Kevin C. Frissell

Progression into and out of binge drinking among high school students

The current study examined binge drinking among high school students over an academic year. Adolescent drinkers (N = 621; 58% female) were grouped into 4 trajectories: drinkers (35%), increasers (14%), decreasers (16%), and persistent binge drinkers (35%). Prospective analyses indicated several factors that predicted escalation and de-escalation of binge drinking. Increasers were more likely to regularly use alcohol and cigarettes at a younger age than drinkers. Compared with decreasers, persistent binge drinkers reported regular alcohol and marijuana use at younger ages. Lower levels of perceived student drinking appeared to be a protective factor for onset of binge drinking. The results highlight the need to study precursors to the naturally occurring fluctuations in binge drinking and suggest factors that may accentuate the risk of binge drinking.

Impact of consent procedures on reported levels of adolescent alcohol use.

This study examined sample bias related to parental consent procedures in school-based survey research on alcohol-related behavior. Alcohol prevalence and severity of use estimates from a high school student survey using traditional-active parental consent (N = 1,429) were compared with estimates from 2 student surveys using alternative parental consent procedures (passive consent; N = 2,210 and N = 3,231). Traditional-active parental consent procedures resulted in underrepresentation of lifetime drinkers. Furthermore, traditional-active parental consent procedures resulted in lower levels of high-risk drinking, and this bias was most evident for Caucasians and both boys and girls. Findings accentuate the need for administrators, policymakers, and researchers to consider the impact consent procedure related bias may have on results and interpretation of findings from school-based substance use research.

Adolescent Self-Selection of Service Formats: Implications for Secondary Interventions Targeting Alcohol Use

A novel motivational enhancement based secondary alcohol intervention has been shown to increase quit attempts for youth with heavier alcohol use histories (Brown et al., 2005). In the present study, we examined rates of self-selection into the three formats of this alcohol intervention: group, individual, and website; and examined differences between intervention participants and the general school population and across the three formats. Over four years, students at four schools were surveyed (n=6000) and were provided the opportunity to participate in Project Options (PO). Youth who were selected into PO (n=1147) were younger and more likely to identify as African American or Multiple/Other ethnicity than the school populations. More teens in PO reported lifetime alcohol use (65% vs. 60%); however, the school population reported more current (past 30 day) drinking. Boys were more likely to utilize the group format and minority youth were more likely to select the individual format. Findings highlight the utility of multiple intervention formats to engage youth in early intervention for alcohol problems.

Relapse Contexts for Substance Abusing Adolescents with Comorbid Psychopathology.

ABSTRACT The relationship of diagnosis, developmentally relevant factors (e.g., life stress, peer substance use) and mental health symptoms to contexts of a return to substance use were examined for 103 substance abusing adolescents with Axis I psychopathology (ages 12–17) following inpatient treatment. Proximal psychiatric symptoms and developmentally relevant factors, but not psychiatric diagnosis at treatment entry, predicted contexts in which youth returned to alcohol and drug use in the 6 months following treatment. The findings suggest that comorbid youth are similar to same-aged peers without comorbid psychopathology and adults with comorbid psychopathology in regard to contexts associated with a return to substance involvement.

Avoiding DWI Among Bar-room Drinkers: Strategies and Predictors

We examined the prevalence and predictors of 11strategies to avoid driving when feeling intoxicated among 561 bar-room patrons in two medium-sized Maryland communities. Logistic regression analyses identified demographic, behavioral, and attitudinal predictors of avoidance strategies and interactions among predictors. Overall, 89% reported one or more DWI avoidance actions in the past year, and 38% reported driving intoxicated during that time. Average frequencies of avoidance behavior and intoxicated driving increased significantly as drinking level increased. However, the higher the drinking level, the smaller the ratio of avoidance actions to DWI experiences, highlighting the vulnerability of heavy drinkers who had driven intoxicated. Using a sober driver or one who allegedly drank less than the respondent were the most popular and frequent strategies, but paying for a cab, walking, and using a bus or free cab were relatively unpopular. Higher drinking levels predicted significantly higher odds of using avoidance approaches, as did intoxicated driving. Confidence in driving safely when intoxicated was positively related to drinking level and intoxicated driving, but it tended to predict lower odds of avoidance actions. Similarly, marital status, age, gender, and location influenced the odds of avoidance behaviors. Interventions should be strategically tailored to exploit or counter drinker predilections among avoidance options.