent), the risk of crashing was 300 to 600 times the risk at zero or near-zero BACs. These relative risk estimates are...
284Â citations
TL;DR: For example, this article found that higher minimum drinking ages were associated with lower levels of alcohol use among high school seniors and recent high school graduates, even after multivariate controls, and the lower levels persisted into the early 20s, and lowered involvement in alcohol-related fatal crashes among drivers under 21 appeared due to lower alcohol consumption rates.
Abstract: This study has two separate but related purposes: (1) to delineate cross-sectional differences among U.S. high school seniors and young adults that may be due to variations in recent years in state-level minimum drinking age laws and (2) to examine the effects of recent changes in minimum drinking age laws on alcohol consumption and other relevant attitudes and behaviors. Analyses used existing data collected by the Monitoring the Future project, an ongoing study involving annual, nationally representative surveys of high school seniors and annual follow-up surveys by mail of recent graduates. A separate, coordinated study used time-series analyses of official reports to examine effects of increases in the minimum drinking age in several states on rates of fatal crashes. Time-series results were compared with findings from self-report data. The major findings include: higher minimum drinking ages were associated with lower levels of alcohol use among high school seniors and recent high school graduates, even after multivariate controls; lower levels of alcohol use were observed across a number of demographic variables; the lower levels of use persisted into the early 20s, even after all respondents were of legal age; and lowered involvement in alcohol-related fatal crashes among drivers under 21 appeared due to lower alcohol consumption rates--in particular, less drinking in bars or taverns.
272Â citations
TL;DR: Results of repeated-measures MANCOVAS performed on alcohol-use patterns across time as a function of marital-transition group supported the notion that individuals begin moderating their alcohol consumption prior to their actual transition to married status with the trend continuing into the first year of marriage.
Abstract: Earlier findings have suggested that marriage may provide protection from a variety of physical and psychological problems In particular, numerous studies have demonstrated a consistent relationship between marital status and alcohol use To examine this relationship more carefully, we performed a longitudinal analysis of data collected on the Youth Cohort of the National Longitudinal Survey of Labor Market Experience Four marital transition groups were constructed based upon marital status across a 3-year period: stably single, married year 3, married year 2 and stably married Results of repeated-measures MANCOVAS performed on alcohol-use patterns across time as a function of marital-transition group supported the notion that individuals begin moderating their alcohol consumption prior to their actual transition to married status with the trend continuing into the first year of marriage The data further suggested that this decline in alcohol use stabilizes shortly thereafter, apparently within 1 year
203Â citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that the quality of program delivery and reception may play an important moderating function on prevention program effectiveness.
Abstract: This study reports the results of a test of the quality of program delivery (program integrity) as a variable that may moderate the effectiveness of alcohol prevention programs. Two theory-based programs, Resistance Training and Normative Education, were delivered to fifth-grade students who were then tested on program relevant mediating variables. Resistance Training was found to improve students' knowledge of peer pressure resistance strategies, their performance on a behavioral assessment of peer pressure resistance skills and the manifestation of their future intentions to drink alcohol. Normative Education was found to improve students' perceptions of a conservative norm regarding alcohol use, facilitated their belief that refusing unwanted offers to drink alcohol could be easily accomplished and reduced their perceptions of the prevalence of alcohol use. Program integrity was measured by program specialists who taught the programs to students and by trained observers. Ratings of program integrity were found to significantly moderate outcomes for three of seven mediating variables. Affected were knowledge of peer pressure resistance strategies, behavioral pressure resistance skills and perceived self-efficacy. These results suggest that the quality of program delivery and reception may play an important moderating function on prevention program effectiveness.
176Â citations
TL;DR: The data show a substantially elevated mortality risk among patients who were followed 2 years and 10 years later after an index residential treatment episode, and the average course is one of modest improvement.
Abstract: This study examines the course of alcoholism for a sample of patients who were followed 2 years and 10 years later after an index residential treatment episode. The alcoholic patients were 9.5 times as likely to die as matched community controls over the 8-year interval between the two follow-ups, a ratio considerably higher than that found in previous studies. Of the 83 surviving and successfully followed patients, 57% were classified as remitted at the 10-year follow-up. Of the patients classified as remitted at the 2-year follow-up and recontacted 8 years later, 77% had the same outcome status at the long-term follow-up, 67% of the initially relapsed patients retained that status at the 10-year follow-up. The 10-year remitted patients generally were functioning as well as matched, nonproblem-drinking community controls, whereas the relapsed patients exhibited dysfunction in a number of areas. Retrospective data on drinking patterns during each of the 6 years prior to the 10-year follow-up indicated a slight increase over time in the proportion of patients reporting abstinence or nonproblem drinking, with a concomitant decrease in the proportion indicating heavy or binge drinking. Overall, our data show a substantially elevated mortality risk among these alcoholic patients. For those patients who survive, however, the average course is one of modest improvement.
165Â citations
TL;DR: Results indicate that recently detoxified males experience multiple anxiety symptoms, with 40% reporting significantly elevated levels of state anxiety at admission (greater than or equal to 75th percentile) and by the second week of treatment state anxiety scores typically returned to the normal range although symptoms continued to decrease significantly with each week of continued abstinence.
Abstract: Symptoms of anxiety are prevalent features of alcoholics seeking treatment. In the present study levels of state anxiety among male primary alcoholics (with no preexisting major psychiatric disorders) were examined 3 times per week during inpatient treatment for alcoholism and again at 3 months following treatment. The 171 male alcoholics also completed the trait scale of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory upon admission to an inpatient program and at 3 months following treatment. Results indicate that recently detoxified males experience multiple anxiety symptoms, with 40% reporting significantly elevated levels of state anxiety at admission (greater than or equal to 75th percentile). By the second week of treatment state anxiety scores typically returned to the normal range although symptoms continued to decrease significantly with each week of continued abstinence. Elevated levels of anxiety symptoms were more common among primary alcoholics with a history of panic episodes or generalized anxiety disorder symptoms. While abstainers and relapsers did not differ in level of anxiety observed during treatment, the relapsers report significantly higher state and trait anxiety scores at follow-up.
140Â citations
TL;DR: Examination of chemical usage and social-civil-productive functioning in 157 male and female chemically dependent adolescents at 6, 12 and 24 months after leaving an AA/NA-based treatment program indicated that the AA/ NA model is a promising approach in treating chemically dependent teenagers, but that much attention to relapse prevention methods is necessary.
Abstract: Many hospital and residential chemical dependency treatment facilities utilize Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) principles and practices in therapeutic programming. Although well-known and broadly endorsed and supported, such AA/NA approaches have received little research attention especially in regard to chemically dependent adolescents. The present study examined chemical usage and social-civil-productive functioning in 157 male and female chemically dependent adolescents at 6, 12 and 24 months after leaving an AA/NA-based treatment program. Results revealed that both treatment completers and noncompleters (those who left treatment prematurely against professional/medical advice) demonstrated less chemical use after their respective hospitalizations than before. Although significantly higher percentages of both male and female treatment completers were found abstinent/essentially abstinent at 6 months post discharge in contrast to noncompleters, abstinence rates, particularly for male subjects, declined sharply by 1 and 2 years after treatment. Results indicated that the AA/NA model is a promising approach in treating chemically dependent adolescents, but that much attention to relapse prevention methods is necessary.
138Â citations
TL;DR: Depression, loneliness and lack of social support were the most frequently reported antecedents to preadmission drinking behavior for both groups of elderly alcohol abusers, but early-onset subjects were more likely to have changed residence, were intoxicated more often and experienced more severe levels of depression and anxiety.
Abstract: The present study compared antecedents to recent drinking for two groups of elderly alcohol abusers admitted for treatment. Twenty-three early-onset alcohol abusers were matched with 23 late-onset alcohol abusers according to age and sex. Depression, loneliness and lack of social support were the most frequently reported antecedents to preadmission drinking behavior for both groups. However, early-onset subjects were more likely to have changed residence, were intoxicated more often and experienced more severe levels of depression and anxiety. Late-onset subjects had greater life satisfaction and motivation for treatment, but were rated by collaterals as having more severe alcohol problems. Early-onset subjects were more likely to drop out of treatment. Treatment implications for age-related commonalities are discussed.
131Â citations
TL;DR: Engaging in deviant behavior or doing poorly in school did not predict future drinking among baseline nonusers, but did foretell which of the 7th-grade initiates were most likely to engage in binge drinking during grade 8.
Abstract: Testing separate path analytic models for 7th-grade users and nonusers, we assess the impact of cognitive, social influence and behavioral antecedents on adolescent drinking 3 and 12 months later. For the group that had not tried alcohol by grade 7, we found that social influence factors--exposure to peers who drink or use marijuana and to adults who drink--foster more frequent alcohol use and binge drinking in the near future (3 months later). The key peer influences on binge drinking were marijuana-specific. After 12 months, the child's own drinking experience during grade 7 and peer and parental attitudes toward drugs emerge as important explanatory variables. For children who had already started drinking by grade 7, cognitive--as well as social and behavioral factors--affect near- and longer-term alcohol involvement. While the child's prior drinking habits have the strongest impact, baseline expectations of using alcohol also predict frequency of alcohol use and binge drinking after 3 and 12 months. B...
TL;DR: The results indicated some utility of the CAGE in general population surveys, a 4-item self-report screening test designed to identify problem drinkers, among 703 drinkers aged 18 and over interviewed in a general population survey.
Abstract: This article examines the use of the CAGE scale, a 4-item self-report screening test designed to identify problem drinkers, among 703 drinkers aged 18 and over interviewed in a general population survey. The results showed that 10.9% of drinkers reported two or more items affirmatively, the suggested cut-off indicative of problem drinking. This rate is similar to the percentage of drinkers who consume four or more standard drinks daily, derived from aggregate per capita consumption estimates. Factor analysis of the items showed a unidimensional scale with good psychometric properties. Other cut-offs are also compared with other alcoholism estimates. In general, the results indicated some utility of the CAGE in general population surveys.
TL;DR: Results indicated that adult children of alcoholics did not differ from the comparison group on the majority of measures that assessed multiple aspects of psychological well-being and personality development, however, adult childrenof alcoholics scored significantly higher on the measures of anxiety and depression than did adults from nonalcoholic families.
Abstract: This research investigated the psychological adjustment of adult children of alcoholics. Few studies have explored the long-term effects of this childhood experience. The total sample (N = 239) included 114 adult children of alcoholics and 125 sociodemographically comparable adults from nonalcoholic family environments. The sample was further divided into young- and middle-adult age groups and men and women. All respondents completed a self-report instrument that included standardized measures of psychological well-being, emotional distress, personality characteristics and psychological development. Results indicated that adult children of alcoholics did not differ from the comparison group on the majority of measures that assessed multiple aspects of psychological well-being and personality development. However, adult children of alcoholics scored significantly higher on the measures of anxiety and depression than did adults from nonalcoholic families. Few gender differences were obtained in the overall pattern of results. The findings are discussed in light of the generally negative clinical descriptions of adult children of alcoholics and the need to implement future research that will explain the apparent variability in the psychological functioning of adult children of alcoholics.
TL;DR: Genetic models were fitted to self-report data on frequency of alcohol consumption and average quantity consumed when drinking, from 3,810 adult Australian twin pairs to allow for two routes to abstinence.
Abstract: Genetic models were fitted to self-report data on frequency of alcohol consumption and average quantity consumed when drinking, from 3,810 adult Australian twin pairs. Frequency of consumption is determined both by an abstinence dimension, which is strongly influenced by shared environmental effects but not by genetic effects, and by an independent frequency dimension, which is influenced by genetic effects in both sexes and possibly by shared environmental affects in men. Quantity of alcohol consumed is likewise determined by an environmental abstinence dimension and by an independent and partly heritable quantity dimension. The best-fitting model allowed for two routes to abstinence: those who were not abstainers by virtue of their position on the abstinence dimension could nonetheless become abstainers by their position on the second, frequency (or quantity) dimension. Heritability estimates were 66% in women and 42-75% in men, for frequency; and 57% in women and 24-61% in men, for quantity.
TL;DR: Patients with a long history of heavy drinking, high daily alcohol consumption and history of previous alcoholism treatment were most likely to be readmitted with an alcoholism-related primary diagnosis, and other major psychiatric disorders, polysubstances abuse and sociodemographic variables did not appear to predict time to readmission.
Abstract: The current study was undertaken primarily to identify whether psychiatric co-morbidity was associated with the rate and time of alcohol-related inpatient readmissions for a group of 255 patients discharged from alcoholism treatment at a midwestern rural medical center. A structured interview obtained information regarding psychiatric disorders, including depression, antisocial personality disorders and polysubstance abuse, as well as alcohol history and sociodemographics. Ninety-eight subjects (38.4% of sample) were readmitted for alcoholism-related diagnoses within 15 months of discharge. Patients with a long history of heavy drinking, high daily alcohol consumption and history of previous alcoholism treatment were most likely to be readmitted with an alcoholism-related primary diagnosis. Once these variables were controlled for, other major psychiatric disorders, polysubstances abuse and sociodemographic variables did not appear to predict time to readmission. However, other potentially more sensitive outcome measures such as return to drinking were not evaluated in the present study.
TL;DR: This study is the first to report the occurrence of facial flushing and raised blood acetaldehyde concentration among Japanese alcoholics, and a great difference in response to alcohol between alcoholics and healthy men.
Abstract: The correlation among degrees of alcohol intoxication, facial flushing, blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and blood acetaldehyde level was studied in 117 male alcoholic patients who underwent various tests to assess alcohol influence. Blood samples were collected and alcohol and acetaldehyde levels were determined. BACs ranged from 29 to 577 mg/dl in all patients and from 200 to 299 mg/dl in 48 of them. Fifty-one patients could stand erect (mean BAC [+/- SD] = 189 +/- 80 mg/dl), while 48 showed apparently normal reaction to a walking and turning test (mean BAC = 192 +/- 78 mg/dl). Some of the cases having BACs over 300 mg/dl could still stand and walk while others with BACs under 100 mg/dl already showed psychomotor impairment. Facial flushing was recognized in 75% of the subjects. Acetaldehyde concentrations in 27 patients ranged from 24 to 147 micrograms/dl. Appearance of facial flushing was correlated with relatively high concentrations of blood acetaldehyde. Seven out of 10 healthy volunteers given 1.6 to 2.0 g/kg of alcohol as a control could do nothing but sleep after reaching peak BAC (mean = 232 +/- 21 mg/dl). These findings are taken to indicate a great difference in response to alcohol between alcoholics and healthy men. This study is the first to report the occurrence of facial flushing and raised blood acetaldehyde concentration among Japanese alcoholics.
TL;DR: The purpose of this study is to illustrate the similarities between the alcoholic woman and the incest-surviving woman, and to present a persuasive argument that multidisciplinary research efforts are essential in order to promote more effectively the identification, diagnosis and treatment of women who suffer both alcoholism and incest.
Abstract: This study examines the historical treatment of two phenomena that impact negatively on the lives of millions of women--incest and alcoholism--and explores the similarities in characteristics of alcoholic women and women with histories of incest. Prior to the early 1980s, incest histories were rarely mentioned in the literature on alcohol. Similarly, the literature on incest makes only passing references to alcohol abuse among adolescent and adult survivors. Hence, formal research comparisons between the alcoholic woman and the incest-surviving woman are lacking. The purpose of this study is not merely to illustrate the similarities between the alcoholic woman and the incest-surviving woman, but also to present a persuasive argument that multidisciplinary research efforts are essential in order to promote more effectively the identification, diagnosis and treatment of women who suffer both alcoholism and incest. To accomplish these goals, this study presents parallel reviews of (1) women and alcohol and (2) women and incest, then develops a comparative profile of the alcoholic woman and the incest-surviving woman. Additionally, the relatively sparse information on the alcoholic incest-surviving woman is reviewed. This study points to the need for further research in order to address the compelling question that emerges: Why do some incest-surviving women become alcoholic while others do not?
TL;DR: The data indicate that the incidence of alcohol-impaired driving on weekend nights has fallen by one-third or more in the United States since 1973 and that the decline affected most population subgroups.
Abstract: Studies of motor vehicle fatality data have indicated that alcohol involvement in fatal crashes has declined substantially in the United States since 1980 To determine the actual incidence of alcohol-impaired drivers on US roads, a national roadside survey using portable breath-testing devices was carried out in 32 localities in the spring of 1986 The same sampling design and survey procedures used in a 1973 national roadside survey were followed as much as possible The 1986 survey found 31% of the late-night weekend drivers to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 010% or more, compared to 49% of drivers in 1973 Similarly, 83% of the 1986 drivers were at or above 005% BAC, compared to 135% in 1973 The data indicate that the incidence of alcohol-impaired driving on weekend nights has fallen by one-third or more in the United States since 1973 and that the decline affected most population subgroups
TL;DR: Sex differences in drinking style when considering both alcoholics and nonalcoholics (controls) were examined, indicating sex differences in problem drinking practices corrected, as it were, forsex differences in normal drinking practices.
Abstract: This study examined sex differences in drinking style when considering both alcoholics and nonalcoholics (controls). The Alcohol Use Inventory was employed as a descriptive instrument. Of the 16 primary scales two results of significant interaction were obtained indicating sex differences in problem drinking practices corrected, as it were, for sex differences in normal drinking practices. Female alcoholics used alcohol to alter their mood more than did the alcoholic men, whereas women in the control group used it less for this purpose than did the male controls. The second interaction effect indicated that female alcoholics drank in response to marital difficulties much more than did male alcoholics. The control women, by contrast, demonstrated less of a likelihood to drink for this reason than did male controls.
TL;DR: A significant overall increase in observed intervention was found in visits to participating establishments and no change was found within the comparison group, however, there was a significant intervention-by-state interaction with positive changes occurring in only five of the eight states.
Abstract: The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of server-intervention education and the effect of various situational variables upon program effectiveness A 6-hour server education program was administered to 876 servers and 203 managers of 100 licensed establishments in eight states Participants in the program were administered knowledge, attitude and behavior self-report measures prior to and following the program Each establishment was also visited three to four times, before and after the program, by staff observers exhibiting visible signs of intoxication Equal numbers of visits were also made to a comparison group of 138 establishments in the same communities as the establishments participating in the program Significant improvement in knowledge, attitude and self-reported behavior was found among program participants A significant overall increase in observed intervention was found in visits to participating establishments and no change was found within the comparison group However, there was a significant intervention-by-state interaction with positive changes occurring in only five of the eight states Differences among states in observed intervention were not related to dram shop law, but did appear to be related to prior level of intervention, type of establishment and business volume Unfortunately, even after training, intervention was observed in only 20% of the 1,590 visits, and only 7% of the visits resulted in terminating service The lack of incentives for discontinuing service to intoxicated patrons is discussed Language: en
TL;DR: Results indicated that parental alcoholism in addition to creating an adverse family environment had an effect on the relative risk for maladjustment in the offspring (as measured by scores on the Child Behavior Checklist), suggesting that the effects of parental alcoholism on children ages 4 to 16 may not be different from the consequences of parental mental illness per se.
Abstract: The relationship between parental alcoholism and risk for maladjustment in the offspring was investigated in a community sample. Children of parents who met criteria for DIS/DSM-III alcohol abuse or dependence and children of parents who met criteria for ten other diagnoses were compared to children of "normal" parents. The data were obtained from the merging of the data banks of two major psychiatric epidemiology studies of the adult (17-64) and child (4-16) population of Puerto Rico. Results indicated that parental alcoholism in addition to creating an adverse family environment had an effect on the relative risk for maladjustment in the offspring (as measured by scores on the Child Behavior Checklist). Although previous studies have reported higher levels of externalizing behaviors in children of alcoholics, an increased risk for internalizing symptoms was observed in the children studied. Similar findings were obtained for the children of parents with other psychiatric disorders suggesting that the effects of parental alcoholism in children ages 4 to 16 may not be different from the consequences of parental mental illness per se.
TL;DR: Privatization was associated with statistically significant increases in wine sales in Iowa and West Virginia, and there was a net increase in absolute alcohol consumed in both states across all beverages (beer, wine and distilled spirits) associated with privatization.
Abstract: Several proposals to change the existing structure of state alcoholic beverage control authorities have been advanced over the past 10 years in the United States. Most call for eliminating or substantially reducing the state's role in retail sales of alcohol, particularly distilled spirits and wines. In recent years the states of Iowa and West Virginia eliminated state monopolies for retail sales of wine, and now allow such sales by privately-owned licensed establishments. Using time-series methods, we assessed the effects of these policy changes on the alcoholic beverage market in each state. Privatization was associated with statistically significant increases in wine sales in Iowa and West Virginia, after controlling for an initial stocking effect and broader nationwide trends in alcohol sales in the 1980s. In addition, there was a net increase in absolute alcohol consumed in both states across all beverages (beer, wine and distilled spirits) associated with privatization.
TL;DR: Results supported the major hypotheses that the RD would detect more overall consumption, heavy drinking and peak drinking than the quantity-frequency measure and demonstrated good consistency between the Q-F and RD as well as comparable correlations with the alcohol problem score.
Abstract: As part of a larger study of college drinking, the quantity-frequency (Q-F) measure of alcohol consumption was compared to the retrospective diary (RD) method with 494 drinkers out of 606 respondents (75.8%) of 800 randomly selected undergraduates. Respondents were representative by sex and year in school of virtually all full-time undergraduates at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. The study tested the hypothesis that the RD would yield higher estimates of average alcohol consumption and of "heavy drinking" as defined by NIAAA typology (average two or more drinks per day) and of "peak drinking," a Q-F standard consisting of five or more drinks at least once per week. The study also compared the two methods as correlates of self-reported problems related to drinking. Results supported the major hypotheses that the RD would detect more overall consumption, heavy drinking and peak drinking than the Q-F. Results also demonstrated good consistency between the Q-F and RD as well as comparable correl...
TL;DR: The psychometric properties of a newly developed 7-item machismo measure are described and interaction effects of machismo, self-esteem and education as predictors of alcohol use in these racial/ethnic subgroups are examined.
Abstract: This study seeks to clarify the relevance of machismo to patterns of high maximum drinking among male drinkers. Specifically, the study describes the psychometric properties of a newly developed 7-item machismo measure, compares levels of machismo and self-esteem for a sample of Anglo, black and Mexican-American males, and examines both main and interaction effects of machismo, self-esteem and education as predictors of alcohol use in these racial/ethnic subgroups. Logistic regression analyses document interaction between race/ethnicity, machismo, self-esteem and education, which calls into question the presumed importance of machismo as a cultural element causing heavy drinking patterns among Mexican-American males.
TL;DR: Logistic regression analyses performed indicated that white males from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, living in urban or suburban areas and having an external locus of control and a weak family orientation, tended to drink more frequently and consume a larger quantity of alcohol per drinking episode.
Abstract: The relative influence of a number of family and individual characteristics on the frequency and intensity of alcohol use in a group of older adolescents was assessed. The sample consisted of 8,661 persons ranging in age from 20 to 21 years obtained from the "High School and Beyond" study. Logistic regression analyses performed on both frequency and intensity of alcohol use indicated that white males from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, living in urban or suburban areas and having an external locus of control and a weak family orientation, tended to drink more frequently and consume a larger quantity of alcohol per drinking episode. Results are explained from a sociocultural perspective.
TL;DR: Substantial decreases in per capita consumption and increases in AA membership were significantly associated with decreases in cirrhosis rates, as predicted.
Abstract: Cirrhosis mortality and morbidity rates have declined in many jurisdictions, including the U.S., in recent years. Previous research in Canada and Europe suggests that these declines are linked to changes in per capita consumption of alcohol and changes in the availability and/or utilization of services to reduce abusive drinking (e.g., treatment, Alcoholics Anonymous). In this study, changes in cirrhosis death rates in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia between 1974 and 1983 were regressed onto changes in per capita consumption (1974-83). AA membership (1974-83) and alcoholism treatment (1979-82). No significant relationship between treatment and cirrhosis changes was observed; however, the measure of change in treatment may not reflect the full extent of changes that occurred in the 1974-83 period. As predicted, decreases in per capita consumption and increases in AA membership were significantly associated with decreases in cirrhosis rates.
TL;DR: Using data from a large, nationally representative sample, multiple regressions using sex, ethnicity, age and educational status showed that drinking patterns of college students differed significantly from those of dropouts, high school graduates and former college students.
Abstract: Using data from a large, nationally representative sample, multiple regressions using sex, ethnicity, age and educational status showed that drinking patterns of college students differed significantly from those of dropouts, high school graduates and former college students. College students were more likely to use alcohol but tended to drink less quantity per drinking day than nonstudents of the same age. Sex differences were smaller among college students than among other groups, especially in proportions of abstainers. While whites were most likely to drink if they were in college, among blacks the college students were the least likely to drink. Age had little association with drinking. Conclusions based on in-school samples may not generalize well to nonschool populations and should be tested, if possible, using more representative databases.
TL;DR: The results of this study suggest that, when the SMAST is used for screening in an ambulatory care clinic population, the optimum balance of sensitivity and specificity is achieved using an unweighted cut-off score of two or greater.
Abstract: Two hundred and eighty subjects in three ambulatory care clinics participated in this study designed to assess the psychometric properties of the SMAST using DSM-III criteria for alcoholism as the diagnostic standard. Eighty-two subjects (30%) who completed the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule met DSM-III criteria for alcohol abuse and/or dependence. The sensitivity of the SMAST, using the generally accepted weighted cut-off score of five or greater, was .56 and the specificity was .83. An unweighted cut-off score of two or greater produced a sensitivity of .72 and a specificity of .64. The results of this study suggest that, when the SMAST is used for screening in an ambulatory care clinic population, the optimum balance of sensitivity and specificity is achieved using an unweighted cut-off score of two or greater. In addition, the alcohol subscale of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule was easy to administer and should be considered for use as the diagnostic standard in clinical settings.
TL;DR: The dichotomization of Steps Questionnaire scores into total agreement versus partial agreement with Step 1, and the reduction of uncertainty in the prediction of abstention over a lengthy follow-up period, provides support for AA's contention that total surrender to one's powerlessness over alcohol is part of the process of achieving abstention.
Abstract: Thousands of men and women have begun their recovery from alcoholism through the support of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and its well-known "12-Step" program. The purpose of the present study was to develop a scale to measure alcoholics' levels of agreement with the first three of AA's 12 Steps and to test the relationship between sobriety and belief in these three steps. Using both factor analysis and Rasch analysis, two versions of a "Steps Questionnaire" were developed. A 96-member subset of the original subject pool was assessed quarterly for 1 year following inpatient treatment to determine the predictive validity of the questionnaire. The results of this study suggested that agreement with AA's first three steps can be measured and that agreement with AA's first step correlates with number of sober days posttreatment. The dichotomization of Steps Questionnaire scores into total agreement versus partial agreement with Step 1, and from this the reduction of uncertainty in the prediction of abstention over a lengthy follow-up period, provides support for AA's contention that total surrender to one's powerlessness over alcohol is part of the process of achieving abstention.
TL;DR: Results suggest separate determination of abstinence, frequency of consumption and quantity consumed when drinking, rather than inheritance of a single continuum of overall consumption level.
Abstract: Quantity/frequency data on alcohol consumption were obtained by mailed questionnaire from 2,903 same-sex monozygotic and dizygotic Australian twin pairs. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling was applied to these data. A three-dimensional solution was required to account for the observed pattern of twin concordances for alcohol consumption. These results suggest separate determination of abstinence, frequency of consumption and quantity consumed when drinking, rather than inheritance of a single continuum of overall consumption level.