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Objective: Many surveys employed to study college drinking ask whether students have had a five-drink (for men) or four-drink (for women) episode in one sitting at least once during the previous 2 weeks to indicate risky or heavy episodic drinking. However, some researchers have questioned the predictive validity of the 5/4 measure. This study tested whether such students attained extremely high blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) during the previous 30 days. Method: Freshmen students were recruited by presentation of short screening surveys in the classroom or outside the student stores. Students who reported a risky drinking episode were invited to enroll in the study and were given a lengthy survey battery that included a computerized 30-day Timeline Followback recall of their drinking. The amount of alcohol consumed was used along with each subject's gender and weight to calculate an estimated BAC (eBAC) for each event and the maximum eBAC taken for this report. Results: Fifty-five percent of the 953 students who completed the screening survey met criterion for enrollment, and 38 I students entered the study. The average peak calculated eBAC was 233 mg/dl. Only 9.2% of subjects did not have an eBAC value at or above the threshold for a driving while intoxicated offense, 80 mg/dl. Conclusions: Students who report one recent risky drinking episode are very likely to have had at least one heavy drinking episode that generated a BAC in excess of the threshold for driving while intoxicated. Many report extremely high consumption levels. The 5/4 screening question is highly predictive of abusive drinking and can be used to identify students at severe risk for adverse events related to the consumption of alcohol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study tested reciprocal associations between drinking-and-driving behavior and cognitions as youths transition to driving independently. We hypothesized that experience with driving and experience with drinking and driving would effect changes in cognitions about drinking and driving over time. We also tested cognitions as predictors of later drinking-and-driving behavior. Method: Two hundred and two high school youths completed mailed questionnaire measures at two time points, approximately 8 months apart. Questionnaire measures assessed youths' drinking-and-driving behavior, riding with a drinking driver, drinking-and-driving attitudes, normative beliefs, and perceived negative consequences at both time points. Results: Consistent with hypotheses, prior drinking-and-driving experience influenced changes in drinking-and-driving cognitions. Youths with drinking-and-driving experience at Time 1 saw drinking and driving as more dangerous over time; however, they perceived their peers as more accepting of this behavior. Time 1 attitudes predicted increased drinking-and-driving frequency at Time 2, and normative beliefs predicted increased frequency of riding with a drinking driver. Conclusions: These results support reciprocal associations between drinking-and-driving cognitions and behavior. Results of this study may have implications for the timing and content of drinking-and-driving interventions to reduce drinking and driving as well as riding with a drinking driver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Teens drink/drive less often than adults but are more likely to crash when they do drink/drive. This study identified alcohol-related crash types for which teen drivers were at greater risk compared with adults. Method: Michigan State Police crash records for drivers ages 16-19 (teens) and 45-65 years (adults) who experienced at least one crash from 1989 to 1996 were used to create alcohol crash types consisting of alcohol-related crashes that included specific combinations of other crash characteristics, such as drinking and driving at night (i.e., alcohol/nighttime). These data were combined with data from the 1990 and 1995 National Personal Travel Surveys and the 2001 National Household Travel Survey to estimate rates and rate ratios of alcohol-related crash types based on person-miles driven. Results: Teens were relatively less likely than adults to be involved in alcohol-related crashes but were significantly more likely to be in alcohol-related crashes that included other crash characteristics. Teen males' crash risk was highest when drinking and driving with a passenger, at night, at night with a passenger, and at night on the weekend, and casualties were more likely to result from alcohol-related nighttime crashes. All the highest risk alcohol-related crash types for teen female drinking drivers involved casualties and were most likely to include speeding, passenger presence, and nighttime driving. Conclusions: The frequency with which passengers, nighttime or weekend driving, and speeding occurred in the highest risk alcohol-related crash types for teens suggests that these characteristics should be targeted by policies, programs, and enforcement to reduce teen alcohol-related crash rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of alcohol consumption in Americans age 65 years and older using data from three nationally representative cross-sectional surveys: the National Health Interview Survey (NHJS-2000), the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS-2001) and the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA-2000). Method: Alcohol consumption levels were defined as none, moderate (≤ 1 drink a day) and heavier (>1 drink a day). The NHIS assessed alcohol consumption in the past year, and the BRFSS and NHSDA assessed alcohol consumption in the past 30 days. Differences between the BRFSS and NHSDA were tested using multinomial logistic regression. Age trends in alcohol consumption (between age 65 and 84 years) were tested using logistic regression. All analyses were weighted to produce national estimates. Results: In men, the prevalence of moderate drinking was 37.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 35.2-40.0) in the NHIS, 38.7% (CI: 37.3-40.1) in the BRFSS and 27.2% (CI: 23.6-30.8) in the NHSDA. The prevalence of heavier drinking among men was 10.1% (CI: 8.7-11.5), 10.1% (CI: 9.3-10.9) and 9.2% (CI: 7.2-11.3), respectively. In women, the prevalence of moderate drinking was 32.3% (CI: 30.4-34.2) in the NHIS, 27.7% (CI: 26.7- 28.6) in the BRFSS and 21.5% (CI: 18.9-24.2) in the NHSDA. The prevalence of heavier drinking among women was 2.2% (CI: 1.6-2.7), 2.6% (CI: 2.3-2.9) and 2.4% (CI: 1.4-3.3), respectively. In increasingly older groups of men, moderate drinking remained stable (all surveys, p for age trend [p trend] = Ns), while heavier drinking significantly decreased in two of three surveys (NHIS and BRFSS, p trend < .05; NHSDA, p = NS). Conversely, in increasingly older groups of women, moderate drinking significantly decreased (all surveys, p trend = .001), while heavier drinking remained stable (all surveys, p trend = NS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on alcoholism, while emphasising the prevalence, incidence and stability of drinking problems in a cross-cultural study conducted between 1984 and 1992 in the United States. Information on the method and subjects used; Details on the results; Statistical information supporting the results.

Presents information on alcoholism, while comparing the closed-end and the open-end questions on heavy alcohol consumption at a given time, from a study conducted in Ontario, Canada. Description of the method; Results of the study; Discussion on the issue.