Optimizing the use of the AUDIT for alcohol screening in college students.

Abstract

The screening and brief intervention (SBI) modality of treatment for at-risk college drinking is becoming increasingly popular. A key to effective implementation is use of validated screening tools. While the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) has been validated in adult samples and is often used with college students, research has not yet established optimal cut-off scores to screen for at-risk drinking. A total of 401 current drinkers completed computerized assessments of demographics, family history of alcohol use disorders, alcohol use history, alcoholrelated problems, and general health. Of the 401 drinkers, 207 met criteria for at-risk drinking. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that the AUROC of the AUDIT was 0.86 (95% CI = 0.83-0.90). The AUDIT-C (AUROC = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.86--.92) performed significantly better than the AUDIT in the detection of at-risk drinking in the whole sample, and specifically for females. Gender differences emerged in the optimal cut-off scores for the AUDIT-C. A total score of 7 should be used for males and a score of 5 should be used for females. These empirical guidelines may enhance identification of at-risk drinkers in college settings. Keywordsalcohol screening; at-risk drinking; gender; college drinking; ROC Optimizing the Use of the AUDIT for Alcohol Screening in College StudentsExcessive rates of alcohol consumption on college campuses continue to pose a public health challenge. Approximately 70% of college students report alcohol use in the past month (O'Malley & Johnston, 2002). Heavy episodic drinking, defined as five or more drinks on one occasion for a male and four or more drinks on one occasion for a female, is commonplace. Nearly half of all college students reporting at least one heavy drinking episode in the past two weeks or month (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2006;Wechsler et al., 2002). Importantly, it is these heavy drinking episodes that are linked with alcohol consequences (e.g., Park, 2004). In college samples, heavy drinking episodes (sometimes referred to as binge episodes) are related to academic, relational, and legal problems (Park, 2004), as well as physical injury and unprotected sex (Hingson, Zha, & Weitzman, 2009).Despite these high rates of heavy alcohol use, college students often do not seek specialty treatment for alcohol problems. Results from the National Epidemiologic Study on AlcoholCorrespondence concerning this article should be addressed to Kelly S. DeMartini, Ph.D., Yale University School of Medicine, Division of Substance Abuse, 1 Long Wharf Dr., Box 18, New Haven CT 06511; kelly.demartini@yale.edu. Author Note: At the time of the study, both authors were affiliated with the Department of Psychology and Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University. Kelly S. DeMartini is now at the Department of Psychiatry, Division of Substance Abuse, Yale University School of Medicine; Kate B. Carey is now at the Department of Behavioral and Social Scie...

Alcohol Drinking Among Students of the University of Ljubljana

“…To spremeni tudi mejne vrednosti za pozitiven test; pri slovenskem vprašalniku je test pozitiven za moške pri 6 in več točkah ter za ženske pri 5 in več točkah (pri izvirnem je test pozitiven za moške pri 5 in več točkah ter za ženske pri 4 in več točkah) (17,18). AUDIT-C se je izkazal za učinkovito presejalno orodje z visoko zanesljivostjo in občutljivostjo tudi med mladostniki (19,20 med tveganim in škodljivim pitjem ter izkušnjami z drogo pa na vzorcu 7.197 študentov. Študentje, ki so odgovorili na obe vprašanji (N = 7.169), sestavljajo vzorec, ki smo ga analizirali z večnivojskimi in multivariatnimi metodami.…”

Profiles of College Drinkers Defined by Alcohol Behaviors at the Week Level: Replication Across Semesters and Prospective Associations With Hazardous Drinking and Dependence-Related Symptoms

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“…Based on self-reports, the senior-year analytic subsample (n = 569; 56% women; M age = 21.48, SD = 0.41 years, range: 19.92-23.33) can be described as 26% Hispanic/ Latino American, 27% European American non-Hispanic/ Latino (NHL), 23% Asian American NHL, 15% African American NHL, and 9% multiracial American NHL. In fall/ senior year, 37% of the subsample met a 5+/7+ (women/ men) cutoff for hazardous drinking, and 58% endorsed at least one dependence item, with "unable to remember" and "guilt or remorse" being most common (Barry et al, 2015;DeMartini & Carey, 2012).…”

Photography-based mobile assessment of alcohol use in young adults: Feasibility and comparison to standard assessment methodology (Preprint)

“…Alcohol use is prevalent among young adults; most (78%) of US adults aged [18][19][20][21][22][23][24] report drinking alcohol in the past year [1]. Alcohol is calorically dense [2] and heavy episodic drinking during young adulthood can increase the risk of excess weight gain and the transition to obesity [3].…”