Alcohol and violence in nightlife and party settings: A qualitative study

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS:

In 'binge drinking' cultures, there is a strong association between alcohol consumption and violence. At the same time, several studies suggest that this link is cultural and contextual. We explore the role of alcohol in incidents of violence in nightlife settings.

DESIGN AND METHODS:

We used qualitative interviews with 104 Norwegians (52 men and 52 women, mean age 25 years) who binge drink and party in nightlife settings.

RESULTS:

Alcohol both sparks and constrains violence in these contexts. When participants use alcohol, they expect conflicts to occur and blame alcohol intoxication for such behaviour. The packed settings of nightlife and parties combined with the effects of alcohol can induce violence through personal affronts, heightened emotions and jealousy. At the same time, nightlife settings constrain violence. That is, binge drinkers excuse misbehaviour when it is attributed to alcohol. In addition, audiences in these setting often go to great lengths to stop fights. Combined, these factors help explain why violence occurs and why it usually does not escalate.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

The association between alcohol and violence can be understood by more closely examining the cultural and situational context where the events occur. This link is not primarily related to the psychopharmacological properties of alcohol, but rather it is associated with situational factors and cultural norms regarding how to behave while intoxicated. Strategies aiming at reducing violence in nightlife should take such factors into consideration. 

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By:  Pedersen W1, Copes H2, Sandberg S3.

• 1Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
• 2Department of Justice Sciences, University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA.
• 3Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
• Drug Alcohol Rev. 2016 Apr 7. doi: 10.1111/dar.12395. 

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Syndemic Factors associated with Drinking Patterns among Latino Men and Latina Transgender Women Who Have Sex with Men in New York City

Alcohol consumption is a significant public health concern among Latino men and Latina transgender women who have sex with men. However, characteristics and behaviors associated with alcohol consumption in this population, particularly in regard to the complex influence of syndemic factors, remain understudied. 

The purpose of this study was to examine predictors of high-risk alcohol consumption (i.e. binge or heavy drinking). Between January and March of 2014, 176 Latino men and Latina transgender women in New York City completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire. We developed a syndemics scale to reflect the total number of syndemic factors – clinically significant depression, childhood sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, and discrimination – reported by each participant. 

We also carried out a multinomial logistic regression model predicting binge and heavy drinking. Forty-seven percent of participants reported high-risk alcohol consumption in the past 30 days (21% binge and 26% heavy). Approximately 16% of participants reported no syndemic factors, 27% reported one factor, 39% reported two factors, and 18% reported three or four. 

In the multinomial logistic regression model, our syndemic factors scale was not significantly associated with binge drinking. However, participants who reported three or four factors were significantly more likely to report heavy drinking. In addition, having multiple sexual partners was associated with an increased risk of binge and heavy drinking; involvement in a same-sex relationship was associated with binge drinking. 

Further work is needed to develop effective prevention intervention approaches for high-risk alcohol consumption within this population.

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By:  Omar Martinez^a*, Elwin Wu^b, Ethan C. Levine^c, Miguel Muñoz-Laboy^d, Joseph Spadafino^e, Brian Dodge^f, Scott D. Rhodes^g,Javier López Rios^h, Hugo Ovejeroⁱ, Eva M. Moya^j, Silvia Chavez Baray^j, Alex Carballo-Diéguez^h & M. Isabel Fernandez^k

• ^a Temple University School of Social Work, Philadelphia, PA, USA;
• ^b School of Social Work at Columbia University, New York, NY, USA;
• ^c Department College of Liberal Arts at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA;
• ^d College of Public Health at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA;
• ^e Bureau of Public Health Statistics, Phoenix, AZ, USA;
• ^f School of Public Health at Indiana University – Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA;
• ^g Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA;
• ^h HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA;
• ⁱ Lutheran Family Health Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA;
• ^j School of Social Work at the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA;
• ^k Department of Public Health at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

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Neighborhood Context and Binge Drinking by Race and Ethnicity in New York City

BACKGROUND:

Neighborhood context is associated with binge drinking and has significant health, societal, and economic costs. Both binge drinking and neighborhood context vary by race and ethnicity. We examined the relations between neighborhood characteristics-neighborhood norms that are accepting of drunkenness, collective efficacy, and physical disorder-and binge drinking, with a focus on examining race and ethnic-specific relationships.

METHODS:

Respondent data were collected through 2005 random digit-dial-telephone survey for a representative sample of New York City residents; neighborhood data were based on the 2005 New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey. Participants were 1,415 past-year drinkers; Whites (n = 877), Blacks (n = 292), and Hispanics (n = 246). Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate population average models.

RESULTS:

For the overall sample, neighborhood norms that were more accepting of drunkenness were associated with greater binge drinking; collective efficacy and physical disorder were not significant. However, when examining this by race/ethnicity, greater collective efficacy and greater physical disorder were associated with less binge drinking for Whites only. Neighborhood norms that were more accepting of drunkenness were associated with binge drinking among Whites and, while not significant (perhaps due to power), the associations were similar for Hispanics and slightly lower for Blacks.

CONCLUSIONS:

Overall, results suggest that neighborhood characteristics and binge drinking are shaped, in part, by factors that vary across race/ethnicity. Thus, disaggregating data by race/ethnicity is important in understanding binge drinking behaviors.

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By:  Chauhan P1, Ahern J2, Galea S3, Keyes KM4.

• 1Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, New York.
• 2Department of Epidemiology , University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California.
• 3School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.
• 4Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, New York. 
• Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2016 Apr;40(4):785-93. doi: 10.1111/acer.13011. Epub 2016 Mar 10.

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Pathways to Romantic Relational Aggression Through Adolescent Peer Aggression & Heavy Episodic Drinking

Adolescent peer aggression is a well-established correlate of romantic relational aggression; however, the mechanisms underlying this association are unclear. Heavy episodic drinking (or "binge" alcohol use) was examined as both a prior and concurrent mediator of this link in a sample of 282 12-18 year old interviewed four times over 6 years. 

Path analyses indicated that early peer relational and physical aggression each uniquely predicted later romantic relational aggression. Concurrent heavy episodic drinking fully mediated this effect for peer physical aggression only. 

These findings highlight two important mechanisms by which peer aggression may increase the risk of later romantic relational aggression: a direct pathway from peer relational aggression to romantic relational aggression and an indirect pathway through peer physical aggression and concurrent heavy episodic drinking. 

Prevention programs targeting romantic relational aggression in adolescence and young adulthood may benefit from interventions that target multiple domains of risky behavior, including the heavy concurrent use of alcohol. 

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By:  Woodin EM1, Sukhawathanakul P1, Caldeira V1, Homel J1, Leadbeater B1.

• 1Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
• Aggress Behav. 2016 Mar 16. doi: 10.1002/ab.21651.  

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Socioeconomic Disconnection as a Risk Factor for Increased HIV Infection in Young Men Who Have Sex with Men

PURPOSE:

HIV disproportionately affects young men who have sex with men (YMSM), particularly black YMSM. Increasingly, researchers are turning to social, economic, and structural factors to explain these disproportionate rates. In this study, we explore the relationship between socioeconomic disconnection and HIV status and factors related to HIV infection, including drug use, condomless anal sex, and binge drinking. We operationalize socioeconomic disconnection in this young population as lack of engagement in educational and employment opportunities.

METHODS:

Baseline data were analyzed from a longitudinal cohort study of YMSM aged 16-20 years recruited from the Chicago area (N = 450). Bivariate analyses of the association of socioeconomic disconnection and HIV-positive status, drug and alcohol use, and condomless anal sex were assessed using chi-square tests. The relationship of socioeconomic disconnection and HIV-positive status was then examined in multivariate logistic regression models, controlling for age and race/ethnicity and significant behavioral factors.

RESULTS:

Among study participants, 112 (25%) were not in school, 310 (69%) were not currently working, and 81 (18%) were neither in school nor working. Black MSM were more likely to be socioeconomically disconnected (neither in school nor working; n = 56, 23.3%). The results revealed that disconnected YMSM were more likely to binge drink (AOR = 2.34; 95% CI = 1.16, 4.74) and be HIV positive (AOR = 2.24; 95% CI = 1.04, 4.83). Subpopulation analysis for black participants revealed similar associations (AOR of binge drinking = 2.92; 95% CI = 1.07, 8.01; AOR of HIV positive = 2.38; 95% CI = 1.03, 5.51). Controlling for substance use, the association between disconnection and HIV-positive status remained significant (AOR = 2.37; 95% CI = 1.08, 5.20).

CONCLUSION:

Socioeconomic disconnection is significantly and positively associated with HIV status among YMSM, suggesting that the two factors are related. Socioeconomic factors present an important area for future research focusing on HIV infection in this high-risk group.

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By:  Gayles TA1, Kuhns LM1, Kwon S1, Mustanski B2, Garofalo R1.

• 1 Division of Adolescent Medicine, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University , Chicago, Illinois.
• 2 IMPACT Program, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University , Chicago, Illinois. 
• LGBT Health. 2016 Mar 22. 

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Substance Use among Sexual Minority Collegiate Athletes: A National Study

BACKGROUND:

The empirical research examining substance use among sexual minority collegiate athletes is sparse. Problematically, this group may be at a greater risk of substance use due to their marginalized status within the context of sport.

OBJECTIVES:

We examined different types of substance use during the past 30 days, and diagnosis of substance use disorders during the past 12 months, among sexual minority collegiate athletes.

METHODS:

This study uses data from college students for the fall semester between 2008 and 2012 from the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment.

RESULTS:

Sexual minority collegiate athletes had greater odds of past 30-day cigarette use, past 30-day alcohol use, past 30-day marijuana use, and indicating being diagnosed or treated for a substance use disorder during the past 12 months when compared to either heterosexual collegiate athletes or heterosexual nonathletes, but had similar odds on these outcomes when compared to sexual minority nonathletes. 

Sexual minority collegiate athletes also had greater odds of binge drinking during the past 2 weeks when compared to either heterosexual nonathletes or sexual minority nonathletes, but had similar odds on this outcome when compared to heterosexual collegiate athletes. Additional analyses by gender reveal that male sexual minority athletes are at the greatest risk of being diagnosed or treated for a substance use disorder.

CONCLUSIONS:

Possible explanations as to why sexual minority collegiate athletes (particularly males) may be at a greater risk of substance use disorders could include the difficulty of trying to maintain an athletic identity within a social environment that is traditionally homophobic.

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By:  Veliz P1, Epstein-Ngo Q1, Zdroik J2, Boyd CJ1,3, McCabe SE1.

• 1 Institute for Research on Women & Gender, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA.
• 2 Kinesiology Department , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA.
• 3 School of Nursing, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA. 
• Subst Use Misuse. 2016 Mar 4:1-16.

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Prevalence of Binge Drinking & Associated Behaviours among 3,286 College Students in France

BACKGROUND:

Studies conducted on characteristics of binge drinking and associated behaviours in college student populations are scarce especially in France. Hence, it is important to identify risk factors for binge drinking at university, especially those which may be changed. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of binge drinking and associated behaviours across a large sample of college students in Upper Normandy (France).

METHODS:

A cross sectional study was performed between November 2009 and February 2013 and data on socioeconomic characteristics and behavioural risk factors were collected: alcohol (consumption and misuse of alcohol, occasional and frequent binge drinking), tobacco, cannabis, cyberaddiction, stress and depression. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was filled out by college student volunteers from Upper Normandy (France) either online or by paper questionnaire. Analyses were performed using multivariate logistic regression models.

RESULTS:

A total of 3286 students were included. The mean (Standard Deviation (SD)) age of students was 20.8 years (SD = 2.1) with a male-female ratio of 0.60. The prevalence of binge drinking in the never, occasional and frequent categories was respectively 34.9 %, 51.3 %, and 13.8 %. The mean number of units of alcohol consumed per week (except BD episodes) was 0.78 for never, 3.7 for occasional and 10.5 for frequent binge drinkers (p < 0.0001). A positive relation was observed between frequent binge drinking and the following: male gender, living in rented accommodation, attending business school, regular practice of sport, smoking, occasional cannabis use, and alcohol abuse. A negative association was observed between frequent binge drinking and grant holder status, living in couples, and stress.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study highlights the spread of binge drinking among college students and identifies student populations at risk: male gender, living in rented accommodation, regular practice of sport, and other risk behaviours such as use of tobacco, cannabis and alcohol. These behaviours increase with the frequency of binge drinking.

Below:  Frequency of consumption of binge drinking according to the gender of college students (France; 2010-2012) (N=3286)

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/xH28Bs

By:  Tavolacci MP1,2, Boerg E3, Richard L4, Meyrignac G5, Dechelotte P6,4, Ladner J6,7.

• 1Rouen University Hospital, Clinical Investigation Center 1404, 1 Rue de Germont, Rouen Cedex, 76031, France. marie-pierre.tavolacci@chu-rouen.fr.
• 2Rouen University Hospital, IRIB, Inserm U1073, Rouen, France. marie-pierre.tavolacci@chu-rouen.fr.
• 3Rouen University Hospital, Clinical Investigation Center 1404, 1 Rue de Germont, Rouen Cedex, 76031, France.
• 4Department of Nutrition, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France.
• 5Department of Preventive Medicine of University, Rouen University, Rouen, France.
• 6Rouen University Hospital, IRIB, Inserm U1073, Rouen, France.
• 7Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France. 
• BMC Public Health. 2016 Feb 23;16(1):178. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-2863-x.

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Sex with Sex Workers among Latino Day Laborers in Suburban Maryland

Using the structural-environmental conceptual framework, this study employed mixed methods to address the question of whether sex with female sex workers contributes to HIV risk among male immigrant Latino day laborers in suburban Maryland. Because contextual factors can greatly affect HIV risk for both sex workers and their clients, this study investigated the organizational structure of sex work, factors that predicted men’s hiring of sex workers, sexual behaviors performed with sex workers, and the use of condoms. 

Qualitative research was conducted to inform the development of a quantitative survey, but also provided crucial descriptions about the motivations, locations, arrangements, and sexual activities related to sex work. Key informant interviews (N= 10), in-depth interviews with day laborers (N= 10) and Latina female sex workers (N = 4), and two focus groups with day laborers (N= 11) were conducted, and a quantitative survey administered via Audio-enhanced Computer-assisted Self-interviewing (N = 174). 

Condom use was nearly universal in encounters with female sex workers, thus indicating that the sex workers were not an important source of HIV transmission in this context. Logistic regression was performed to test a model predicting sex with sex workers. Latino day laborers who reported more immigrant stress and who did not have a partner in the U.S. were more likely to have had sex with a sex worker, as were men who reported binge drinking. Structural and social conditions influenced the hiring of sex workers. 

Further research is warranted to better understand the interrelationships among these circumstances and to inform the development of programs to address them.

Experiences of Latino day laborers with sex workers

	Percent
Ways men find sex workers (N= 174)
Sex workers give out business cards	59.2
Friends tell each other	50.6
Pimp approaches potential clients	33.3
Internet	18.4
Sex workers are in public places (e.g., street corner)	14.9
Locations where men have sex with sex workers (N= 174)
House or apartment (“delivery”)	58.1
Brothel (“casa de sitas”)	36.8
Hotel or motel	28.7
Street, car, or park	19.0
Bar, discotheque, restaurant	16.7
Reasons participants had sex with sex workers (N= 52)
Lack of companionship	65.4
Relief from sexual urges	55.8
No commitment	51.9
Only sex available	40.4
Fun and pleasure	36.5
Distraction from problems	17.3
Sexual behaviors participants performed with sex workers (N= 52)
Vaginal intercourse	76.9
Oral sex on the participant	59.6
Manual stimulation of penis	34.6
Anal intercourse	9.6
Oral sex on the woman	3.9

Note: Participants could select more than one response option

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/YzCU35

By:  Fernanda T. Bianchi, Carol A. Reisen, Felisa A. Gonzales, Juan C. Arroyo, Maria Cecilia Zea, and Paul J. Poppen

Department of Psychology, George Washington University, 2125 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA

Corresponding author.

Fernanda T. Bianchi: ude.uwg@ihcnaibf

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Partner Meeting Contexts and Risky Behavior in College Students' Other-Sex and Same-Sex Hookups

We analyzed a sample of 12,065 hookup encounters among college students at 22 colleges and universities in the Online College Social Life Survey (OCSLS) to explore how partner meeting locales may influence college students' risky behavior when hookup partners are met in those contexts. 

For other-sex encounters, meeting in bars or at parties, through common interest groups or history, and (for women) at dormitories was associated with binge drinking during encounters, while meeting online and (for women) in public was associated with reduced binge drinking during encounters. Unprotected sex during other-sex encounters was more common when partners were met in public and less common with partners met in dormitories. 

Binge drinking and marijuana use during or just prior to encounters was associated with an increased risk of unprotected sex and other substance use. Marijuana use and unprotected sex during encounters was more common when students knew their hookup partner better or had hooked up with the partner before, while binge drinking was associated with hooking up with less familiar partners. 

Associations of meeting contexts with behavior were explained by the locale's association with institutional and personal trust, social scripts, and selection into certain contexts by students with a risk-taking personality.

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By:  Kuperberg A1, Padgett JE2.

• 1 Department of Sociology , The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
• 2 Department of Sociology , University of South Carolina. 
• J Sex Res. 2016 Jan 26:1-18.

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Characteristics and Behaviors of Older Male Anabolic Steroid Users

OBJECTIVE:

To compare and contrast the characteristics of 2 groups of men ≥40 years old: reported anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users and nonusers...

...MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURED:

Demographics, utilization of AAS and other performance-enhancing agents (PEAs), exercise patterns, history of illicit drugs and alcohol use, and psychiatric traits/diagnoses.

RESULTS:

The majority of AAS users ≥40 years old were caucasian (92.5%), heterosexual (97.0%), and classified themselves as recreational exercisers (79.1%). AAS users took more PEAs (11.5 ± 5.6 vs 4.6 ± 2.7; P < .001), were more likely to binge drink (47.8% vs 29.0%; P = .025), report heavy alcohol use (21.0% vs 7.9%; P = .031), meet criteria for substance dependence disorder (27.4% vs 4.0%; P < .001), and report an anxiety disorder diagnosis (12.0% vs 2.6%; P = .046) than nonusers.

CONCLUSIONS:

AAS misuse is prevalent among older men and is associated with polypharmacy, more aggressive alcohol use, and a higher incidence of substance dependence and anxiety disorders compared to nonusers. This information may help clinicians and researchers identify and develop appropriate intervention strategies for AAS abuse among older men.

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By:  Ip EJ1, Trinh K2, Tenerowicz MJ2, Pal J2, Lindfelt TA2, Perry PJ2.

• 1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Touro University California College of Pharmacy, Vallejo, CA, USA eric.ip@tu.edu.
• 2Department of Pharmacy Practice, Touro University California College of Pharmacy, Vallejo, CA, USA.
• J Pharm Pract. 2015 Oct;28(5):450-6. doi: 10.1177/0897190014527319. Epub 2014 Mar 18.

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