Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs
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J Stud Alcohol Drugs · Mar 2015
The prospective association between sipping alcohol by the sixth grade and later substance use.
Although there is a clear association between early use of alcohol and short- and long-term adverse outcomes, it is unclear whether consumption of minor amounts of alcohol (less than a full drink) at a young age is prognostic of risk behaviors in later adolescence. ⋯ Our findings that early sipping is associated with elevated odds of risky behaviors at high school entry dispute the idea of sipping as a protective factor. Offering even just a sip of alcohol may undermine messages about the unacceptability of alcohol consumption for youth.
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J Stud Alcohol Drugs · Nov 2014
Blood alcohol concentration in intoxicated patients seen in the emergency department: does it influence discharge decisions?
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether blood alcohol concentration (BAC) measurement was routinely requested in emergency departments and whether the observation period in the emergency department allowed sufficient time for alcohol elimination before the patient was discharged. ⋯ Emergency physicians routinely requested BAC at admission but did not request alcohol kinetics while the patient was under observation. The discharge decision was based on clinical judgment. Doctors who do not advise patients appropriately before discharge may be guilty of negligence in their duty of care.
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J Stud Alcohol Drugs · Jul 2014
Observational StudyTransactional sex involvement: exploring risk and promotive factors among substance-using youth in an urban emergency department.
The current study aims to evaluate individual, relational, and community-level risk and promotive factors for transactional sex involvement among substance-using youth. ⋯ Drug-using youth who reported recent transactional sex involvement are more likely to experience increased HIV risk, depressive symptoms, and negative peer influence and are less likely to experience the promotive factors of school involvement. Future research is needed to better understand the bidirectional relationship between transactional sex involvement and both risk and promotive factors at multiple ecological levels.
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J Stud Alcohol Drugs · May 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialLinking masculinity to negative drinking consequences: the mediating roles of heavy episodic drinking and alcohol expectancies.
This study extends previous research on masculinity and negative drinking consequences among young men by considering mediating effects of heavy episodic drinking (HED) and alcohol expectancies. We hypothesized that masculinity would have a direct relationship with negative consequences from drinking as well as indirect relationships mediated by HED and alcohol expectancies of courage, risk, and aggression. ⋯ The findings suggest that, among young adult male college and university students, masculinity is an important factor related to both HED and drinking consequences, with the latter effect partly mediated by HED and alcohol expectancies. Addressing male norms about masculinity may help to reduce HED and negative consequences from drinking.