Alcohol

Volume 65
Number 3
May 2004

Issues Available Online

MCCARTHY, D.M. AND BROWN, S.A. Changes in Alcohol Involvement, Cognitions and Drinking and Driving Behavior for Youth after They Obtain a Driver’s License

Objective: This report investigates the effects of discrimination, historical loss and enculturation on meeting diagnostic criteria for 12-month alcohol abuse among American Indians who share a common culture in the upper Midwest. We introduce an empirical measure of historical loss and hypothesize that historical loss will mediate the effects of discrimination on meeting 12-month diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse. We also hypothesize that enculturation will be negatively associated with 12-month alcohol abuse and mediate or moderate the effects of discrimination. Method: A sample of 452 (351 women) American-Indian parents/caretakers (mean age: women = 39 years, men = 42 years) of children ages 10 to 12 years participated in diagnostic interviews for lifetime and 12-month alcohol abuse. The subjects’ perceptions of discrimination, historical loss and enculturation were also measured. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate direct and potential mediating effects of latent constructs of enculturation (a resiliency factor) and historical loss (a risk factor) on the relationship between discrimination and meeting criteria for 12-month alcohol abuse. Results: Historical loss mediated the effects of discrimination on 12-month alcohol abuse among women. Enculturation neither mediated nor moderated the effects of discrimination but had an independent negative effect on alcohol abuse. In a combined model comprising both enculturation and historical loss, the effects of discrimination on 12-month alcohol abuse were mediated. Conclusions: This study presents important new evidence that historical loss affects American-Indian alcohol abuse. It also provides evidence for the resiliency effects of enculturation on alcohol abuse. (J. Stud. Alcohol 65: 409-418, 2004)

ELDER, R.W., SHULTS, R.A., SWAHN, M.H., STRIFE, B.J. AND RYAN, G.W. Alcohol-Related Emergency Department Visits among People Ages 13 to 25
Years

Objective: Data from a large, nationally representative sample of hospital emergency departments (EDs) were used to assess the prevalence and characteristics of alcohol-related ED visits among people ages 13 to 25 years in the United States. Method: Emergency department visits recorded in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program were coded for alcohol involvement based on alcohol product codes and abstractions of chart narratives. National estimates and confidence intervals were calculated using SUDAAN statistical software. Results: Based on these chart data, in the United States in 2001 there were an estimated 244,331 alcohol-related ED visits among people ages 13 to 25 (3.2% of total visits). Of these, an estimated 119,503 (49%) involved people below the legal drinking age of 21. The number of alcohol-related visits increased throughout adolescence and young adulthood to the age of 21, after which they decreased to levels similar to those seen for 18 to 20 year olds. Alcohol-related visits were most frequent on weekends and among males and were more strongly associated with visits related to assault or self-harm than to visits for unintentional injuries or injuries of unknown intent. In this population, 38% of alcohol-related visits involved no external cause of injury (e.g., drinking to excess only). Conclusions: These data highlight the need for stronger efforts to delay initiation of alcohol use among adolescents as long as possible and to limit access to alcohol for underage drinkers. (J. Stud. Alcohol 65: 297-300, 2004)

EHLERS, C.L., PHILLIPS, E., WALL, T.L., WILHELMSEN, K. AND SCHUCKIT, M.A. EEG Alpha and Level of Response to Alcohol in Hispanic- and Non-Hispanic-American Young Adults with a Family History of Alcoholism

Objective: A person’s level of response to alcohol is associated with family history of alcoholism, ethnic heritage and electroencephalogram (EEG) phenotype. The present study’s aims were to investigate EEG alpha and response to alcohol in Hispanic-American and non-Hispanic-American young adults. Method: EEG power in the slow and fast alpha frequency ranges (7.5-9 Hz, 9-12 Hz) was obtained at baseline and at 74 minutes following the administration of alcohol to Hispanic-American (n = 79) and white non-Hispanic-American (n = 208) young adult men and women (18-25 years old), all of whom had a family history but no personal history of alcohol dependence. Measures of breath alcohol concentrations and subjective responses to alcohol (Subjective High Assessment Scale [SHAS]) also were ascertained. Results: Alcohol was found to produce significant effects on EEG power in the slow (F = 79.5, p < .0001) alpha frequency range. Although no overall effects of alcohol were found in the fast alpha frequency range, Hispanic participants had decreases in EEG fast alpha activity following alcohol administration, whereas non-Hispanics had alcohol-induced increases in power in this frequency range (F = 4.0, p < .04). EEG power, in the fast alpha frequency range (9-12 Hz) at baseline, also was found to be negatively associated with level of response to alcohol, as indexed by SHAS scores (F = 5.2, 2/283 df, p < .023). Conclusions: Previous studies in Native Americans, Asians and Euro-Americans have suggested genetic stratification in EEG response to alcohol as well as significant associations with family history of alcoholism. The present results extend previous studies to Hispanics and further confirm that increased EEG alpha power at baseline is predictive of a less intense response to alcohol, as indexed by the SHAS. (J. Stud. Alcohol 65: 301-308, 2004)

EIDEN, R.D., EDWARDS, E.P. AND LEONARD, K.E. Predictors of Effortful Control among Children of Alcoholic and Nonalcoholic Fathers

Objective: The purpose of this study was (1) to examine the association between fathers’ alcoholism and children’s effortful control and (2) to examine the role of parental warmth and toddler temperament as mediators or moderators of this relationship. Method: Families were recruited through New York State birth records when their infant was age 12 months. The final sample consisted of 226 families (116 boys) constituting two major groups: a nonalcoholic group consisting of parents with no or few current alcohol problems (n = 102) and a father alcoholic group (n = 124). Families were assessed when their child was ages 12, 18, 24 and 36 months. Results: Results indicate that boys of alcoholic fathers exhibit lower overall levels of effortful control than boys of nonalcoholic fathers. For boys, fathers’ warmth over the second year of life mediated the association between fathers’ alcoholism and effortful control. Maternal warmth was a unique predictor of effortful control for boys. For girls, fathers’ alcoholism was associated with lower paternal warmth, which was in turn a significant predictor of effortful control. Child activity level and negative affect were associated with effortful control for boys but did not account for significant variance when entered in regression models with fathers’ alcoholism and parenting variables. Conclusions: Sons of alcoholic fathers are at an increased risk of problems in self-regulation when they are ages 2 to 3 years. Paternal warmth mediates the association between fathers’ alcoholism and self-regulation for both boys and girls, although the nature of mediation may vary by child gender. (J. Stud. Alcohol 65: 309-319, 2004)

TESTA, M., VANZILE-TAMSEN, C. AND LIVINGSTON, J.A. The Role of Victim and Perpetrator Intoxication on Sexual Assault Outcomes

Objective: The current study was designed to examine the impact of perpetrator and victim substance use on the sexual assault outcomes of penetration and victim injury. Method: Women, ages 18-30 (n = 1,014), were recruited from households using random digit dialing. They completed computer-assisted measures, including the Sexual Experiences Survey (Koss et al., 1987). Women who reported sexual assault since age 14 (n = 359) were interviewed face-to-face regarding their most recent sexual assault incident. Results: As hypothesized, high levels of perpetrator intoxication decreased the likelihood of penetration occurring. When the victim was highly intoxicated, however, penetration was more likely. Victim injury was more likely in assaults involving penetration. Higher levels of perpetrator intoxication in assaults involving a sober victim were also associated with greater odds of victim injury. Conclusions: Perpetrator intoxication effects are consistent with the presumption that intoxication at high levels impairs male sexual function but increases male physical aggression. Victim intoxication increases vulnerability to penetration but does not reduce odds of injury. (J. Stud. Alcohol 65: 320-329, 2004)