High-intensity drinking among adolescent and emerging adult risky drinkers

Abstract

Background: High-intensity drinking (HID; 8+ U.S. standard drinks for women, 10+ men) is initiated during adolescence/emerging adulthood, increasing risk for negative outcomes, including blackouts. We examined baseline data from a study of risky drinking youth to identify factors associated with HID. Methods: Risky drinkers (ages 16–24) were recruited online (positive 3-month AUDIT-C score) as part of a larger study to examine social media interventions for risky drinking. We used baseline survey data to examine HID in relation to demographics, substance use–related variables, and individual and social factors. Results: Among 931 risky drinkers, 29.8% reported past-month HID, and those with HID reported greater substance use and consequences. In multivariable analysis, HID was associated with male sex; greater social motives, impulsivity, and motivation; lower self-efficacy; and greater likelihood of not living with parents, drinking with important peers, and parental disapproval of posting drinking pictures. When examining age group interactions (16–20; 21–24), underage drinkers with high sensation-seeking scores and lower parental disapproval of posting drinking pictures on social media reported greater HID. Conclusions: Among risky drinking youth, male sex, social motives, impulsivity, higher motivation to and lower-self-efficacy to reduce drinking, living away from parents, more frequent drinking with important peers, and lower parental disapproval of posting drinking pictures on social media were positively associated with HID. Further, HID was associated with greater health consequences, underscoring the need for HID interventions. Such interventions may benefit from enhancing motivation and self-efficacy, particularly in social contexts, as well as increasing positive peer and leisure activities to reduce HID.

Keywords:

• High-intensity drinking
• prevention
• adolescents
• emerging adults

Author contributions

Dr. Bonar led the analyses and drafting of the article and, assisted by Ms. Souweidane, designed and oversaw the study and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Dr. Walton is principal investigator of the study from which data were obtained and was responsible for overall scientific direction as well as providing feedback on analyses and editing the manuscript. Drs. Blow, Bohnert, and Bauermeister are co-investigators on the study who provided support with analyses and important scientific content as well as contributing to the manuscript draft. Dr. Young is a consultant on the study and provided scientific guidance as well as contributing to the manuscript draft. All authors approve the manuscript and its submission to this journal.

Disclosure statement

The authors do not have any personal financial interests related to the subject matters discussed in this manuscript, with two exceptions. MW is a minor shareholder in Facebook and has a conflict-of-interest plan approved by the University of Michigan. SY has received an unrestricted gift from Facebook, on file with the University of California, Los Angeles (his prior academic appointment).

Registration

Data are from the baseline (pre-intervention) phase of a RCT. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02809586.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the NIAAA #024175. The funding organization had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.