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Depression May Prevent the Cardiovascular Benefits of Alcohol
Untreated depression hindered the anti-inflammatory effects of moderate alcohol consumption and exercise
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Alcohol And Cancer: Just One Drink Can A Day Can Raise Risk, Study Suggests
New information from the US National Cancer Institute once again highlights the role of alcohol consumption in cancer. While studies indicate that even low levels of alcohol consumption (1 drink a day) increase risk of some cancers (e.g. breast cancer in women), slightly higher levels of consumption are likely to increase risk for the development of a number of cancers. This information, while important, might be difficult for the lay public to fully appreciate given that 1) alcohol is such a socially acceptable substance 2) low levels of consumption (1 drink per day for women and 2 for men) has been touted to have health benefits (mainly for reducing coronary heart disease) and 3) this new information is merely a risk assessment of the total population and it is not clear how it relates to a "any given individual." Many people have friends and relatives who drink at low to moderate levels and who have had a relatively normal life span, so information such as this "does not ring true" to them. However, in my professional opinion there are several issues that might explain this discrepancy. First, this information really is only a risk assessment across a group of individuals. As explained nicely in this article, the information needs to be "individualized." For instance, if there is a strong history of breast cancer in one's family, or if one has been diagnosed as having breast cancer or a precancerous lesion (this is likely true for many other cancers as well) then one should strongly consider the increased risks that alcohol consumption, of any amount, might pose for their personal increased risk of developing cancer or a progression of cancer (if previously diagnosed). Second, the data quoted in this article is obtained from either epidemiological (population) studies or retrospective (looking backward) studies where alcohol consumption data are collected in a way that could lead to some significant underestimation of consumption. For instance, we know from our work that individuals underestimate what they drink (for a variety of reasons). So if a person says they consume "one drink" a day, the size of the drink and the amount of alcohol in the "drink" might give false impression of "low level drinking." Also, many people will admit to one "drink" when in fact they drink more than that. Also, one can arrive at "one drink a day" average by in fact drinking one drink a day each day of the week OR by drinking 7 drinks on one day of the week and dividing by seven days. These consumption levels are not likely to pose the same risks for health and harm. At the Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs (CDAP) we have pioneered the use of blood and urine tests to more validly quantify what people drink. If these new tests were used in the collection of this type of data we might find that the reported one drink a day is actually more than that for a number of people and might explain the discrepancy between the lay public's personal observations about alcohol use and clinical/epidemiological data as it relates to cancer and other health problems. Nevertheless, the important "public health warning" in this article is that drinking might be more related to cancer than originally thought. This enhanced information should provide information for people to refine their individual choices as to drink or not to drink, and if they drink, what amount increases their risk. Future studies using more refined data collection about alcohol consumption might further clarify the relationship between amount of alcohol consumed and cancer risk and provide more information for the public on which to base sound health and lifestyle decisions.
Raymond F. Anton, MD
Director of the Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs
Distinguished University
Medical University of South Carolina
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Effective Addiction Treatment
Many addiction treatment programs are rooted in outdated methods rather than new evidence-based approaches, dooming many addicts to failure
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Many Doctors Skip Alcohol Screening and Miss Patients' Drinking Problems
Doctors miss drinking problems in almost three-fourths of patients because they don't conduct alcohol screening, a new study finds. Instead, many doctors rely on gut feelings about whether a patient is engaging in problem drinking
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Report: Binge Drinking by Women 'Alarming'
An estimated 14 milion U.S. women consume an average of six drinks at one time about three times monthly
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NIDA Drug Facts Newsletter
This quarterly e-newsletter from the National Institute on Drug Abuse will give you information and ideas for planning local events to help teens shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse
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Early drunkeness may be stronger link for adolescent problem behaviors
Does a little wine at a special occasion in an adolescent increase risk for alcohol problems. This article seems to say that it is not the little bit of alcohol per se but actually "drinking to intoxication or drunkedness" that is the predictor of future drinking problems.
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MUSC’s CDAP director named as one of the top addiction psychiatrists in the nation
Charleston, S.C. (November 13, 2012) – Raymond F. Anton, M.D., Distinguished University Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, was named one of the top addiction psychiatrists in the country by U.S. News Top Doctors.
Better Integration Needed for Treatment of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness
People who suffer from both mental illness and a substance use disorder often receive care from two very different types of systems, creating confusion for patients, their families and clinicians, says Ken Duckworth, MD, Medical Director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Number of Teens Who Drink and Drive Fell 54 Percent Since 1991
However, one in 10 students, 16 years and under, reported driving after drinking during the past 30 days in 2011
Addiction Experts Push for More Medical Approaches to Treatment
Addiction experts are advocating for a more medical approach to addiction treatment, instead of relying on 12-step programs, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Commentary: Prescription Drug Abuse and the Future of America
If you're a parent, take the time to talk to your children about the harm caused by medicine abuse, and educate yourself on the signs of abuse, encourages Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy.
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Link between Alcohol Mixed with Energy Drinks and Risky Sex among College Students
Nearly one in three sexually-active students reported using AmEDs during the prior month
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Alcohol May Intensify the Effects of Some Medications
Almost 60% of the 22 medications in their tests dissolved much faster in the presence of alcohol
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Teens More Likley to Try Cigarettes or Marijuana in June or July
Teenagers are more likely to start smoking cigarettes or marijuana in June or July than in any other month, according to a new government study.
Alcohol Detected in 40% of Fatally-Injured Drivers
Over half of fatally-injured drivers test positive for alcohol and/or other drugs
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Drug Abuse Kills 200,000 Each Year: UN Report
Drug abuse kills about 200,000 people worldwide each year, according to a new United Nations (UN) report. Global treatment for drug abuse would cost $250 billion per year if everyone who needed help received proper care, according to the UN.
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Elderly Drinking May Influence Risk of Dementia and Cognitive Decline
Alcohol may have both neurotoxic and neuroprotective effect
Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia are most common in the very elderly, and are associated with huge health costs. With a rapidly aging global population, factors influencing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia are important.
A review of the association between alcohol consumption and cognition in the elderly suggests alcohol may have both a neurotoxic and neuroprotective effect, depending on the dose and drinking pattern. Longitudinal and brain imaging studies in the elderly show that excessive alcohol consumption may increase the risk of cognitive dysfunction and dementia, but regular low to moderate alcohol intake may protect against cognitive decline and dementia and provide cardiovascular benefits.
Investigators reviewed studies published from 1971 to 2011 related to alcohol and cognition in the elderly. At present, there are no proven agents to prevent cognitive decline or dementia, although a number of prospective epidemiologic studies have shown a lower risk of such conditions among light to moderate drinkers in comparison with non-drinkers.
Other studies suggest that beneficial effects are seen only among certain sub-groups of subjects. A recent meta-analysis by Peters et al of subjects over the age of 65 in longitudinal studies concluded that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption, in comparison with abstinence, was associated with approximately 35-45% lower risk of cognitive decline or dementia.
Source: ABMRF Research Alert Digest
Alcohol May Trigger Palpitations in Heart Patients
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation subjects had a 4.42 greater chance of reporting alcohol consumption as an arrhythmia trigger
The term "holiday heart syndrome" was coined in a 1978 study to describe patients with atrial fibrillation who experienced a common and potentially dangerous form of heart palpitation after excessive drinking, which can be common during the winter holiday season. The symptoms usually went away when the revelers stopped drinking.
The latest research helps establish a stronger causal link between alcohol consumption and serious palpitations in patients with atrial fibrillation, the most common form of arrhythmia. A new study by the University of California, San Francisco suggests people with atrial fibrillation had almost a four and a half times greater chance of having an episode if they were consuming alcohol than if they were not.
The study conducted from September 2004 to March 2011, interviewed 223 patients with documented cardiac arrhythmia, a term that encompasses both atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), or rapid heart rate originating above the ventricles. Investigators asked patients, "Does alcohol trigger your heart palpitations?" Participants ranked their symptoms on a scale from one to five (i.e. never, rarely, sometimes, frequently, and always). The mean age of the study participants was 59 years and 80% were Caucasian.
Results suggest that atrial fibrillation patients had statistically significant greater odds of reporting that alcohol would trigger their symptoms. The paroxysmal atrial fibrillation subjects had a 4.42 greater chance of reporting alcohol consumption as an arrhythmia trigger, compared to the SVT patients.
Source: ABMRF Research Alert Digest
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Beware of Drunk Drivers on Memorial Day Weekend
Drunk drivers are a threat on the road during Memorial Day weekend, warns Fox Business. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 397 people died over the three-day weekend in 2010, the latest year for which data is available. Of those crashes, 40 percent were alcohol-related.
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Source: The Partnerhsip at Drugfree.Org
Teenagers (age 12–17) and young adults (age 18–24) are two age groups for which sensitivity to age is especially important in the practice of prevention, treatment, and recovery. What are the most effective approaches to preventing underage drinking and use of illicit drugs—including the nonmedical use of prescription medications—among youth? What mental, emotional, and behavioral problems are most commonly found in both teenagers and young adults, and what are the most effective approaches to prevention and treatment? What are the specialized needs of youth in recovery from substance use, a mental health problem, or both? This show addresses these important questions, examining the role of family, schools, and community. More and more, adults working in the field of behavioral health are listening to and partnering with youth in finding better ways to connect and help. This show highlights innovative and evidence-based approaches to the prevention of mental and substance use disorders in youth and young adults. Age-appropriate approaches in treatment and recovery such as recovery schools, recovery homes, and student assistance programs also are presented.
Watch the May Program
Souce: SAMHSA
Alcohol Awareness Month - 2012
by Pat Brownlee, blog4safety.com
Sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Alcohol Awareness Month is observed during the month of April. There are many sobering facts about the effects that alcohol and drug addiction have on individuals, as well as family, friends, and co-workers. The cost and consequences of these habits place an enormous burden on American society, as well. Addiction strains the healthcare system, economy, harms family life, and threatens public safety.
Substance abuse is everywhere, regardless of gender, age, ethnic groups, and people in every tax bracket. Alcohol kills six times more young people than all illicit drugs combined. It is a leading factor in accidents, homicides, and suicides. Most high school students say it is fairly easy to get alcohol. By the time American youngsters reach the age of 18, they have seen at least 100,000 beer commercials on television.
Here are some eye-opening facts from the NCADD:
- Almost half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related.
- Between 48% and 64% of people who die in fires have blood alcohol levels indicating intoxication.
- Alcohol consumption has been linked with greater risk of disturbing trauma, including motor car crashes, bicycling accidents, falls, self-inflicted wounds, injuries during sports activities, injuries in recreational events, and interpersonal violence.
- Heavy drinking contributes to illness in each of the top three causes of death: heart disease, stroke, and cancer. (And, untreated addiction is more expensive than cancer, heart disease, and diabetes combined.)
- One-quarter of all emergency room admissions, one-third of all suicides, and more than half of all homicides and incidents of domestic violence are alcohol-related.
- Every American adult pays nearly $1,000 per year for the damages of addiction.
- Alcohol and drug abuse costs the American economy an estimated $276 billion per year in lost productivity, health care expenditures, crime, motor vehicle crashes and other conditions.
- Young people who tasted alcohol before 15 years old were at 5 times greater risk to have past alcohol dependence or abuse as compared to persons who first used alcohol at age 21 or older.
- About 20 per cent of 8th grade students, 35 per cent of 10th grade students, and 48 per cent of 12th grade students admitted having tasted alcohol in their lives. About one-third of these students report binge drinking (five or more drinks on a single go.)
- About 40 per cent of high school seniors believe there’s no great risk in consuming four to five drinks almost every day.
Diagnosis and treatment of this disease (yes, it is a disease) is of the utmost importance. Treatment can save lives and also dollars that would otherwise be spent in other areas of social services and medical care. For every dollar spent on addiction treatment, seven dollars is saved in reduced health care costs. Many employers offer counseling to their employees who have problems with drug or alcohol dependence. Studies have shown that when these employees have been helped, work results showed less absenteeism, decreased problems with supervisors, as well as less incomplete work and fewer mistakes in work.
An individual that is hooked on alcohol or drugs is not only affecting his/her life, but the lives of family, friends, and co-workers. If family and friends can get the assistance of a trained specialist to conduct an intervention, hopefully, the individual will want to stop. Alcohol or drugs have the ability to alter ones’ personality to the point that they are completely different than when they are sober. If they could see how they act when they have had too much, it might help them decide to stop.
Re-read the facts above and know that there is no good reason to become addicted to anything. Stay in control of your life for yourself and your loved ones. Most of all, keep our future growing by ending underage drinking. Please continue to stay tuned. April 5th is National Alcohol Screening Day, and we have some additional information concerning screening that describes risks for women, college students, and older drinkers.
Sources: NCADD, US Department of Health and Human Services
Underage Female Drinkers Now as Likely to Die in Car Crashes as Underage Males
Drivers ages 16 to 20 with a blood alcohol level of .02% to .049% were almost three times as likely to be involved in a fatal crash
Underage female drinkers may now be as likely to die in an alcohol-related car crash as their male counterparts. In 1996, underage males had a higher risk of a fatal car crash than underage females, but by 2006, the gender gap had closed at any given blood alcohol level.
Researchers used the U.S. Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) to compare blood-alcohol information for the 2006 and 2007 crash cases with control blood-alcohol data from participants in the 2007 U.S. National Roadside Survey. The 1996 FARS and roadside survey data were then compared to the 2006 risk estimates.
Results suggests that drivers ages 16 to 20 with a blood alcohol level of .02% to .049% were almost three times as likely to be involved in a fatal crash, compared with sober drivers of the same age. Their risk of dying in a single-vehicle crash was almost four times as high as that of sober drivers.
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Source: ABMRF Research Alert Digest
Drinking Associated with Diabetes
High rates of beer drinking in men increased the risk of pre-diabetes
In men, total alcohol consumption and binge drinking was seen to increase the risk of pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes in men. However, the study also suggests that low consumption decreased diabetes risk in women.
The study used subjects aged 35-56 years, who initially had normal glucose tolerance (2070 men and 3058 women) or pre-diabetes (70 men and 41 women). Logistic regression was used to estimate the risk to develop pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes at 8-10 years follow-up, compared to the self-reported alcohol initial intake.
Results suggest that high alcohol consumption increases the risk of abnormal glucose regulation in men. High rates of beer drinking in men increased the risk of pre-diabetes, while high rates of spirit drinking increased the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
In women, the risk for diabetes decreased with low or medium intake and increased risk with high alcohol intake. With high wine drinking, women showed a reduced risk of pre-diabetes and of Type 2 diabetes with medium intake of both wine and spirits. High rates of spirit drinking increased the pre-diabetes risk.
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Source: ABMRF Research Alert Digest
College Students May Misperceive Their BAC
At higher levels of intoxification, students greatly underestimate their BAC.
College students may overestimate their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at lower levels of intoxication and significantly underestimate their BAC at higher levels. This study was conducted by Joseph W. LaBrie, Ph.D., a former grantee of ABMRF/The Foundation for Alcohol Research, and his colleagues at Loyola Marymount University.
The study surveyed 225 college students who had at least one drink within the two hours before the assessment. The assement was given to the students at night when they were returning from parties and/or alcohol-serving establishments. An initial survey was given asking for the students' estimated BAC, and then students gave a breath sample to assess breath alcohol content. A follow-up questionnaire was given within 48 hours after the initial survey.
Results suggest that college students may have difficulty assessing their BAC level and drinking behaviors in the college drinking environment.
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Source: ABMRF Research Alert Digest
Doctors Perfectly Positioned to Help Prevent Drug and Alcohol Overdoses
A recent study that found soaring hospitalization rates for combined drug and alcohol overdoses among young adults suggests doctors could play a pivotal role in educating the public about the dangers of combining these substances
Pediatrics Group Tells Physicians How to Spot Symptoms of Synthetic Marijuana Use Many emergency room physicians are not familiar with symptoms caused by synthetic marijuana such as "K2" and "Spice," which are sending a growing number of teenagers to the hospital, according to USA Today.
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SAMHSA News Release: Report shows 7.5 million children live with a parent with an alcohol use disorder
A new report shows that 7.5 million children under age 18 (10.5% of this population) lived with a parent who has experienced an alochol use disorder in the past year
Lack of Motivation to Quit and Health Coverage Are Top Reasons for Not Seeking Treatment
Those in need of alcohol treatment were more likely to cite not being ready to stop using
An estimated 20.5 million people needed but did not receive alcohol or drug treatment in the past year, according to data from the 2010 National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The primary reason for not receiving treatment among those who were classified as needing-and felt they needed-treatment was not being ready to stop using alcohol or illicit drugs (40.2%). The second most commonly cited reason for not receiving treatment was having no health coverage and not being able to afford the cost (32.9%). People in need of alcohol treatment were more likely than those in need of drug treatment to cite not being ready to stop using (45.1% vs. 30.7%), while those needing drug treatment were more likely to cite not having health coverage and could not afford the cost (41.8% vs. 30.9%). Other reasons given were not knowing where to go for treatment, thinking that going to treatment might have a negative effect on their job or social relationships, or thinking that they could handle the problem without treatment.
Source: ABMRF. Research Alert Digest.
STEER Away from Alcohol and Drugs
South Carolina, United States
This project will use a multifaceted approach (Screening, Training, Educating, Evaluating, and Referral) to address health disparities in access, education and treatment of the use/misuse of alcohol and drugs in minority, rural, underserved and at risk populations. A cadre of experts based in MUSC's Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs will forge partnerships with schools, churches and community centers in four targeted counties and will also utilize the Palmetto State Providers Network to reach individuals in isolated rural areas. Evidence-based strategies will be implemented in screening individuals for alcohol/drugs; training multidisciplinary workers, teachers and community workers; educating the population of the target counties; evaluating individuals for alcohol/drugs; and referring individuals for treatment.
Children of Alcoholics Week
Feb 12-18, 2012
This week celebrates hope and healing for children of alcoholics. Children of Alcoholics Week calls attention to the one in four children under the age of 18 who are exposed to a family alcohol problem, and the many others affected by parental drug use. According to the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA), who are sponsering this week's awareness campaign, Children of Alcoholics Week “celebrates the recovery of the many thousands of children (of all ages) who have received the help they needed to recover from the pain and loss suffered in their childhood, and it offers hope to those still suffering.”
For more information, materials, and resources on Children of Alcoholics Week click here
Stricter Thinking on Alcohol During Pregnancy
The Wall Street Journal recently published an artilce that details new findings about drinking during pregnancy. Pioneering research by Dr. Carrie Randall almost 30 years ago solidified that alcohol was detrimental to fetal development. There has been great controversy over the years if "any amount of drinking" during pregnancy would be harmful. A recent article in a major alcohol journal implies that it is.
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New NIDA resource helps families navigate addiction treatment options
Consumer-friendly publication will guide those struggling with addiction
A new resource, Seeking Drug Abuse Treatment: Know What to Ask, will help individuals and families struggling with addiction ask the right questions before choosing a drug treatment program. It was developed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, and is available to the public free online or in hard copy through NIDA’s DrugPubs service (see information below).
“Treatment options can vary considerably, and families often don’t know where to begin,” said NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow. “This booklet highlights the treatment components that research has shown are critical for success, to help people make an informed choice during a very stressful time.”
The new publication is based on a NIDA resource describing the principles of drug addiction treatment from a research-based perspective. It recommends five helpful questions people should ask and explains what the research has found to be most effective. Specifically, the booklet explores these themes:
Is the program’s treatment plan backed by scientific evidence?
Is it tailored to the individual needs of each patient?
Does the program assess and adapt treatment as the patient’s needs change?
How long should the treatment take?
How do 12 step programs fit into drug addiction treatment?
Seeking Drug Abuse Treatment: Know What to Ask can be found online at http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/seeking-drug-abuse-treatment. Hard copies can be ordered by calling 1-877-NIDA-NIH (1-877-643-2644) or by going online at http://drugpubs.drugabuse.gov/.
Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research Based Guide, which is the basis of this new publication, can be found at http://www.drugabuse.gov/PODAT/PODATIndex.html.
Source: NIH News
38 Million U.S. Adults Binge Drink
One in six adults in the United States is a binge drinker, consuming an average of eight drinks per occasion and doing so about four times a month, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control.
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Early Alcohol or Marijuan Use Tied to Later Substance Abuse Disorders
Those who first drank at or before age 14 where more than four times more likely to have substance abuse disorders than those who starte at age 18 or older
Early marijuana or alcohol use may be related to later substance use disorders, according to data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Those who first used alcohol at or before the age of 14 were nearly twice as likely to meet the criteria for past year alcohol abuse or dependence than those who started using alcohol between the ages of 15 and 17 (16.2% vs. 9.7%) and more than four times more likely than those who started using alcohol at the age of 18 or older (16.2% vs. 3.8%).
Similar results were seen for early marijuana use. Adults who first used marijuana at age 14 or younger were more than twice as likely to meet the criteria for past year illicit drug abuse or dependence than those who first used marijuana between the ages of 15 and 17 (12.8% vs. 5.6%) and nearly five times more likely than those who started when they were 18 or older (12.8% vs. 2.6%). While these findings illustrate the need for early alcohol and drug prevention efforts, it is likely that early substance use is an indicator of a disposition to engage in a variety of high-risk behaviors, suggesting that prevention efforts that encompass the whole person may be more effective.
Source: ABMRF. Research Alert Digest.
An Anti-Stress Peptide May Block Alchol Dependence
May lead to the development of novel drugs to treat alcohol dependence
An endogenous anti-stress peptide in the brain may help prevent and even reverse some of the cellular effects of acute alcohol and alcohol dependence in animal models, according to a study at the Scripps Research Institute.
Investigators used alcohol-dependent and control rats to examine the interaction between two competing agents, one a stress peptide that promotes excessive alcohol drinking and the other an anti-stress peptide that opposes it. The study focused on the neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala, a region of the brain implicated in the elevated anxiety and excessive drinking associated with alcohol dependence and withdrawal. Researchers added a particular stress peptide produced in the amygdala, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), and nociceptin. Then, they electrically stimulated the neurons to see how they would behave under the influence of both peptides.
Nociceptin completely blocked the effects of CRF on GABA release in the study, regardless of if it was introduced before or after the functioning of CRF. The results suggest the cellular mechanisms that govern the transition from alcohol use to alcohol dependence. These mechanisms may help in the development of drugs to treat alcoholism, since drugs may be derived from the anti-stress peptide nociceptin.
The research also suggests that both CRF and nociceptin had a more powerful effect on the amygdala neurons of alcohol-dependent rats compared to those from non-dependent animals. Nociceptin and CRF both were seen to rely on the same enzyme, protein kinase A (PKA), to modulate GABA release in the amygdala.
Source: ABMRF. Research Alert Digest.
Two Key Questions are Focus of New Teen Alcohol Screener for Pediatricians
A new alcohol screening tool that focuses on two key questions is designed to help pediatricians spot children and adolescents at risk for alcohol-related problems. The doctor asks about the patient's own drinking, as well as his or her friends' own alcohol use.
Alcohol Can Raise Breast Cancer Risk
Even indulging in just a few drinks a week raises a woman's risk of breast cancer, according to a large Harvard study.
Raising the Chance of Some Cancers with Two Drinks A Day
Regularly drinking, even in moderation, raises the long-term risk of many kinds of cancer.
Number of Perscription Painkiller Dealths More Than Tripled in Last 10 Years
The number of Americans who died from overdoses of prescription painkillers more than tripled in the past decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More people now die from painkillers than from heroin and cocaine combined.
CDC Reports Excessive Alcohol Consumption Cost the U.S. $224 Billion
Most costs mainly due to binge drinking
The costs of excessive alcohol consumption in the United States in 2006 reached $223.5 billion or about $1.90 per drink, according to a new study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Almost three-quarters of these costs were due to bing drinking, consuming of 4 or more alcoholic beverages per occasion for women or 5 or more drinks per occasion for men.
Family Dinners May Reduce Teen Drug Abuse
Kids who have infrequent family dinners are more than twice as likely to use alcohol
More than a decade of research by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA Columbia) suggests that the more often kids eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs.
According to data from CASA Columbia's newly-released report, The Importance of Family Dinners VII, compared to teens who have frequent family dinners (five to seven per week), those teens who have infrequent family dinners (fewer than three per week) are almost four times likelier to use tobacco; more than twice as likely to use alcohol; two-and-a-half times likelier to use marijuana; and almost four times likelier to say they expect to try drugs in the future. Kids who have frequent dinners with their family are also likelier to say that they have an excellent relationship with their parents and are less likely to have friends who smoke, drink or use drugs.
Researchers asked teens to share the best part of family dinners. Among teens who report having at least one family dinner per week, over half reported that talking, sharing, catching up and interacting with family members is the best. Two nationally representative Internet surveys of 1,037 teens and 528 of their parents over the Internet were conducted, along with a telephone survey of 1,006 teens that asked questions to measure trends over time.
Source: ABMRF. Research Alert Digest.
Community Effort May Be Key to Preventing and Reducing Youth Substance Abuse and Illegal Activities
Program's students were at 38% lower odds of ever trying alcohol by 10th grade
An Average of 15.6 Years Elapse between First Substance Use and Treatment Admission
People who abused alcohol waited an average of 20 years to seek treatment
