Brief report: Expectancies for alcohol analgesia are associated with greater alcohol use among moderate‐to‐heavy drinkers without chronic pain

Higher rates of alcohol use have been reported in HIV+ individuals compared to the general population. Both heavy alcohol use and HIV infection are associated with increased risk of neuropsychological (NP) impairment. We examined effects of heavy active alcohol use and HIV on NP functioning in a large sample of community-residing HIV+ individuals and HIV− controls. The four main study groups included 72 HIV− light/non-drinkers, 70 HIV− heavy drinkers (>100 drinks per month), 70 HIV+ light/non-drinkers, and 56 HIV+ heavy drinkers. The heavy drinking group was further subdivided to assess effects of the heaviest levels of active alcohol use (>6 drinks per day) on NP functioning. A comprehensive NP battery was administered. Multivariate analysis of covariance was employed to examine the effect of HIV and alcohol on NP functioning after adjusting for group differences in age and estimated premorbid verbal intellectual functioning. The analyses identified main effects of heavy drinking and HIV on NP function, with greatest effects involving the contrast of HIV+ heavy drinkers and the HIV− light drinkers. Synergistic effects of heaviest current drinking and HIV infection were identified in analyses of motor and visuomotor speed. Supplementary analyses also revealed better NP function in the HIV+ group with antiretroviral treatment (ART) and lower level of viral burden, a finding that was consistent across levels of alcohol consumption. Finally, heavy alcohol use and executive functioning difficulties were associated with lower levels of self-reported medication adherence in the HIV+ group. The findings suggest that active heavy alcohol use and HIV infection have additive adverse effects on NP function, that they may show synergistic effects in circumstances of very heavy active alcohol use, and that heavy drinking and executive functioning may mediate health-related behaviors in HIV disease. (JINS, 2005, 11, 70–83.)

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Alcohol use variability in a community-based sample of nonstudent emerging adult heavy drinkers

The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse ◽

10.1080/00952990.2016.1183671 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 42 (6) ◽

pp. 698-706 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Cathy Lau-Barraco ◽

Abby L. Braitman ◽

Amy L. Stamates ◽

Ashley N. Linden-Carmichael

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Emerging Adult ◽

Community Based ◽

Heavy Drinkers

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Inclusion of Cannabis Users in Alcohol Research Samples: Screening In, Screening Out, and Implications

Alcohol and Alcoholism ◽

10.1093/alcalc/agaa023 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 55 (4) ◽

pp. 416-423

Author(s):

Alexandra Venegas ◽

Lindsay R Meredith ◽

Ziva D Cooper ◽

Brandon Towns ◽

Lara A Ray

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Binge Drinking ◽

Tobacco Use ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Clinical Severity ◽

Treatment Seeking ◽

Higher Alcohol ◽

The Past ◽

Heavy Drinkers

Abstract Background Alcohol and cannabis are frequently co-used, as 20–50% of those who drink alcohol report co-using cannabis. This study is based on the argument that alcohol researchers should enroll cannabis users in human laboratory studies of alcohol use disorder (AUD) to strengthen generalizability. This study examines how heavy drinking cannabis users differ from non-cannabis using heavy drinkers. Methods In a community sample of non-treatment-seeking heavy drinkers (n = 551, 35% female), cannabis users were identified through: (a) self-reported cannabis use in the past 6 months and (b) positive urine toxicology test for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabis users, identified as described previously, were compared with non-cannabis users on demographic and clinical characteristics. Results Those who endorsed cannabis use in the past 6 months reported more binge drinking days. Participants who tested positive for THC had higher Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test scores and more binge drinking days. Younger age and being a tobacco smoker were associated with an increased likelihood of cannabis use in the past 6 months, whereas male gender and being a tobacco use were associated with a greater likelihood of testing positive for THC. Individuals with cannabis use disorder (CUD) endorsed more depression and anxiety and had higher AUD symptom counts than cannabis users without CUD. Conclusions The inclusion of cannabis users in AUD samples allows for increased clinical severity. Excluding cannabis users from AUD studies may limit representativeness and expend unnecessary study resources. Lastly, tobacco use may explain a large portion of the effects of cannabis use on sample characteristics. Short Summary Alcohol and cannabis are frequently co-used substances. In a sample of non-treatment-seeking heavy drinkers (n = 551, 35% female), cannabis users reported higher alcohol use and higher likelihood of tobacco use than non-cannabis users. Including cannabis users in alcohol research studies will improve representativeness and likely increase clinical severity.

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Alkohol och äldre

Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs ◽

10.1177/145507250802600516 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 26 (5) ◽

pp. 417-426

Author(s):

Tommi Sulander

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Older People ◽

Alcohol Problems ◽

Average Amount ◽

Moderate Drinking ◽

The Past ◽

Alcohol Tax ◽

Heavy Drinkers ◽

Increasing Trend

T. Sulander: Increasing numbers of older people use alcohol The number of older people using alcohol has increased and abstinence has decreased over the past few decades in Finland. However, the average amount of consumed alcohol per week has remained the same. The rapid lowering of alcohol taxes in 2004 led to a slight increase in alcohol use among people aged 65–84. The number of older people in need of care for their alcohol problems has increased parallel to the increasing trend of moderate drinking. It is, however, difficult to reach heavy drinkers by using different research methods. Therefore, their number in the population could only be estimated. Alcohol use in Finland has been increasing steadily already before the alcohol tax was considerably lowered in 2004. To reverse this negative trend, alcohol taxes should be considerably increased and health promotion activities should be initiated.

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Comparison of categorical alcohol dependence versus a dimensional measure for predicting weekly alcohol use in heavy drinkers

Drug and Alcohol Dependence ◽

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.12.020 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 136 ◽

pp. 121-126 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Tera L. Fazzino ◽

Gail L. Rose ◽

Keith B. Burt ◽

John E. Helzer

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Alcohol Dependence ◽

Dependence Versus ◽

Dimensional Measure ◽

Heavy Drinkers

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Alcohol Use Trajectories Among Non–Treatment-Seeking Heavy Drinkers

Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs ◽

10.15288/jsad.2014.75.415 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 75 (3) ◽

pp. 415-422 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Katie Witkiewitz ◽

Ronda L Dearing ◽

Stephen A Maisto

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Treatment Seeking ◽

Heavy Drinkers ◽

Alcohol Use Trajectories

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Characterizing chronic pain and alcohol use trajectory among treatment-seeking alcoholics

Alcohol ◽

10.1016/j.alcohol.2018.05.009 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 75 ◽

pp. 47-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Jeff Boissoneault ◽

Ben Lewis ◽

Sara Jo Nixon

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Treatment Seeking

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3547 Relationship between smoking and alcohol use status: variations in candidate genes associated with addiction and successful quitting smoking

Journal of Clinical and Translational Science ◽

10.1017/cts.2019.125 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (s1) ◽

pp. 52-52

Author(s):

Magda Shaheen ◽

Amira Brown ◽

Deyu Pan ◽

Katrina Schrode

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Genetic Variants ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Genetic Data ◽

Nhanes Iii ◽

Multivariate Logistic Regression ◽

Quit Smoking ◽

Heavy Drinkers ◽

Quitting Smoking ◽

Study Population

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Previous studies showed that 52% of smokers were unsuccessful in quitting smoking. Smoking in alcoholics is 2-3 times that of the general population with 50%-80% of alcoholics smoking regularly. Studies have linked several genetic variants to addiction. We examined the relation between successful quitting smoking, alcohol use, and genetic data for CYP2A6, CYP2B6, DRD2, DRD1 and GABRB1 alleles. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We analyzed data from NHANES III 1988-1994 for socioeconomic factors, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), alcohol status, successful quit smoking, and genetic data for CYP2A6, CYP2B6, DRD2, DRD1 and GABRB1 alleles. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between successful quit smoking and genotypes adjusting for other variables. Data were analyzed using SAS version 9.3 (design & weight). RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Of the 2,269 smokers, 57% were current smokers, 35% were heavy drinkers, 24% were both smokers & heavy drinkers and 41% successfully quitted smoking. Successfully quit smoking was associated with CYP2A6 (rs28399433-TG) (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-11.9, p = 0.03), CYP2B6 (rs2279343-AA and AG) (AOR = 2.3, 95%CI = 1.5-3.5, p = 0.0003 for AA & AOR = 2.3, 95%CI = 1.2-4.2, p = 0.01 for AG) and DRD1 (rs4532-AA) (AOR = 2.2, 95%CI = 1.01-4.6, p = 0.04). Among heavy drinkers, those with CYP2A6 (rs28399433-TG) and CYP2B6 (rs2279343-AA and AG) were more likely to successfully quit smoking and those with CYP2A6 (rs5031017-GG) and GABRB1 (rs1442099-CC) were less likely to successfully quit smoking (p<0.05). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: We concluded that while rs28399433-TG, rs2279343-AA & AG positively impacted the success to quit smoking, rs5031017-GG & rs1442099-CC negatively impacted the success in quitting smoking both overall and specifically in heavy drinker smokers.

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