Age at first drink, drinking, binge drinking, and DSM-5 alcohol use disorder among Hispanic national groups in the United States

Age- and sex-driven alterations in alcohol consumption patterns: Role of brain ethanol metabolism and the opioidergic system in the nucleus accumbens

Alcohol consumption leads to significant neurochemical and neurobiological changes, contributing to the development of alcohol use disorders (AUDs), which exhibit sex- and age-dependent variations according to clinical data. However, preclinical studies often neglect these factors when investigating alcohol consumption patterns. In this study, we present data on male and female rats continuously exposed to a 20 % ethanol solution for one month. The animals were divided into two groups based on their age at the onset of drinking (8 and 12 weeks old). Interestingly, 12-week-old males consumed significantly less alcohol than both 12-week-old females and 8-week-old animals, indicating that alcohol consumption patterns vary with sex and age in our model. Additionally, to advance in the study of the neurobiological alterations induced by ethanol intake in the mesocorticolimbic system (MCLS) that may participate in its reinforcing properties and the maintenance of alcohol drinking behavior, we measured catalase activity-an enzyme involved in alcohol metabolism and related to ethanol reinforcement-in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of these animals. Furthermore, we measured the levels of mu (MOR), kappa (KOR), delta (DOR), and nociceptin (NOP) opioid receptors in the NAc, as the endogenous opioidergic system plays a pivotal role in regulating the MCLS and alcohol reinforcement. MOR levels were lower in high alcohol-consuming groups (8-week-old males and all females). Both DOR and NOP levels decreased with age, whereas KOR levels remained unchanged. Our findings suggest that the age at onset of alcohol consumption critically influences alcohol intake, particularly in males. Additionally, females consistently showed higher alcohol intake regardless of age, highlighting inherent sex-specific differences. The dynamic changes in catalase activity and opioid receptor expression suggest the involvement of these factors in modulating alcohol consumption.

Age of onset and alcohol and cannabis use disorders among Mexican American young adults: Robust substance-specific effects of early use as a risk factor

We investigated the substance-specific and cross-substance risk associated with early onset (before age 15) of drunkenness and cannabis use in the subsequent development of alcohol (AUD) and cannabis use disorder (CUD) in Mexican American young adults. Survival analyses employed Cox proportional hazards models for AUD and CUD, separately. In cross-risk analyses, we modeled estimates for those participants reporting lifetime use of both substances. Early onset of drunkenness and early onset of cannabis use were associated with shorter time to AUD and CUD, respectively, even after accounting for psychiatric disorders. While there were no cross-risk associations, adjusting for psychiatric disorders and early onset cannabis use attenuated the association of early drunkenness with AUD.

Drinking patterns among US men and women: Racial and ethnic differences from adolescence to early midlife

BACKGROUND

Drinking patterns among young adult men and women in the United States have been understudied, especially among racial and ethnic groups such as Asian Americans and Hispanics. Because alcohol-related racial and ethnic health disparities persist or increase in midlife, identifying peak ages of hazardous drinking could help to reduce disparities.

METHODS

We used the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to examine: (1) past 12-month heavy episodic drinking (HED) and total alcohol volume consumption among non-Hispanic White (NHW), Black, Hispanic, and Asian men and women from ages 12 through 41, and (2) age-varying associations of race and ethnicity with drinking. Hispanic and Asian ethnic groups were disaggregated by historical drinking patterns. Time-varying effect models accounted for major demographic confounders.

RESULTS

NHW men and women experienced elevated drinking rates in their early 20s, with a second elevation in their 30s. Black men and women did not have elevated drinking until their 30s. Among Hispanic men and women, peak drinking periods varied by gender and subgroup drinking pattern. Peak HED and total consumption emerged in the early 30s for Asian men, while peak HED occurred in the early 20s for Asian women. Drinking at certain ages for some racial and ethnic minoritized men and women did not differ from that in their NHW counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS

Age periods during which subgroups in the U.S. population experience elevated alcohol consumption vary by ethnicity and gender. Recognition of these group differences could enhance our understanding of intervention timing.

Adaptation of the 5-choice serial reaction time task to measure engagement and motivation for alcohol in mice

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is related to excessive binge alcohol consumption, and there is considerable interest in associated factors that promote intake. AUD has many behavioral facets that enhance inflexibility toward alcohol consumption, including impulsivity, motivation, and attention. Thus, it is important to understand how these factors might promote responding for alcohol and can change after protracted alcohol intake. Previous studies have explored such behavioral factors using responding for sugar in the 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task (5-CSRTT), which allows careful separation of impulsivity, attention, and motivation. Importantly, our studies uniquely focus on using alcohol as the reward throughout training and testing sessions, which is critical for beginning to answer central questions relating to behavioral engagement for alcohol. Alcohol preference and consumption in male C57BL/6 mice were determined from the first 9 sessions of 2-h alcohol drinking which were interspersed among 5-CSRTT training. Interestingly, alcohol preference but not consumption level significantly predicted 5-CSRTT responding for alcohol. In contrast, responding for strawberry milk was not related to alcohol preference. Moreover, high-preference (HP) mice made more correct alcohol-directed responses than low-preference (LP) during the first half of each session and had more longer reward latencies in the second half, with no differences when performing for strawberry milk, suggesting that HP motivation for alcohol may reflect “front-loading.” Mice were then exposed to an Intermittent Access to alcohol paradigm and retested in 5-CSRTT. While both HP and LP mice increased 5-CSRTT responding for alcohol, but not strawberry milk, LP performance rose to HP levels, with a greater change in correct and premature responding in LP versus HP. Overall, this study provides three significant findings: (1) alcohol was a suitable reward in the 5-CSRTT, allowing dissection of impulsivity, attention, and motivation in relation to alcohol drinking, (2) alcohol preference was a more sensitive indicator of mouse 5-CSRTT performance than consumption, and (3) intermittent alcohol drinking promoted behavioral engagement with alcohol, especially for individuals with less initial engagement.

Age at first alcohol use and weapon carrying among adolescents: Findings from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

BACKGROUND

Although studies have investigated the association between alcohol use and violent behaviors such as weapon carrying, few studies have examined the association between age at first alcohol use and weapon-carrying among adolescents. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between age at first alcohol use and weapon carrying among adolescents.

METHODS

Data for this study came from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. An analytic sample of 13,442 adolescents aged 14-18 years old (51% female) was analyzed using binary logistic regression. The outcome variable investigated in this study was weapon carrying during the past 30 days, and the main explanatory variable investigated was age at first alcohol use.

RESULTS

Of the 13,442 adolescents, 13.5% carried a weapon during the past 30 days, and 15.4% reported having their first alcoholic drink before age 13. In the multivariable logistic regression, adolescents who reported having alcohol before age 13 had more than double the odds of carrying a weapon when compared to those who never had alcohol before age 13 (AOR = 2.32, p < .001, 95% CI = 1.87-2.89). Other significant factors associated with weapon carrying include male gender, victim of bullying, teen dating violence, sexual violence, suicidal ideation, and history of substance use. Adolescents who self-identified as Black/African American or Hispanic were significantly less likely to carry a weapon when compared to adolescents who self-identified as non-Hispanic White.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study underscore the importance of developing age appropriate intervention strategies to curb early initiation of alcohol use and weapon carrying among adolescents.

Correlates of transitions from alcohol use to disorder diagnosed by DSM-5 in China

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to describe the prevalence and lifetime criteria profiles of DSM-5 alcohol use disorder (AUD) and the transitions from alcohol use to disorder in Chifeng, China.

METHODS

Face-to-face interviews were conducted using Composite International Diagnostic Interview-3.0 (CIDI-3.0) among 4528 respondents in Chifeng.

RESULTS

The weighted lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DSM-5 AUD were 3.03 and 1.05%, respectively. Mild lifetime AUD was the most prevalent severity level (69.53%). The two most common criteria were "failure to quit/cutdown" and "drinking more or for longer than intended." Lifetime prevalence was 65.59% for alcohol use, and 22.97% for regular drinking. Male and domestic violence were risk factors for the transition from alcohol use to regular drinking or AUD and from regular drinking to AUD. Younger age was risk factor for the transition to AUD from alcohol use or regular drinking. Poverty (OR = 2.49) was risk factor for the transition from alcohol use to regular drinking. The earlier drinkers were more likely to develop to regular drinking (OR = 2.11).

CONCLUSION

AUD prevalence in Chifeng was not as high as that in Western countries. The study revealed that multiple risk factors might contribute to the transition across different stages of alcohol use. Further research should explore the underlying mechanisms.

Alcohol use trajectories of adult Latinx immigrants during their first decade in the United States

BACKGROUND

Despite important research advances on the alcohol use behaviors of Latinx immigrants, the bulk of existing evidence has focused on alcohol use patterns after immigrant's arrival to the US. The present study examines pre- to post immigration alcohol use trajectories among Latinx immigrants of diverse national origins throughout their first decade in the United States.

METHODS

Data for this longitudinal study was collected between 2007 and 2017. At baseline, retrospective pre-immigration alcohol use data was collected on 527 Cuban, South American and Central American participants ages 18-34 who immigrated to the US less than one year prior. Three subsequent follow-up assessments over the past 10 years have collected data on post-immigration alcohol use.

RESULTS

Overall decreases in pre- to post-immigration alcohol use were found. Gender, income, and national origin were associated with distinct drinking patterns after immigration.

CONCLUSION

Findings underscore the importance of examining pre-immigration experiences among Latinx immigrants, in addition to longitudinal alcohol use patterns after immigration. This knowledge is important not only from an epidemiological perspective, but for the development of effective culturally relevant alcohol interventions targeting Latinx immigrants early in the immigration process.

School Climate as a Universal Intervention to Prevent Substance Use Initiation in Early Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study

Initiation of substance use often starts during adolescence, with tobacco and alcohol use frequently preceding the use of marijuana and other illicit drugs. Studies suggest that a positive school climate may prevent substance use while promoting healthy student behaviors. The purpose of this study was to determine the longitudinal associations between school climate and substance use initiation in a group of middle school students. Parallel latent growth curve modeling was used to examine changes among study variables longitudinally using a sample of 2,097 sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students across 16 regional schools located in three counties in West Virginia. Results suggest that a positive school climate may prevent substance use initiation (β = -0.07 to -0.25, p < .01). However, perceptions of school climate decreased on their own over time (β = -0.28 to -0.66, p < .01). Furthermore, substance use initiation also increased as students grew older (β = 0.96 to 0.99, p < .01) and reduced the effects of school climate longitudinally (β = -0.07 to -0.24, p < .01). Early substance use initiation may be a warning sign of other underlying student issues and requires additional school support to foster student success. Findings suggest that a positive school climate may delay substance use initiation and promote school success. School climate may, therefore, be useful as an intervention to support school-based health promotion.

Investigating the association between age at first alcohol use and suicidal ideation among high school students: Evidence from the youth risk behavior surveillance system

BACKGROUND

Although various studies have investigated and found a significant link between age at first alcohol use and health risk behaviors, few studies have investigated the effect of age at first alcohol use on suicidal ideation among adolescents. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of age at first alcohol use on suicidal ideation.

METHODS

Data for this study were obtained from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance system. A sample of 10,745 adolescents aged 14-18 years (50.9% males) were analyzed using logistic regression with suicidal ideation as the outcome variable and age at first alcohol use as the main explanatory variable.

RESULTS

About 17% of adolescents experienced suicidal ideation during the past 12 months and 15.6% started having alcohol before age 13. Adolescents who started having alcohol before age 13 had 1.60 times higher odds of experiencing suicidal ideation and adolescents who started having alcohol by age 13 or over had 1.47 times higher odds of experiencing suicidal ideation. Other significant factors associated with suicidal ideation include experience of forced sex, physical teen dating violence, bullying, and feeling sad or hopeless. Having sufficient sleep lowered the odds of suicidal ideation.

LIMITATIONS

The use of cross-sectional data limits the extent to which we can make causal claims regarding age at first alcohol use and suicidal ideation.

CONCLUSIONS

Younger age at first alcohol use was associated with increased likelihood of suicidal ideation. Public health initiatives that seek to address the co-occurring problems of alcohol use and mental health illness, sexual violence, and victimization among sexual minority youth could help in reducing suicidal ideation.

A history of binge drinking during adolescence is associated with poorer sleep quality in young adult Mexican Americans and American Indians

RATIONALE

Binge drinking during adolescence is common, and adolescents and young adults with alcohol problems may also have sleep difficulties. However, few studies have documented the effects of a history of adolescent binge drinking on sleep in young adulthood in high-risk minority populations.

OBJECTIVES

To quantify sleep disturbance, as indexed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), in a sample of young adult Mexican American and American Indian men and women (18-30 years, n = 800) with and without a history of alcohol binge drinking during adolescence, controlling for age, gender, and race.

RESULTS

Gender was found to affect PSQI responses with females reporting waking up at night, having more bad dreams, and later habitual bedtimes than males, and males reporting more problems with breathing and snoring. Increasing age was associated with snoring or coughing, less hours spent in bed, and later evening bedtimes. Race also influenced the PSQI with American Indians reporting longer sleep latencies and sleep durations, more hours spent in bed, and more trouble with coughing and snoring than Mexican Americans, and Mexican Americans reporting later bedtimes. A history of adolescent regular binge drinking was associated with longer sleep latencies, more problems with breathing, bad dreams, and an overall higher PSQI total score, when controlling for age, race, and gender.

CONCLUSIONS

This report suggests, like what has been found in young adults in general population samples, that binge drinking during adolescence is associated with deleterious consequences on sleep quality in young adulthood in these high-risk and understudied ethnic groups.

Gender Differences in Binge Drinking

Just as binge drinking rates differ for men and women, the predictors and consequences of binge drinking vary by gender as well. This article examines these differences and how binge drinking definitions and research samples and methods may influence findings. It also describes the relationship between age and binge drinking among men and women, and how drinking culture and environment affect this relationship. It examines gender-specific trends in binge drinking, predictors of binge drinking for men and women, and binge drinking in the context of smoking. The article reviews current findings on gender differences in the health consequences of binge drinking, including morbidity and mortality, suicidality, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, liver disorders, and brain and neurocognitive implications. It also discusses gender differences in the behavioral and social consequences of binge drinking, including alcohol-impaired driving, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence, and includes implications for treatment and prevention.

[Hazardous drinking in Parisian medical students]

OBJECTIVES

Binge drinking is widespread in medical students but is poorly studied in France. The aim was to evaluate the number of binge drinking episodes and to better characterize them among a sample of French medical students.

METHODS

We carried out a cross-sectional study at Paris VII's Faculty of Medicine. Through a brief self-questionnaire we focused on the prevalence rate of binge drinking in the past two weeks and examined the associations between hazardous drinking and the number of drinks consumed, demographic data (gender, age, familial status and student fraternity membership), clinical aspects (context, intended effects and adverse consequences), tobacco or illegal substances use, and eventual relationship with alcohol or tobacco use disorders.

RESULTS

Among 302 medical students, 74.8% of them experienced at least one binge-drinking episode in the last two weeks. There was no significant difference in demographic data. However, the association between binge drinking and to living alone was borderline significant (P=0.051). Students experienced on mean 2.4 (SD, 1.6) episodes in the last two weeks and their mean maximum number of drinks was equal to 10.3 (SD, 4.6). We observed a significant association between the number binge drinking episodes and the mean maximum consumption of alcohol drinks (P=0.004). The maximum quantity of alcohol drinks was significantly higher (P<0.001) in students who experienced two binge-drinking episodes (mean=11.23, SD=4.56), compared to those who experienced only one episode (mean=9.04, SD=3.96). Binge drinkers were more likely to consume alcohol at a party than at a friendly drink (P=0.029) and more frequently sought drunkenness (P<0.001) and to escape from daily concerns (P=0.004). They experienced more negative events like black-outs (P<0.001), aggressive behaviors (P=0.002), drunk driving (P=0.025), unsafe sexual relationships (P=0.010) and need of emergency responders (P=0.047). Binge drinkers were more likely to simultaneously consume tobacco (P<0.001) or illegal substances (P<0.001), and presented more alcohol use disorder (P<0.001) and tobacco-dependence (P=0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

This first French study in 302 medical students has highlighted the extent of binge drinking in this specific population. The threshold of two binge-drinking episodes in two weeks may be useful to identify a distinctive pattern of consumption and set up adequate prevention actions. Finally binge drinking seemed to be close to an addictive process. Our findings support the need to develop targeted prevention programs in French medical students, which could be designed around several interventions in campuses and student parties. Cohort studies could be necessary to provide an epidemiological follow-up of the French medical student population, particularly about the risk of alcohol use disorder.

An Investigation of the Relationship Between Alcohol Use and Major Depressive Disorder Across Hispanic National Groups

BACKGROUND

There has been consistent epidemiological evidence of the association between drinking, alcohol dependence, and depression. However, most of the research has ignored potential diversity across Hispanic national subgroups. This study examines the prevalence of depression and explores its association with volume of drinking, age at first drink, binge drinking, and alcohol dependence across Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and South/Central American Hispanic national groups.

METHODS

Data from more than 19,000 Hispanic adults were obtained from the 2010 to 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Survey logistic regression methods were used to test for differences in the relationship between major depressive disorder (MDD) and alcohol consumption across national groups.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MDD varied significantly across Hispanic national groups (χ(2)  = 67.06, p < 0.001). Puerto Ricans (14%) and Mexican Americans (9%) were most likely to have MDD. Mexican Americans had the highest prevalence of alcohol dependence, volume of consumption, and youngest age at first drink compared to Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, and Central/South Americans. Multivariate results suggest that the odds of alcohol dependence were nearly 4 times greater among Hispanics with MDD compared to Hispanics who did not meet the criteria for MDD. Hispanic national origin did not modify the association between MDD and alcohol use.

CONCLUSIONS

Although significant differences in the prevalence rates of MDD and alcohol-use measures emerged across Hispanic national groups, there was no evidence that the relationships between these measures were different across Hispanic national groups. Further research should investigate the root causes of these variable MDD prevalence rates to inform detection and intervention efforts targeted toward specific national groups.