Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs最新文献

Background: Recreational nitrous oxide use is an emerging public health concern in the U.S., particularly among adolescents and young adults. Given its status as legal marketable product and varying legality in several states, marketed under brand names like Galaxy Gas and Prime Whip, it is inexpensive, easily accessible, and often glamorized on social media.

Methods: We systematically reviewed 30 nitrous oxide-related videos posted between January-March 2025 on YouTube and TikTok, identified using terms such as "Whippets" and "Hippie Crack." Videos were coded for messenger characteristics, thematic content, and engagement metrics. Videos were included if they featured user-generated content involving nitrous oxide or related products, were in English, and were publicly available during the study period. We excluded duplicates, videos that were purely commercial or promotional, and videos that did not actually depict nitrous oxide despite matching a search term.

Results: Videos averaged 23 million views, 64,753 likes, and 9,500 shares. Half depicted personal experiences, 16.7% demonstrated use, and 10% promoted free trials. Most messengers were perceived as male (70%) and Black/African American (73.3%). No videos included age restrictions or health warnings. Content frequently framed use as socially acceptable or entertaining.

Conclusions: Nitrous oxide misuse is widely visible on major social media platforms and often portrayed without risk information, potentially encouraging youth uptake. Public health strategies should include education campaigns, stricter regulations (e.g., age limits, warning labels), and platform collaboration to reduce exposure. Further research should examine long-term trends and behavioral impacts of online portrayals.

Objective: To assess utility of various behavioral and physiological parameters from study in a nonhuman primate model as predictive biomarkers for future alcohol consumption.

Method: Data used in the study have been derived from 36 male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) participated in a chronic oral alcohol self-administration experiment lasting 920 days. Seventeen indicators of spontaneous behavior registered using the ethogram and eight physiological parameters were obtained before animal exposure to ethanol. Subsequently, alcohol self-administration under free choice with water was initiated. Median value of ethanol consumption for each monkey was calculated from daily measurements collected over a 55-day period of unrestricted access to the ethanol solution (4% v/v). Discriminant analysis was performed using behavior and physiological parameters with the highest F coefficients of the canonical discriminant function. Five parameters of the discriminant function (two behavior indicators, total protein, serum cortisol and body weight) were selected based on the results of several analysis cycles. A discriminant function equation separating two groups of animals was derived. 36 study animals were divided into two groups by average value of 0.97 g/kg/day for individual medians of the 55-day ethanol consumption.

Results: 83.3% of the originally grouped observations were correctly classified using a discriminant function derived from behavioral and physiological parameters prior to ethanol exposure.

Conclusions: A discriminant model was derived which allows to delineate future light drinkers from group of moderate and heavy ones with high accuracy prior to ethanol exposure in a free choice ethanol consumption model.

Objective: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) results from prenatal alcohol exposure and is associated with long-term neurobehavioral deficits, including anxiety and depression. Ethanol-induced oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and hippocampal damage are key contributors to these outcomes. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a mitochondrial antioxidant, may offer neuroprotection against such ethanol-induced damage. This study aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of CoQ10 on anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and hippocampal neurotoxicity in a neonatal rat model of FASD.

Method: Neonatal Wistar rats were exposed to ethanol (5.25 g/kg/day) via oral gavage from postnatal day (PD) 2 to PD10 (corresponding to the third trimester of human brain development). CoQ10 (30 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered daily after ethanol exposure. Behavioral testing was performed on PD38-39 using the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and Forced Swim Test (FST). On PD40, biochemical assays measured malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH). Immunohistochemistry assessed GFAP and cleaved caspase 3 expression, and Nissl staining evaluated necrotic cell death in the CA1 hippocampal region.

Results: CoQ10 significantly improved anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in ethanol-exposed rats (EPM: P = 0.0001-0.0099; FST: P = 0.0021). It markedly reduced MDA levels (P = 0.0010) to near-control values (P = 0.4614, ns) and partially restored antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD: P = 0.0112 vs control P = 0.0108; GSH: P = 0.0092 vs control P = 0.3643, ns; CAT: P = 0.0003 vs control P = 0.0769, ns). CoQ10 largely normalized astrocytic activation (GFAP: ethanol vs CoQ10 P < 0.0001; CoQ10 vs control P = 0.0196) and reduced cleaved caspase-3 expression (ethanol vs CoQ10 P = 0.0407; CoQ10 vs control P = 0.8940, ns). Furthermore, CoQ10 significantly decreased hippocampal necrotic cell death (ethanol vs CoQ10 P = 0.0074), though a difference persisted versus controls (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions: CoQ10 administration mitigates behavioral and cellular manifestations of FASD by counteracting oxidative stress, astrocytic reactivity, and neuronal apoptosis/necrosis, thereby contributing to hippocampal functional recovery.

Objective: This study examines how sulbang (drinking broadcast) content on Korean YouTube contributes to alcohol normalization by analyzing structural organization, thematic framing, and audience engagement patterns.

Method: We analyzed 1,012 sulbang-related videos using computational methods including channel networks, keyword co-occurrence clustering via CONCOR analysis, and semantic network mapping of user comments. Data collection involved YouTube scraping videos with over 50,000 views and algorithmically recommended content, with transcripts generated using automatic speech recognition.

Results: Analysis revealed a highly centralized network dominated by mainstream entertainment channels (tvN ENT, MBC, JTBC) receiving algorithmic amplification. Keyword clustering identified six thematic domains embedding alcohol within everyday narratives of food, relationships, leisure, and emotional expression rather than featuring it prominently. Semantic analysis of viewer comments demonstrated parasocial engagement patterns, with audiences using relational language ("older sister," "friend") alongside alcohol-related terms.

Conclusion: Sulbang normalizes alcohol consumption through subtle embedding within emotionally resonant, culturally familiar contexts amplified by platform algorithms rather than explicit promotion. These findings expose critical regulatory gaps in digital alcohol marketing and indicate the importance of comprehensive policy frameworks addressing influencer-driven content on social media platforms.

Background and aims: Historically, alcohol taxation has been one of the best strategies to reduce drinking and related harms in the general population, and prior analyses support that increased alcohol taxes are associated with fewer harms related to drinking during pregnancy. Here we examine how alcohol taxes are related to preterm and low birthweight births.

Methods: Birth certificate data for 101,191,080 births conceived between January 1993 - March 2019 come from the US National Vital Statistics System. Outcomes were preterm birth (< 37 weeks) and low birthweight (< 2500 grams). Time-varying state-level alcohol tax policies were beverage-specific volume-based, sales, and ad valorem taxes. Final regression models adjusted for individual and state covariates, state trends, and clustered standard errors by state.

Results: Only sales taxes were consistently related to birth outcomes. Having a beer sales tax was significantly related to lower odds of preterm birth (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90, 0.98) and lower odds of low birthweight (OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.96, 0.99). Similarly, having a wine sales tax was significantly related to lower odds of preterm birth (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90, 0.98) and lower odds of low birthweight (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95, 0.99). Finally, having a spirits sales tax was also significantly related to lower odds of preterm birth (OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.91, 0.98) and lower odds of low birthweight (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95, 0.99).

Conclusions: State-level beverage-specific sales taxes are associated with fewer adverse birth outcomes. This study provides additional evidence that increased alcohol taxes may be relevant for reducing adverse effects related to pregnant people's alcohol consumption.

Introduction: Youth who use electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products have lower perceptions of the health harms of ENDS products compared to youth not using ENDS. However, it remains unclear whether lower harm perceptions precipitate youths' intention to use, consistent with theories of health behavior. We examined whether changes in ENDS harm perceptions were associated with intentions to start using ENDS in the next year, among tobacco-naïve youth.

Methods: Using six annual waves of data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study Wave 4 Youth Cohort (2016/18 to 2022/23; ages 12-17 at baseline), we examined within-person associations between change in ENDS harm perceptions and intention to use ENDS within the next year among youth who had not used any tobacco or nicotine (N=14,319). Fixed effect logistic regression models were estimated for the overall sample and by sex, and tests for coefficient equality were used to identify sex differences.

Results: When youth reported decreases in ENDS harm perceptions, they had an increased likelihood of intent to start using ENDS (aOR=1.77; 95% CI=[1.41, 2.23]). In contrast, waves in which youth reported increases in ENDS harm perceptions were associated with a decreased likelihood of intent to initiate ENDS use (aOR=0.43; 95% CI=[0.38, 0.48]). These within-person associations were similar for girls and boys.

Conclusions: Changes in harm perceptions among tobacco-naïve adolescents may precipitate a decision to start using ENDS and should be a target for future prevention efforts to reduce ENDS initiation among youth.

Objective: The blackout rage gallon (BORG) is an excessive drinking trend popular at some colleges in the U.S and propelled by social media. Media reports depict harmful consequences of BORG use, but others view this trend as a strategy to reduce drink contamination, control alcohol intake, and minimize hangovers. This study provides the first detailed assessment of college students' perceptions and use of BORGs, including consequences and motivations for use and nonuse.

Method: Participants (age 18-25 years) were past-year college students (N=103) from both public and private U.S. institutions who reported weekly binge drinking and completed a survey assessing BORG use, motivations, and drinking-related outcomes.

Results: Participants were 20.4 years old, 62% female sex at birth, and their mean AUDIT score was 11.3±5.2. We oversampled college students reporting past-year BORG use (BORG+; n=63) relative to college students denying BORG use (BORG-; n=40). BORG+ participants consumed 9-10 standard alcohol drinks during a typical BORG event. Most reported getting buzzed or drunk (98%), nearly one-third (29%) experienced a blackout, 17% vomited, and 59% said/did something embarrassing. Regardless of these effects, two-thirds endorsed intending to engage in future BORG drinking. BORG- participants cited refraining from BORG use because it was not part of their college culture and was not effective for limiting alcohol intake.

Conclusions: The BORG trend presents another challenge for harm reduction efforts focused on curbing excessive drinking in college students. The high intensity drinking of BORG use, paired with associated blackouts, vomiting, and behavioral disinhibition, render this phenomenon as living up to its name.

Objective: Simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use is prevalent among young adults and linked with heavy use and related harms. Days with simultaneous use have been linked with poorer proximal outcomes than days involving only alcohol/cannabis, but findings are mixed. Importantly, days with simultaneous use vary greatly with respect to level and timing of use, and other substance use. Thus, all simultaneous use days may not carry the same risks, partially explaining discrepancies. We aimed to characterize heterogeneity across simultaneous use days via an innovative statistical method applied to daily data - multilevel latent class analysis (MLCA) - and identify features of days most strongly linked to same-day harms and motives.

Method: Participants were n=255 young adult college students (48% male) who completed ≤54 days of surveys on substance use behavior, yielding 1,527 person-days with simultaneous use.

Results: MLCA identified four day-level latent classes of simultaneous use occasions: Alcohol-Focused (43% of days), Cannabis-Focused (35%), Heavy Use (14%), and Early-Day Use (8%). Same-day harms were more likely on Heavy Use days than other types of days, and day-level classes varied significantly with respect to three same-day motivations for simultaneous use: to be social, because it was offered, and to have fun.

Conclusions: Simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use days are highly varied. Heavy Use Days characterized by level of alcohol/cannabis use and engagement in other substance use were most strongly linked with harms, but timing of use in a day also distinguished patterns of use. Studies investigating the role of additional substances are warranted.

Objective: Murphy et al. (2014) found that university students with a family history (FH) of alcohol problems exhibit a reduced sensitivity of alcohol demand to next-day academic responsibilities. Considering the ongoing replication crisis, the objective of this study was to replicate and extend this research in community adults, including a range of non-academic responsibilities.

Method: We conducted a secondary analysis of 461 adults who reported past-year alcohol consumption (39% women; mean age = 38.42), recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk. Participants were coded as FH+ (40%) or FH- (60%) based on reporting if any biological parents or grandparents had a history of alcohol problems. Participants completed alcohol purchase tasks involving a typical drinking situation or next-day responsibility (e.g., work, caregiving). FH status was examined as a moderator of reductions in observed indices of alcohol demand in separate analyses of covariance controlling for participant sex and severity of alcohol misuse.

Results: Alcohol demand did not significantly differ by FH status on the no-responsibility APT (ps >.56). Compared to FH- participants, FH+ participants showed a smaller magnitude reduction in the responsibility condition for breakpoint (p =.002, η_p2=.036), O_max (p =.002, η_p2=.041), and P_max (p =.001, η_p2=.040), and nonsignificant effects for intensity (p =.053, η_p2=.015).

Conclusion: These findings replicate and extend Murphy et al. (2014) by providing necessary confirmation that FH confers risk for greater alcohol consumption despite upcoming responsibilities. People with a FH of problem drinking may require specific interventions that make the impact of drinking on next-day responsibilities more salient.

Objective: Early initiation of substance use during adolescence is linked to immediate and long-term risks, including impaired cognitive development, challenges in social, academic, and psychological functioning, and increased vulnerability to addiction. This study examined whether early initiation of cigarettes, alcohol, and cannabis related to difficulty quitting.

Method: A national sample of 9,178 7-12th grade adolescents (ages 10 through 18) across 42 schools participated in a cross-sectional, epidemiologic survey of substance use among reservation-based AI and non-AI youth between 2021 and 2023. Discrete-time survival analysis estimated hazard and survival probabilities for cigarette, alcohol, and cannabis use. Multinomial logistic regression models tested age of initiation as a predictor of self-reported difficulty quitting.

Results: AI youth were more likely than non-AI youth to report initiating cigarette and cannabis use from ages 10 to 14, while hazard probabilities were similar between groups from age 15 onward. There was no consistent evidence of differences in initiation of alcohol between the two groups of adolescents. For all three substances, earlier initiation was associated with increased odds of being unable to quit (compared to being able to quit). These associations did not differ between AI and non-AI students.

Conclusions: Early prevention is needed to delay onset of substances, particularly among AI adolescents. Early initiation of substance use may signal later dependence for both AI and non-AI youth. Screening of students who report early initiation and difficulty quitting may identify the need for tertiary prevention or early treatment for dependence.