Chapter 9 Alcohol Use

Question 1

what are the two types of alcohol disorders?

Answer 1

Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol Dependence (Alcoholism). 1 in 12 American adults is an alcohol abuser or alcoholic

Question 2

what is alcohol abuse?

Answer 2

A maladaptive pattern of drinking, leading to impairment and distress.

Question 3

What are the manifestation of alcohol abuse?

Answer 3

Failure to fulfill major role at work, school, or home
Recurrent alcohol use in situations in which it is physically hazardous
Recurrent alcohol-related legal problems
Persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems

Question 4

What is BINGE DRINKING?

Answer 4

Drinking a great deal in one sitting (5 for males and 4 for females)- enough to bring it to .08% blood level

Question 5

Demographics predictors of binge drinking

Answer 5

Age: more common in young adults (18-29). Age of onset younger you are more likely to binge
Income; More common in households with $75k or above
Race; more common in white - Sex; More common in males
College-related activities: a) Belonging to a fraternity or sorority; b) being an athlete; c) living on campus

Question 6

what are Drinking descriptive norms?

Answer 6

beliefs about how much people (e.g., peers) you know or are similar to drink

Question 7

what are Drinking (injunctive) norms?

Answer 7

beliefs about whether or not you think people you know would approve of you drinking
Usually researchers look at peer or parental drinking norms

Question 8

Personality predictors of drinking Sensation-seeking

Answer 8

Seeking of varied, novel, complex and intense experiences and willingness to take financial, social and legal risks to do so

Question 9

Personality predictors of drinking Neuroticism

Answer 9

tendency to experience negative affect (e.g., depressive symptoms or anxiety) Ex. I am emotionally unstable, easily upset, I Can be moody, I am not calm in tense situations

Question 10

Personality predictors of drinking Extraversion

Answer 10

Tendency to be outgoing, talkative, assertive, cheerful

Higher extraversion is associated with greater drinking

Question 11

Personality predictors of drinking Conscientiousness

Answer 11

Tendency to be self-disciplined, orderly, detail-oriented, and responsible. Lower conscientiousness is associated with greater drinking

Question 12

Define alcohol dependence

Answer 12

A maladaptive pattern of drinking, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress

Question 13

what are the physiological manifestation of alcohol dependence?

Answer 13

Tolerance: need for markedly increased amounts of alcohol to achieve intoxication
Physical Dependence: withdrawal syndrome for alcohol or drinking to avoid withdrawal
Loss of control: drinking in larger amounts or over a longer period than intended
Craving: persistent desire or one or more unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control drinking

Question 14

what are the behavioral manifestation of alcohol dependence?

Answer 14

Important social, occupational, or recreational activities given up or reduced because of drinking.
A great deal of time spent in activities necessary to obtain, to use, or to recover from the effects of drinking.
Continued drinking despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem

Question 15

Genetic basis of alcohol disorders

Answer 15

Twin studies: compare concordance rates for monozygotic (MZ- identical) with rates for dizygotic (DZ- fraternal) twins
Adoption studies: compare whether adopted children’s drinking habits are more similar to adopted vs. biological parents. Meta-analysis results: 30-60% heritable

Question 16

Addiction Model

Answer 16

Addiction: alcohol is a highly addictive substance and heavy drinking will lead to alcohol problems in ANYONE

Question 17

Disease Model

Answer 17

Disease: alcohol is only highly addictive for CERTAIN PEOPLE; heavy drinking only leads to alcohol problems for people with a genetic predisposition

Question 18

Two theories that explain alcohol disorders

Answer 18

OPERANT CONDITIONING: consequences of behavior influence likelihood of behavior. Short-term reinforcement is VERY IMPACTFUL. the Learning experience that is NOT effectively counterbalanced by long-term punishments.
OBSERVATIONAL: Past and present experiences of parents or peers modeling drinking patterns

Question 19

Stress and Alcohol

Answer 19

Greater stress is associated with greater drinking
Acute stress: stress that is time-limited (e.g., sexual assault; everyday hassles)
Chronic stress: stress that recurs or goes on over long period of time (e.g., war veterans, child abuse)

Question 20

Alcohol most effective treatment

Answer 20

Brief “opportunistic” interactions with health care providers either in doctor visits or emergency room visits that focus on the consequences of problematic alcohol use and advice/suggestions about cutting down on drinking

Question 21

Alcohol treatment Individual Counseling

Answer 21

Psychotherapy: multiple approaches with main aim to identify the causes of the drinking and address them
Cognitive behavioral therapy: focus is on reducing levels of drinking. developing coping strategies; and avoiding triggers. Subscribes more to alcohol dependence model, rather than disease
Motivational interviewing: warm, empathic relationship; indirect, not confrontational, approach that focuses on increases person’s own intrinsic (personal) motivation to stop drinking and increasing self-esteem and self-efficacy

Question 22

Alcohol treatment Medical

Answer 22

Antabuse: medication given to alcoholics to make them vomit or become nauseous if they drink of alcohol.
In-patient treatment: 3-7 day detoxification program from alcohol, using medications to ease withdrawal symptoms
30 day+ rehabilitation program aimed at education about alcohol, its consequences, strategies for avoiding drinking, coping with stress

Question 23

Alcohol treatment Self-help group

Answer 23

Alcoholics Anonymous: self-help group made up of recovering alcoholics, which promotes abstinence from alcohol; subscribes to DISEASE MODEL; focuses on
making amends for harm, giving and receiving support from others, attending meetings where share stories about consequences of drinking and coping strategies

Question 24

Education and Alcohol

Answer 24

Drinking industry suggests EDUCATION of population about sensible drinking but Education does not work with problematic drinkers who account for MOST of the drinking in the population
Half of world’s alcohol consumption is done by 10% of drinkers