PHP 1540: Alcohol Use and Misuse Sept. 18, 2012 Dr. Kate Carey Department of Behavioral & Social Sciences Center for Alcohol & Addiction Studies 121 South Main Street Room 531

Drinking Patterns in the US

Defining harmful drinking High volumes: drinking too much too fast “binge” = a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings BAC to.08 g% or above Over 2 hours: Males: 5 or more SDs Females: 4 or more SDs “Heavy drinking” = 5/4+ on one occasion used in surveys to determine risky drinking “At risk” drinking: >14 drinks/wk for men >7 drinks/wk for women

What is “Low-Risk” Drinking? no more than 7 drinks/week for most women No more than 3 drinks/day no more than 14 drinks/week for most men No more than 4 drinks/day Who should NOT drink this much? Women who are pregnant or trying to conceive People taking medication or with medical conditions People planning to drive Recovering alcoholics Children and adolescents

Epidemiology: the systematic study of the rates, etiology, and consequences of physical disease and mental disorders in a population.

Epidemiology terms to know... Incidence Prevalence point prevalence lifetime prevalence Relative risk Odds ratio

July 30, 2010 U.S. Drinking Rate Edges Up Slightly to 25-Year High Beer remains beverage of choice for drinkers by Frank Newport

Epidemiological data on drinking: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)  annual, random sample of ~70,000  National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC)  2 waves (02-03, 04-05), >43,000  RM.htm

More sources for epi data on drinking: Monitoring the Future Survey  annual sample of 8 th, 10 th, 12 th graders; college students  Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS):  Annual, by state 

Figure 3.1 Current, Binge, and Heavy Alcohol Use among Persons Aged 12 or Older, by Age: 2010 NSDUH

Figure 3.2 Current, Binge, and Heavy Alcohol Use among Persons Aged 12 or Older, by Race/Ethnicity: 2010 NSDUH

Prevalence of Binge Drinking in US by Age, % overall prevalence (MMWR, Vol. 61, January 10, 2012)

The likelihood of binge drinking varies by demographic variables, such as ethnicity and education... % in last month F/I I I (MMWR, Vol. 61, January 10, 2012)

Alcohol Consumption by State CDC BRFSS 2010 State % adults who drank in last 30 days % adults who drank in binge fashion (5+/4+) % heavy drinkers (men >14/wk, women>7/wk) Rhode Island63%16%5% Massachusetts66%18%7% New Jersey56%14%4% South Carolina43%12%5% Alabama37%10%4% California53%16%6% Minnesota60%17%5% Illinois59%18%6% Nationwide55%15%5%

Prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorders: 1-year and lifetime prevalence 1-yearlifetime Any AUD8.5%30.0% alcohol abuse4.7%17.8% alcohol dependence3.8%12.5% Hasin et al. (2007) According to Hasin et al. (2007), the prevalence of AUDs varies significantly by...

Towards understanding the etiology of alcohol problems... Etiology = the study of the cause or origins Anticipating next class: What did your culture/ethnic origins teach YOU about drinking ? - What was acceptable? - What was not? - For whom?