Alcohol-induced blackouts among college student drinkers: A multilevel analysis

Richards, Veronica L; Turrisi, Rob; Glenn, Shannon D.; Waldron, Katja A.; Rodriguez, Gabriel C.; Mallett, Kimberly A.; Russell, Michael A.

doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107706

Cited by 3 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 61 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We suggest a closer examination of the use of protective behavioral strategies in this relationship. Research indicates that higher use of protective behavioral strategies reduces the odds of AIBs and ARCs (Carey et al, 2022; Richards et al, 2023; Rose & Grant, 2010), but it is not clear whether their use would work to reduce additional ARCs when an AIB has occurred. It is possible that strategies aimed at serious harm reduction (e.g., have a designated driver, make sure you go home with a friend) would weaken the association between AIBs and SARCs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lastly, the present analysis does not take into account whether other substances were used with alcohol. The literature suggests that alcohol and cannabis co‐use may increase the likelihood of an AIB (Mallett et al, 2017; Richards et al, 2023). It is unclear whether this extends to additional consequences experienced on AIB nights.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As described in Richards et al (2023), we tested our hypotheses using a three‐level multilevel linear model with days (Level 1) nested within weeks (Level 2) nested within persons (Level 3). We controlled for drinking (HID or eBAC) and sex.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The majority of the AIB literature has examined person‐level differences (e.g., family history of alcohol problems, motives for drinking, sex; DiBello et al, 2020; Marino & Fromme, 2016; Miller et al, 2020), but time‐varying factors help further explain why AIBs occur on some, but not all, heavy drinking days. At equivalent levels of drinking, combining alcohol and cannabis, playing drinking games, and pregaming increase the risk of AIBs (LaBrie et al, 2011; Merrill et al, 2019; Ray et al, 2014; Richards et al, 2023), suggesting that the manner in which people drink—in addition to how much—is a contributing factor. Assessing risky drinking behaviors beyond number of drinks in daily diaries will help us understand why the same person could drink equivalent amounts on two occasions but experience an AIB on just one.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Does it really matter that I do not remember my night? Consequences related to blacking out among college student drinkers

Richards,

Glenn,

Turrisi

et al. 2023

Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundAlcohol‐induced blackouts (AIBs) are experienced frequently by college student drinkers and are more likely to occur on days with high‐intensity drinking (HID; 8+ for females/10+ for males) compared to non‐HID days. Research suggests that AIBs are associated with experiencing other alcohol‐related consequences (ARCs), including more severe ARCs (SARCs; e.g., legal and sexual consequences), but we do not know whether individuals experience more ARCs and more SARCs on occasions when they black out versus do not black out. This study examines the associations between AIBs and a) total number of ARCs and b) SARCs.MethodsStudents (N=462, 51.7% female, 87.7% White, Mage=20.1) were assessed across 6 weekends via e‐surveys (80‐97% response rate). Multilevel models were conducted to test for main effects, controlling for drinking (HID or estimated blood alcohol concentration; eBAC) and sex.ResultsDrinking days when an AIB was experienced resulted in greater total ARCs (b=3.54, 95% CI: 3.10, 3.99) and greater SARCs (b=0.77, 95% CI: 0.60, 0.95) per day compared to non‐AIB days. The more frequently a person experienced an AIB, the more total ARCs (b=5.33, 95% CI: 4.40, 6.25) and SARCs (1.05, 95% CI: 0.80, 1.30) they reported on average.ConclusionAIB days were associated with higher levels of harm than non‐AIB days, even at the same levels of drinking. Interventions that focus on reducing the occurrence of AIBs and factors that contribute to AIBs, in addition to drinking alcohol, may help reduce total harm associated with drinking among college students.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Does it really matter that I do not remember my night? Consequences related to blacking out among college student drinkers

Richards,

Glenn,

Turrisi

et al. 2023

Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Blackouts, or periods of alcohol‐induced amnesia (White, 2003), are among the most serious of negative alcohol‐related consequences, being independently linked to risk for other negative alcohol‐related consequences, injuries, mental health disorder symptomology, and alcohol use disorder (Hingson et al., 2016; Linden‐Carmichael et al., 2023; Miller et al., 2020; Mundt et al., 2012). Pregaming is a major risk factor for blackouts, due to the high blood alcohol levels reached during pregaming and on days when pregaming occurs (LaBrie et al., 2011; Richards et al., 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A latent profile analysis of social anxiety, depression, and pregaming motives among heavy‐drinking college students

Fitzke,

Atieh,

Davis

et al. 2024

Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundPregaming is a high‐risk drinking behavior that is associated with heavy drinking and negative alcohol‐related consequences. College students may engage in pregaming for several reasons, including to enhance social experiences or cope with negative affect. Research shows that associations between drinking, social anxiety, and depression are multifaceted. However, our understanding of the complex associations of mental health symptoms with pregaming motives and behaviors remains limited.MethodsThis study examined heterogeneity in how pregaming motives, social anxiety, and depression associate with past 30‐day pregaming variables (quantity, frequency, and negative consequences). We used latent profile analysis (LPA) in a sample of heavy‐drinking university students (N = 479).ResultsLPA results indicated four profiles: mild/moderate social anxiety and depression symptoms, moderate motives (n = 285), minimal social anxiety and depression symptoms, low motives (n = 61), subclinical/elevated social anxiety and depression symptoms, high motives (n = 75), and clinically elevated social anxiety and depression symptoms, moderate motives (n = 58). The subclinical/elevated symptoms, high motives profile reported the highest pregaming frequency and consequences, including blackouts. Individuals in the moderate motives clinically elevated symptoms, moderate motives profile reported more consequences than those in the minimal symptoms, low motives and mild/moderate symptoms, moderate motives profiles, subclinical/elevated symptoms, high motives profiles. Individuals in the minimal symptoms, low motives profile reported the fewest consequences.ConclusionsAmong these students, social anxiety and pregaming motives were associated with more frequent pregaming and social anxiety and depression were associated with greater negative consequences. Interventions that target pregaming‐specific motives among students with mental health symptoms may be warranted to reduce this risky behavior and associated drinking‐related harm.

show abstract

Transdermal alcohol concentration features predict alcohol‐induced blackouts in college students

Richards,

Glenn,

Turrisi

et al. 2024

Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundAlcohol‐induced blackouts (AIBs) are common in college students. Individuals with AIBs also experience acute and chronic alcohol‐related consequences. Research suggests that how students drink is an important predictor of AIBs. We used transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC) sensors to measure biomarkers of increasing alcohol intoxication (rise rate, peak, and rise duration) in a sample of college students. We hypothesized that the TAC biomarkers would be positively associated with AIBs.MethodsStudents were eligible to participate if they were aged 18–22 years, in their second or third year of college, reported drinking 4+ drinks on a typical Friday or Saturday, experienced ≥1 AIB in the past semester, owned an iPhone, and were willing to wear a sensor for 3 days each weekend. Students (N = 79, 55.7% female, 86.1% White, Mage = 20.1) wore TAC sensors and completed daily diaries over four consecutive weekends (89.9% completion rate). AIBs were assessed using the Alcohol‐Induced Blackout Measure‐2. Logistic multilevel models were conducted to test for main effects.ResultsDays with faster TAC rise rates (OR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.56, 5.90), higher peak TACs (OR = 2.93, 95% CI: 1.64, 7.11), and longer rise TAC durations (OR = 4.16, 95% CI: 2.08, 10.62) were associated with greater odds of experiencing an AIB.ConclusionsIn a sample of "risky" drinking college students, three TAC drinking features identified as being related to rising intoxication independently predicted the risk for daily AIBs. Our findings suggest that considering how an individual drinks (assessed using TAC biomarkers), rather than quantity alone, is important for assessing risk and has implications for efforts to reduce risk. Not only is speed of intoxication important for predicting AIBs, but the height of the peak intoxication and the time spent reaching the peak are important predictors, each with different implications for prevention.

show abstract

Alcohol-induced blackouts among college student drinkers: A multilevel analysis

Cited by 3 publications

References 61 publications

Does it really matter that I do not remember my night? Consequences related to blacking out among college student drinkers

Does it really matter that I do not remember my night? Consequences related to blacking out among college student drinkers

A latent profile analysis of social anxiety, depression, and pregaming motives among heavy‐drinking college students

Transdermal alcohol concentration features predict alcohol‐induced blackouts in college students

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About