Articles tagged with Alcoholism
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Interaction between education and a polymorphism of the reward gene contribute to severe alcoholism among Mexican Americans. Researchers found that individuals with less than or up to 12 years of education are at high risk for severe alcoholism when combined with the OPRM1 A/A genotype.
A new study found that completed and attempted suicides occur at greater rates in rural communities with higher bar densities. Completed suicide rates were lower among blacks and Hispanics, but higher among low-income, older whites living in rural areas.
A study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs found that 18 US colleges with significant student drinking problems showed little change in their alcohol habits over a decade. Persistent high levels of binge drinking and unhealthy behaviors, such as drunk driving and unprotected sex, were also unchanged.
A prevention system implemented in seven states has significantly reduced rates of teen binge drinking, with a notable drop of 37% among eighth-grade students. The system also led to lower levels of alcohol and smokeless tobacco use and fewer delinquent behaviors.
A recent study found that excessive drinking can lead to reduced activity in the amygdala and hippocampus, two brain regions responsible for processing facial emotions. This can result in emotional difficulties, such as misperceiving facial cues, emotional flatness, and apathy, which can negatively impact interpersonal relationships.
Researchers found that abstinent long-term alcoholics showed decreased and abnormal brain activity in the amygdala and hippocampus areas when looking at facial expressions. These findings support clinical reports of interpersonal difficulties in this population, suggesting brain abnormalities in emotional perception and memory.
A recent study found that binge drinkers expend more attentional effort to complete tasks and have difficulties differentiating between relevant and irrelevant information. Young Spanish university students who engaged in binge drinking showed anomalies during a visual working memory task, requiring greater attentional processing.
A recent study by Temple researchers found that heavy drinking is more likely to lead to heavy smoking among adolescents, highlighting the need for a multi-pronged approach to education and intervention. The study's findings emphasize the importance of addressing both topics together to combat this growing health risk.
A study found that HIV infection and chronic alcoholism have a synergistic damaging effect on the brain, particularly impairing immediate episodic memory while preserving working memory. Individuals with both conditions are at risk of trouble learning new information, affecting daily activities and work-related tasks.
A new brain mechanism involving ghrelin has been discovered, which could lead to the development of new therapies for alcohol dependence. The study found that blocking ghrelin's actions in the brain reduces alcohol's effects on the reward system.
Research from Washington University School of Medicine found substantial reductions in binge drinking nationwide, but not on college campuses. Binge drinking rates declined among young men and minority groups, but remained unchanged or increased among female collegians.
Researchers found that brief motivational interviews and one-on-one counseling programs significantly reduced heavy drinking and improved behavior among high-risk students. Community-based initiatives, such as increased police patrols and online alcohol policies, also showed promise in reducing off-campus incidents involving students.
A recent government study reveals a rise in college drinking problems, including heavy episodic drinking, drunk driving, and alcohol-related deaths. The study found that these issues are particularly prevalent among students aged 21-24.
A zero-tolerance policy towards underage alcohol use in the home may significantly reduce the likelihood of college students binge drinking, according to a study by Caitlin Abar. The study found that students whose parents did not permit them to drink underage were less likely to engage in heavy drinking, regardless of gender.
A Canadian study found that frequent alcohol consumption increases the risk of binge drinking among all genders and age groups. Regular drinkers need more than their usual drink to experience the festive feeling and may drink beyond healthy limits sporadically or weekly.
A study found that individuals with a low response to alcohol are at a higher risk for developing alcohol-use disorders across adulthood. The research, published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, suggests that this unique risk factor is not solely related to other factors such as family history or age of onset.
A recent study found that frequent extreme heavy drinkers, particularly those with a sensation-seeking disposition, face a heightened risk of alcohol-related injuries. The study analyzed data from over 12,900 college students and discovered a significant correlation between excessive drinking patterns and increased injury rates.
A 24/7 free-access, anonymous, interactive web-based self-help intervention called Drinking Less (DL) can aid problem drinkers in reducing their alcohol consumption. After six months, participants decreased their mean weekly alcohol consumption and 18.8% changed their drinking patterns to 'low-risk drinking'.
Research suggests that individuals with strong negative mood-related drinking motives may be vulnerable to developing both major depression and alcohol dependence. The study found that familial factors contributing to mood-related drinking motives also contribute to the overlapping risk for MD and AD.
A new study identifies Cyber Millenials, affluent, health-conscious young adults living on the urban fringe, as those most likely to engage in high-risk drinking. These individuals, despite being tech-savvy and well-educated, exhibit detrimental binge drinking habits.
Researchers have found that attentional bias, a key factor in addiction, does not directly control the decision to consume unhealthy items. Instead, conscious rapid decision-making processes following Pavlovian-type cues may be at play. This new understanding could lead to more effective treatments.
A recent study by Indiana University researchers found that genetic predisposition to impulsivity is a trait predictive of alcoholism. The study used selective breeding to produce mice with high and low alcohol-preferred genes, which demonstrated that predisposition to impulsivity is predictive of alcoholism.
A new study using mice found that genes affect impulsivity, which can contribute to the risk of developing alcoholism. The study suggests that individuals with high impulsivity may be more likely to experiment with drugs and develop a substance-use disorder like alcoholism.
A study found that adolescent binge drinkers have lower coherence of white matter fibers, suggesting poorer white matter health. This compromise can lead to difficulties in processing information and emotional functioning.
A new study identified four underage drinking laws that lead to reductions in underage drinking-and-driving fatal crashes: possession, purchase, use and lose, and zero tolerance. These laws save an estimated 864 lives each year. Additionally, three general impaired-driving laws were found effective in reducing fatalities.
Researchers found that naltrexone, an opiate receptor blocker, reduced the urges to steal and stealing behavior in individuals with kleptomania after eight weeks of treatment. The study suggests a potential link between kleptomania and substance addictions, highlighting the drug's efficacy in treating impulse control disorders.
Researchers found ALDH2-deficiency linked to increased esophageal cancer risk from moderate alcohol consumption. Clinicians can identify deficiency through flushing response and counsel patients to reduce drinking.
A new report from the University of Southampton finds that long-term daily drinking is the biggest risk factor for serious liver disease. The study suggests that regular drinking patterns can be discernible at an early age and recommends several alcohol-free days a week as a healthier pattern.
A rodent study confirms that low to moderate levels of alcohol increase beta-endorphin release in the midbrain/Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) region, producing a general feeling of well-being. This supports a role of beta-endorphin in mediating some of the rewarding effects of alcohol.
A new study found that naltrexone significantly decreases heavy drinking rates in smokers enrolled in smoking cessation, with the heaviest drinkers benefiting the most. The medication's potential benefits for co-use of nicotine and alcohol may provide a helpful addition to standard quitting programs.
A study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that the brain maintains language skills despite alcohol damage by drawing from other regions. The research used fMRI scans to investigate neural activity in alcoholic and healthy males performing an auditory language task.
A single-screening question from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) accurately identifies unhealthy alcohol use in primary-care patients, with high sensitivity and specificity rates.
Heavy drinking near off-premise outlets increases gun violence risk, study finds. Reducing outlet density and server training may help reduce gun violence.
New research on the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA) finds that motivational readiness is more about individual self-reflection than avoiding negative consequences. The study, published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, suggests that motivation and readiness to change are influenced by personal ...
A Dartmouth-led study of young U.S. teens found that owning alcohol-branded merchandise is associated with an increased risk of transitioning from susceptibility to binge drinking. The study also discovered that teens who own these items are more likely to develop positive attitudes towards drinking and initiate alcohol use.
Research shows that portrayals of alcohol in films and TV commercials immediately lead to increased drinking behavior. Participants who watched movies with prominent alcohol scenes drank an average of 1.5 bottles more than those who watched neutral ads.
Adolescents who experienced multiple types of child maltreatment, including neglect and physical or sexual abuse, were more likely to report binge drinking. The study found that those with a sexual abuse history had nearly twice the odds of reporting binge drinking compared to those without any maltreatment.
A survey of US teens aged 10-14 found that owning alcohol-branded merchandise was associated with increased susceptibility to drinking and binge drinking. The most commonly owned items were clothing and headwear, often featuring beer brands.
A study by the University of Minnesota and CDC found that 43% of active-duty military personnel engage in frequent binge drinking, leading to approximately 30 million episodes annually. This behavior is strongly associated with health and social problems, including job performance issues and alcohol-impaired driving.
A new study found a link between the Val66Met polymorphism in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene and risk for post-treatment relapse among alcohol-dependent patients. The findings suggest that genetic markers may be used to predict treatment outcomes and inform personalized therapy approaches.
New rodent findings show that chronic drinking causes more injury to the liver than acute or binge drinking, with persistent gene-expression changes and deleterious conditioning. This research highlights the importance of daily, excessive drinking in programming the liver to become dependent on alcohol.
Researchers developed a composite metric of maternal-drinking measures that can predict prenatal neurobehavioral dysfunction and deficits in children, identifying over 62% of mothers as drinking at risk levels. The metric was more successful than individual measures in predicting poor child cognition and behavior problems.
New rodent findings show that dietary zinc supplements throughout pregnancy can reduce some alcohol-related birth defects. Zinc supplementation also increases the mother's blood zinc to prevent fetal zinc deficiency and subsequent fetal damage.
A new intervention method has been shown to significantly reduce binge drinking among college students. The MIF (motivational interviewing with feedback) intervention includes a personalized feedback profile and a 45-minute counseling session, resulting in a 5.26 drink reduction per week among participants. The study found that this ap...
A new study found that binge drinking during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of preterm birth, regardless of when alcohol consumption stops. Women who drank heavily or binged had a higher incidence of preterm birth compared to those who abstained from alcohol.
Research found that drinking and high-activity MAOA can predict the risk of impulsive violence, while aging may decrease this risk. Coaching and psychopharmacological treatment may help control violent behaviors in high-activity MAOA offenders.
Researchers found that men tend to use heavier intoxication words like 'hammered,' while women use more moderate terms like 'tipsy.' This could mislead women about their level of intoxication and driving ability.
A leading academic from Durham University argues that patients must comply with moral duties to look after themselves and others when accessing free healthcare. This includes promoting one's own health, using NHS resources responsibly, and cooperating with medical advice and treatment.
A study published in Atherosclerosis reveals that binge drinking causes an irregular pattern of heavy drinking to clog blood vessels, leading to a two-fold increase in fatal heart attack risk. Acetaldehyde levels found in the blood after binge drinking increase monocyte adhesion to blood vessel walls.
Research finds that specific DNA sequence variations of the serotonin transporter gene can influence drinking intensity among alcohol-dependent individuals. The study analyzed six single nucleotide polymorphisms and found a significant association between one particular variation and lower drinking intensity.
Research suggests that light-to-moderate drinking can promote cytoprotective cellular mechanisms, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. Moderate alcohol exposure has also been shown to activate anti-inflammatory processes and promote neuronal survival pathways.
A new study reveals hazardous drinking among NZ university students begins in high school, with high levels of binge drinking and related problems. The study recommends prioritizing reduction of binge drinking in high school and implementing early identification systems on campuses.
A recent study found that non-beverage alcohols, including medicinal tinctures and eau-de-colognes, are highly concentrated and cheaper than standard Russian vodka. Researchers believe these products pose a significant health risk to consumers, particularly those who rely on them as an affordable source of alcohol.
A new study suggests that genetic factors may influence the size of a brain region involved in emotional processing and impulsivity in teenagers. Researchers found that those with a family history of alcohol dependence had reduced volume of the right orbitofrontal cortex, an area critical for regulating impulsive behavior.
A new study found a strong link between alcohol outlet density and male-to-female partner violence, with higher risks in neighborhoods with more drinking places. The research used individual and couple-level data to assess the relationship between alcohol availability and intimate partner violence.
A new study has found that US Hispanics, belonging to four national groups, prefer beer as their beverage of choice. The study, published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, revealed that beer was the preferred beverage among all Hispanic respondents, with variations in preference across ethnic subgroups.
A new study found that individuals who start drinking before age 15 are more likely to develop alcohol-use disorders (AUDs) in adulthood. The research, published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, controlled for various individual risk factors and found that early drinking is associated with increased AUD risk.
A study found associations between human NPY receptor genes and a more severe subtype of alcohol dependence, characterized by withdrawal symptoms or coexisting alcohol and cocaine dependence. The research suggests that certain genetic variants may be associated with increased risk of AD and seizures in humans.
A new study finds that non-daily smokers are 16 times more likely to be hazardous drinkers than non-smokers, and five times more likely to meet criteria for an AUD. The study suggests that casual smoking may promote hazardous drinking behavior.
A recent study found associations between variations in ghrelin genes and increased risk of heavy alcohol consumption and obesity. The research suggests that the ghrelin system may play a role in the brain-reward systems underlying addictive behaviors, including compulsive overeating and drug dependence.