Emergency Department (ED) visits due to energy drinks rose drastically from 2007 to 2011. Consuming alcohol mixed with energy drinks by young people is particularly concerning. Among youth (ages 14–20) in the ED reporting past-year alcohol use, we assessed frequency, reasons, and medical consequences of consuming alcohol and energy drinks in the same beverage or on the same occasion, and relationships with other risk behaviors. The sample included 439 youth (Mage=18.6 years, SD=1.4; 41% male; 73% Caucasian): those who drank alcohol, but not energy drinks (Non-users; 41%, n=178), those who drank alcohol and energy drinks on separate occasions (Separate; 23%, n=103), and those who combined alcohol and energy drinks in the same beverage or on the same occasion (Combined; 36%, n=158). Common reasons for combining energy drinks and alcohol were hiding the flavor of alcohol (39%) and liking the taste (36%). Common consequences were feeling jittery (71%) and trouble sleeping (46%). Combined users had the highest rates of risk behaviors (e.g., drug use, sexual risk behaviors, driving after drinking) and alcohol use severity. Multinomial logistic regression indicated that men, those who had sex after substance use, those who had used drugs, and those with higher alcohol severity were more likely to be Combined users than Non-Users. Those with higher alcohol severity were also more likely to be Combined users than Separate users. Combining energy drinks and alcohol is associated with higher rates of other risk behaviors among young drinkers. Future studies are needed to determine longitudinal relationships of energy drink use on substance use problem trajectories.
This study examined alcohol consumption in relation to anxiety, depression, and involvement with high risk occupations (HRO; e.g., coal miners), among young adults in the Ukraine (aged 18–25) (N=192; 60.9% male; 100% Caucasian). Participants were grouped based on drinking status: (1) current drinkers (CDs; n=132) or (2) nondrinkers (NDs; n=60). Questionnaires assessed frequency of alcohol use, motives for drinking, problem identification, as well as anxiety and depression (i.e., Hamilton scales). Bivariate analyses showed that CDs were more likely than NDs to be single, have a HRO, and have greater anxiety and depression; for example, 91.7% of CDs had a HRO as compared to 56.7 % of NDs. Drinking status was not significantly related to age or gender. Among CDs, common motives for use included: to reduce anxiety and fears (60.6%), because my friends use alcohol (75.0%), to fight stress (78.8%), and to increase self-esteem (64.4%). Among CDs, past month drinking days were: 25% 1–2 days, 37.9% 3–7 days, 25% 8–21 days, and 12.1% 22–30 days. Regarding problem identification, 29.5% reported not having a problem, 34.8% reported possibly having a problem, 21.9% reported having a problem but not needing help, and 13.6% reported having a problem/needing help. Young adults involved in HRO may be a particularly high risk population given increased likelihood of alcohol use, anxiety, and depression. Early intervention strategies that incorporate motivational interviewing approaches to address coping and social motives for use may be beneficial to address substance use and mental health problems.
Background World Health Organization data shows alarming rates of alcohol consumption among those ages 15 and older in the Ukraine. This study examined the feasibility and initial efficacy of a brief intervention to reduce risky drinking among emerging adults (ages 18-25) in the Ukraine. Methods Emerging adults presenting to two settings were screened for risky drinking (Railway Clinical Hospital and Kiev National Medical University), with those screening positive on the AUDIT-C (>5) enrolled in the study: 59 participants from the hospital setting (mean age = 22.6 (2.1), 55.9% male) and 61 participants from the university setting (mean age = 20.1(2.3), 55.7% male). After self-administering a computerized baseline assessment, participants were randomized to receive an in-person brief intervention with telephone booster or to a control condition; participants self-administered a computerized follow-up at 3 months. Results Regression analyses were conducted, separately for each setting, predicting alcohol outcomes (alcohol consumption and consequences); models controlled for baseline alcohol levels and condition assignment (brief intervention or control). In both settings, the brief intervention group showed significantly less alcohol consumption and consequences at 3-months as compared to the control group (p<.001); however, the groups did not significantly differ on other drug use (DAST-10 score). Conclusion Findings suggest that brief motivational interventions are promising for reducing risky drinking among emerging adults in the Ukraine in both inpatient hospital and university settings. Future studies are needed to replicate these findings and extend these effects to reduce other drug use among young people in the Ukraine.
Alcohol beverages became a regular part of the everyday life of society. This is particularly true for those in social environments when alcohol is using for socializing. Due to this fact, it is easy to fail to notice the health and social damage caused by alcohol drinking. In the pilot study we examined the feasibility and initial efficacy of a brief intervention on reducing risky drinking among emerging adults in Ukraine. Patients were evaluated in 3 months after the brief motivational intervention (BMI). We included patients who successfully completed the pilot study (all of them had an opportunity to visit our clinic after completing the study for free if necessary). We had 2 groups of participants: (1-st group - young patients of Railway Clinical Hospital, with risky drinking (AUDIT-C> 5); and, 2-nd group - students of the National Medical University OO Bogomolets, with risky drinking (AUDIT-C> 5). All participants were evaluated using set of tests (Structured Interview (personal data, substance use, substance use treatment history, medical history), AUDIT-C, RAPI, DMQ, Quality of Life Scale (O. Chaban, 2009), BSSS, PHQ-9, GAD-7, BPAQ-SF) in 4 years after taking part in a pilot study when they obtained BMI. We also evaluated many factors including the frequency of participants’ visits to our clinic after completing the pilot study. Participants from the university setting were significantly younger, and single (as opposed to married), with fewer children comparing to participants in the hospital setting. Regression analyses were conducted, separately for each setting, predicting alcohol outcomes (consumption and consequences). In both settings, the brief intervention group (BI group) showed significantly less alcohol consumption and consequences after 4 years period compare to the control group (p<0.001). However university group showed more cases of sobriety disruption during this period. Among the BMI sample showed lower level of depressive and anxiety symptoms according to PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales, relative to the control group. Also, the brief intervention group showed a higher level of quality of life relative to the control group. Also the aggression level was different in BMI and control groups (control group showed higher level of aggression). However, there are some differences between patients and students samples with BMI in the results of quality of life scale. This result can be related to the quality of sobriety period in these groups and to the presence of higher level of aggression (including indirect aggression - guilty feelings, according to BPAQ-SF) in students sample. The data obtained indicate that BMI are promising for reducing risky drinking among emerging adults in the Ukraine in both settings (patient hospital and university).
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