title: Characterizing subjective responses to alcohol among adolescent problem drinkers.
abstract: Theoretical models of alcoholism emphasize the acute reinforcing properties of alcohol as chief determinants of drinking, and animal research suggests adolescents are uniquely sensitive to these effects. Human studies of these phenomena, however, are virtually nonexistent. We used ecological momentary assessment methods to capture adolescents' subjective responses to alcohol in real time in their natural environments. Adolescent participants were 22 problem drinkers, ages 15 to 19 years (M = 18.3, SD = 0.09; 55% female; 55% alcohol dependent). Participants consumed alcohol on 38% of days during a 1-week monitoring period, with an average of 5 drinks per occasion. Momentary data revealed that adolescents experience decreased stimulation and increased sedation and "high" across the ascending limb of the blood alcohol curve. Notably, greater craving predicted higher volumes of subsequent alcohol consumption during the episode, whereas greater "high" attenuated use. To test for developmental differences in these effects, we pooled these data with data from a similarly ascertained sample of 36 adult heavy drinkers, ages 24 to 64 years (M = 38.1, SD = 11.8; 50% female; 61% alcohol dependent). Adolescents were more sensitive to the stimulant effects of alcohol than adults. This study provides novel data on how adolescent problem drinkers experience alcohol in their natural contexts and illustrates how these effects, which appear to differ from adult problem drinkers, confer liability for future drinking.
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University.
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University.
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University.
authors.forename: Hayley R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Treloar
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University.
authors.forename: Elizabeth K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University.
authors.forename: Chad J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Gwaltney
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Justus
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tidey
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University.
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D066249:Craving; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D055815:Young Adult