Alcohol‐Induced Blackouts as Predictors of Other Drinking Related Harms Among Emerging Young Adults

Abstract

Background Alcohol-related blackouts are periods of amnesia that reflect the failure of the brain to record memories of what transpires while drinking. This paper examined the incidence, predictors, and behavioral correlates of blackouts among emerging adults and examined whether questions about blackouts could serve as better markers of risk for other alcohol related harms than questions about levels of consumption. Methods In 2012-2013, 1,463 (68%) of 2,140 respondents one-year past high school reported having consumed alcohol. They were asked whether, in the past six months because of drinking, they forgot where they were or what they did. The survey also explored demographics, substance use behaviors, and other alcohol-related problems in the past six months. Chi square and logistic regression analyses explored bivariate and multivariate predictors of blackouts and other alcohol-related problems. Results Twenty percent of respondents who ever drank alcohol reported a blackout in the past six months. Blackouts were more prevalent among females and those who, in the past 30 days, used multiple drugs, more frequently binged, were drunk, smoked, had lower body weight, and lived in college dorms. After controlling for drinking levels, having a blackout was the strongest independent predictor of most other alcohol problems examined, including in the past six months because of drinking, missing class or work, getting behind in work or school, doing something respondents later regretted, arguing with friends, experiencing an overdose, and total number of alcohol problems reported. It was also an independent predictor of hangovers, damaging property, getting hurt, and trouble with police. Conclusion Because blackouts indicate drinking at levels that result in significant cognitive and behavioral impairment, questions about blackouts could serve as important, simple screeners for the risk of experiencing other alcohol related harms. Additional work on this subject is warranted.

Latent growth classes of alcohol-related blackouts over the first 2 years of college.

“…Whereas some studies show higher risk for blackouts for women as compared to men (Marino & Fromme, 2015; Schuckit et al, 2015; White et al, 2002), our findings are more consistent with other studies that do not (Barnett et al, 2014; Mundt, Zakletskaia, Brown, & Fleming, 2012). The lack of age or race effects in the present study also contrast with prior work showing blackouts to be more common among younger as compared to older students and young adults (Jennison & Johnson, 1994; Mundt et al, 2012; Perry et al, 2006), and among White college students compared to those of other ethnicities (Hingson et al, 2016; LaBrie et al, 2011; Marino & Fromme, 2015). While a range of variables may be important cross-sectional correlates of blackouts, the current study suggests that demographic variables may not be important correlates of change over time in blackouts.…”

Alcohol-related blackouts across 55 weeks of college: Effects of European-American ethnicity, female sex, and low level of response to alcohol

“…Alcohol-related blackouts are highly prevalent phenomena associated with potentially severe problems (Hingson et al, 2016; Wetherill and Fromme, 2016). Recently, the prevalence of ARBs has reached alarming rates, especially in females and individuals with early onset drinking (Marino and Fromme, 2015; Schuckit et al, 2015; White et al, 2015).…”

“…The high blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) involved (Goodwin, 1995; Perry et al, 2006) and the compromised cognitive processes inherent in ARBs (Silveri et al, 2014) increase risks for additional serious consequences, including accidents, unwanted sex, and exposure to other forms of violence (Hingson et al, 2016, Mundt and Zakletskaia, 2012; White et al, 2004). In addition to BACs>.20g/dl needed for most blackouts, ARBs are also associated with European American [EA] ancestry, female sex, and several genetically-influenced phenotypes related to heavier drinking, including a low level of response (low LR) to alcohol, as described further below (Marino and Fromme, 2015, 2016; Schuckit et al, 2015, 2001; Wetherill and Fromme, 2016, 2009; White et al, 2015).…”

Alcohol‐Related Blackouts, Negative Alcohol‐Related Consequences, and Motivations for Drinking Reported by Newly Matriculating Transgender College Students

“…Heavy drinking can result in alcohol-related blackouts (ARBs) and other adverse alcohol-related consequences (ARCs), such as physical-health problems (e.g., liver damage), riskier sexual practices that can lead to sexually transmitted infections, assault victimization, and unintentional injuries (Cooper, 2002; Hingson et al, 2016; Rehm et al, 2003). Additionally, mental-health consequences can include anxiety, depression, self-harm, and long-term neurocognitive impairment (Brown et al, 2009; Lamis et al, 2016; Reisner et al, 2015b; Spear and Swartzwelder, 2014; Swartzwelder et al, 2015).…”