Single Question about Drunkenness to Detect College Students at Risk for Injury

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the frequency of injuries reported by college students who replied affirmatively to the question, “In a typical week, how many days do you get drunk?” Methods: In Fall 2003, a Web‐based survey was administered to a stratified random sample of 3,909 college students from ten North Carolina (NC) universities. Students answered questions regarding alcohol use and its consequences. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression, controlling for within‐school clustering of drinking behaviors and adjusting for other significant covariates. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for significant predictors (p < 0.05). Results: Two thousand four hundred eighty‐eight students reported that they are current drinkers; 1,353 (54.4%) reported getting drunk at least once in a typical week. Compared with students who did not report getting drunk at least once a week, these students had higher odds of being hurt or injured at least once as a result of their own drinking (AOR = 4.97; 95% CI = 3.47 to 7.09), experiencing a fall from a height that required medical treatment (AOR = 2.16; 95% CI = 1.36 to 3.43), and being taken advantage of sexually as a result of another's drinking (AOR = 2.59; 95% CI = 1.72 to 3.89). Students who reported getting drunk at least one day in a typical week also were more likely to cause an injury requiring medical treatment to someone else. They had higher odds of causing injury in an automobile crash (AOR = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.01 to 3.40), of causing a burn that required medical treatment (AOR = 2.85; 95% CI = 1.51 to 5.39), and of causing a fall from a height that required medical treatment (AOR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.01 to 4.04). Getting drunk was a better indicator of “self‐experienced injury” and of “injury caused to someone else” than was binge drinking, for all outcomes (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The single question, “In a typical week, how many days do you get drunk?” identifies college students who are at higher than normal risk of injury as a result of their own drinking and the drinking of others. Future research should assess this question's effectiveness as a screening tool in campus health centers and in emergency departments.

Alcohol Binge Before Trauma/Hemorrhage Impairs Integrity of Host Defense Mechanisms During Recovery

“…Therefore, analysis of several cellular compartments is necessary to understand more fully the impact of alcohol as well as that of traumatic injury on the immune status of the host. Binge drinking is a frequent pattern of alcohol abuse (SAMHSA, 2005) and it is associated with a higher risk for injury in an otherwise healthy population (Gmel et al, 2006;O'Brien et al, 2006;Savola et al, 2005). Our previous studies have examined the impact of a single alcohol bolus as well as that of a prolonged continuous alcohol administration on outcome from traumatic injury.…”

School injury and gender differentials: a prospective cohort study

“…In this study the definition of alcohol consumption did not concern an excess of consumption but also included moderate consumption. O'brien et al [11] found that, among college students, 54.4% reported getting drunk at least once in a typical week and they had 5-fold higher risk for being hurt or injured (including causing injury in an automobile crash) at least once as a result of their own drinking. Our study focused on school injury only and the level of alcohol use would be different when the students are at or out of school.…”

“…As sports and physical activities have been promoted as part of health lifestyle, injury during these activities are a problem of public health [4][5][6][7][8]. Some studies have shown that the injury is associated with age, alcohol use, behavior, physical ability, health status, psychosomatic health complaints, sleep disorders, disabilities, and social conditions [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Other factors that are common could also increase the risk of injury in adolescents.…”

Comparing Men who have Sex with Men and Transgender Women who Use Grindr, Other Similar Social and Sexual Networking Apps, or no Social and Sexual Networking Apps: Implications for Recruitment and Health Promotion

“…Alcohol use was measured by asking participants, “In a typical week, how many days do you get drunk?” [30]. Participants also reported which of the following substances they had used in the past 12 months: tobacco (cigarette or cigar), marijuana, cocaine, crack, “poppers” or rush (alkyl nitrites), crystal meth, ecstasy, GHB, and medication used for sexual enhancement (i.e., Viagra®, Levitra®, or Cialis®).…”