Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs最新文献

Objective: An inability to correctly perceive chemosensory stimuli can lead to a poor quality of life. Such defects can be concomitant with excess alcohol consumption, but a large-scale cohort study linking these effects is lacking. This study aimed to investigate the impact of chronic alcohol consumption on chemosensory function by analyzing data from the NHANES 2013-2014, involving 395 participants categorized by alcohol intake behavior: 219 no-intake, 136 light-intake, and 40 risky-intake groups.

Methods: Chemosensory function was assessed using a self-reported Chemosensory Questionnaire along with objective tests for taste (quinine solution) and smell (appetitive and hazardous odors). Adjusted regression analyses were conducted, controlling for age, gender, smoking status, and multiple pairwise comparisons. Weighted regression analyses were also performed.

Results: Risky drinkers had significantly lower odds of identifying quinine (bitter taste) compared to light drinkers (OR = 0.37, p-adjusted = 0.04). Risky drinkers also had higher odds of identifying appetitive odors like strawberry (OR = 5.44, p-adjusted = 0.03) but lower odds for detecting hazardous odors like natural gas (OR = 0.11, p-adjusted = 0.001) compared to light drinkers. Additionally, light drinkers identified the leather scent more effectively than no drinkers (OR = 2.54, p = 0.02).

Conclusions: Chronic alcohol consumption, particularly at risky levels, is associated with altered chemosensory function. These findings emphasize the importance of assessing chemosensory symptoms in individuals with alcohol-related behaviors.

Objective: Personalized normative feedback interventions show efficacy in reducing health risk behaviors (e.g., alcohol use, sexual aggression). However, complex personalized normative feedback interventions may require manual methods of inputting participant data into graphics, which introduces error, and automated approaches require substantial technical costs and funding and may limit the types of feedback that can be provided.

Method: To make personalized normative feedback more accessible, we outline a method of using easily accessible software programs including IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint, to create and display complex personalized normative feedback graphics. We also describe methods through which personalized normative feedback graphics can be created within a larger preventive intervention for alcohol and sexual assault in college men.

Results: We first provide step-by-step instructions for collecting data and then creating semi-automated syntax files within SPSS and Excel to merge participant data into complex personalized normative feedback graphics in Excel. To do so, we append annotated syntax in text and in supplemental material. Next, we outline the process of creating risk feedback graphics, whereby individual items or exact wording of items are displayed back to the participant. Finally, we provide guidance regarding the process of translating graphics from Excel for viewing via PowerPoint without having to manually update PowerPoint slides for each presentation.

Conclusions: Via the described syntax and graphic generation, researchers are then able to create semi-automated personalized normative feedback and risk feedback graphics. This tutorial may help in increasing the dissemination of complex personalized normative feedback interventions.

Objective: As the legalization of adult-use cannabis has expanded to include almost half of the states in the U.S., substance use-related enforcement responsibilities for state and local law enforcement agencies may have changed. We assessed the use of cannabis and alcohol enforcement strategies at local and state levels, and in legal and non-legal cannabis states.

Method: We conducted surveys of 1,024 local law enforcement agencies, 53 state alcohol beverage control agencies and 48 state patrol agencies. We calculated the prevalence of cannabis enforcement strategies and their analogous alcohol strategies and analyzed differences across legal and non-legal cannabis states. We assessed associations between cannabis enforcement strategies, cannabis legalization status, and agency and jurisdiction characteristics.

Results: Cannabis enforcement strategies were less common than their analogous alcohol strategies. The percentage of agencies conducting enforcement of cannabis-impaired driving and of public use of cannabis did not differ significantly across agencies in legal and non-legal states. Agencies in cannabis legal states (compared to non-legal states) were more likely to train officers in identifying cannabis impairment among drivers (RR=1.23, 95% CI=1.08-1.42). Several local agency and jurisdiction characteristics were associated with a higher likelihood of conducting cannabis enforcement but results were inconsistent across strategies.

Conclusions: Our study shows that cannabis enforcement strategies were used less than analogous alcohol strategies in legal and non-legal jurisdictions, suggesting that increased cannabis enforcement could lead to reductions in public health harms. This study provides a foundation for much needed research on cannabis and alcohol enforcement during a changing cannabis legalization landscape.

Objective: Despite adverse health consequences associated with early substance use initiation, less is known about the influence of genetic risk on initiation and environmental characteristics that may moderate these associations, particularly among African Americans. We examined whether genetic risk for alcohol and cannabis use disorder, and nicotine dependence, is associated with age of initiation of these substances, and whether community disadvantage and parental monitoring moderate these associations in a sample of African American youth.

Method: Participants (n=1,017; 56% female) were initially recruited for an elementary school-based universal prevention intervention trial. At age ~20, participants reported on age of initiation of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use and provided a saliva or blood sample. At age ~12, caregiver reports on parental monitoring were obtained, along with census-tract data to measure community disadvantage. Hypotheses were tested using Cox Proportional Hazard Models.

Results: Higher alcohol use disorder PRS was associated with later alcohol initiation (HR=0.78, 95% CI =0.65-0.94). Cannabis use disorder and nicotine dependence PRSs were not associated with initiation of these substances. We observed an interaction between the cannabis use disorder PRS and parental monitoring; among individuals with high cannabis use disorder PRS, high monitoring was associated with earlier cannabis initiation, whereas among individuals with low PRS, low monitoring was associated with earlier initiation.

Conclusions: Findings largely indicate that PRS for substance use disorders are not associated with age of initiation among African American youth. Parental monitoring may influence the association between cannabis use disorder PRS and age of cannabis initiation, but replication of our findings is warranted.

Objective: This paper explores methodological opportunities, challenges, and potential solutions for alcohol administration research that uses a virtual reality (VR) analogue for sexual aggression.

Method: We briefly review relevant sexual aggression, alcohol administration, and VR literatures. The strengths and limitations of different types of analogues are described.

Results: Most existing sexual aggression analogues use sexual assault scenarios which end the same way for all participants, who are then asked how they would respond in that situation. Studies using these analogues have produced valuable findings regarding alcohol's role in sexual aggression; however, one important limitation is that participants can distance themselves from the situation before responding. VR provides highly immersive behavioral analogues that require participants to make quick decisions; thus they are less likely to be impacted by social desirability. In VR, participants make multiple decisions based on the feedback they receive from their virtual dating partner and the ending depends on the choices they make. For example, VR analogues can allow participants to select dates who are intoxicated or to encourage their virtual dating partner to drink alcohol. Thus, researchers can model different patterns of responses and strategies used to attempt to obtain sex, which can then be used to develop interventions targeted for individuals with different types of risk profiles.

Conclusions: There are strengths and limitations associated with all experimental proxies. The field would benefit from greater discussion of the essential elements of sexual aggression and if these vary for different types of perpetrators and situations that involve alcohol.

Objective: Online and lab-based experiments examining the impact of alcohol labels typically test a one-time exposure to labels and assess short-term, non-behavioural outcomes. These studies do not simulate a real-world label dose or assess actual alcohol use. This pilot aimed to develop a new protocol for testing alcohol labels that better reflects real-world exposure by presenting labels on consumers' own alcohol products over time and assessing effects on several outcomes, including alcohol use.

Method: Forty alcohol consumers in Canada completed an online baseline survey, were randomized to one of two label conditions (Control: recycle label; Intervention: cancer warning label), mailed labels according to their assigned condition, and asked to affix one label to all alcohol containers in their home over the 29 days in February 2024. Online surveys assessed label effects at three follow-up points, and SMS texts were used to promote protocol adherence.

Results: The protocol had high adherence and retention, with no differences between conditions. Survey response rates remained high at follow-ups, ranging between 80%-100%. All participants (100%) said they were satisfied with the study and 94% would recommend to a friend. Preliminary label effectiveness results were promising - between baseline and Day 29, the mean number of standard drinks (SD) consumed in the past 7 days decreased in the intervention condition by -4.2SD (45%), and in the control by -0.3SD (3%).

Conclusions: Findings suggest this proof-of-principle protocol affixing labels on consumers' own alcohol products offers the potential for greater experimental control and real-world label dose than online or lab-based experiments.

Objective: Social media content featuring alcoholic beverages is posted and viewed by college students. Limited longitudinal research suggests that increased alcohol-related content (ARC) posting and exposure is associated with increased alcohol consumption among college students over time. Emerging evidence suggests this association may be bidirectional, with drinking predicting later ARC posting. The current study examined longitudinal bidirectional associations between alcohol consumption and: posting ARC (aim 1) and friend ARC exposure (aim 2).

Method: College students engaging in heavy or problematic drinking (N = 384; M_age = 20.04; 74.2% female; 79.6% White) completed four surveys (baseline, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month). Each survey assessed social media use (including ARC posting) and alcohol use, along with ARC posting behaviors of their social network (i.e., important friends).

Results: Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models revealed significant large associations only at the within-subjects level for posting ARC, but significant medium-large between- and within-subjects associations for ARC exposure. Within-subjects, greater alcohol consumption predicted posting 1 month later, and posting at the 3-month follow-up predicted increased drinking at 6-months (aim 1). Between-subjects, individuals who reported greater social network ARC exposure were more likely to report greater alcohol consumption. Within-subjects, greater-than-average ARC exposure at 1-month predicted decreased alcohol consumption at 3-months (aim 2).

Conclusions: Results suggest the relationship between alcohol consumption and alcohol posting (self and ARC exposure) is complex and not necessarily bidirectional, with associations between posting and drinking fluctuating within subjects, while between- and within-subjects associations were observed for exposure and drinking. Associations between posting and drinking vary within individuals over time, while associations between exposure and drinking exist for groups, indicating the more people are exposed, the more alcohol they consume.

Objective: We investigate the impact of state level COVID-19 related policies on alcohol sales in US.

Method: We use monthly Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) alcohol sales data during COVID-19 for 13 states from January 2020 to August 2021. Event study and difference-in-differences methods are used to investigate the effects of COVID-19 related policies on alcohol sales.

Results: Bans on mass gatherings led to an increase in alcohol sales per capita (ranging from 6.9% (p=0.063) to 11.1% (p=0.095)). School closures reduced alcohol sales per capita by 6.8% (p=0.149). Allowing bars to sell alcoholic beverage for takeout or curbside pickup increased alcohol sales per capita by 6.7% (p=0.018), while same policy for restaurants reduced alcohol sales per capita by 5.2% (p=0.038).

Conclusions: We document that while not all policies exerted an effect, some did demonstrate a significant impact on alcohol sales during the COVID-19 pandemic in US.

Objective: Safer supply programs are a novel response to the ongoing overdose crisis in Canada--providing people at high overdose risk with a safer alternative to the highly toxic unregulated drug supply. The MySafe program provides pharmaceutical-grade opioids to participants via biometric dispensing machines. This study examines program-related goals and related outcomes across time.

Method: Longitudinal, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 study participants at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Interviews covered program functionality, experiences, outcomes, and reasons for enrollment and engagement. Baseline and follow-up interviews were compared to explore changes over time, including the effectiveness of the MySafe program in supporting individuals' achievement of their stated goals.

Results: Most participants reported similar goals at their baseline and follow-up interviews. The most common goal for initiating and staying in the program was to stop or reduce using street-purchased drugs, followed by abstinence and wanting to stop injecting drugs. Several participants described goals addressing issues related to structural vulnerability (e.g., improving living situations). At follow-up, some participants reported reducing street-purchased drug use, no participants reported abstinence, and all those wanting to stop injecting drugs reported achieving their goals.

Conclusions: Our findings highlight a strong desire among study participants to be separated from the unpredictable street drug supply. Participants reported variable success in attaining their stated goals. However, our results demonstrate the need for such programs to better attend to participant goals, especially those affected by structural vulnerability, that can be supported with wrap-around social and health care supports.