title: A comparison of the combined-use of alcohol & energy drinks to alcohol-only on high-risk drinking and driving behaviors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The combined-use of alcohol and energy drinks is an emerging public health issue. This investigation examined differences in drinking and driving behaviors among combined-users (CU) and participants who consumed alcohol-only (AO).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was specifically designed to investigate potential differences in drinker's perceptions of (a) what it means to them to drive over the .08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) driving limit and (b) what it means to drive after knowing they have had too much to drink to drive safely.
  
  
  METHODS
  College students (N = 355) were surveyed to assess differences in drinking and driving-related behaviors between the AO (n = 174) and CU (n = 107) groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CU were more likely than AO to drive over the .08 BAC driving limit (53% vs. 38%; p = .009) and after knowing they were too drunk to drive (57% vs. 44%; p = .025). CU were also more likely (56% vs. 35%; p = .000) to ride with an intoxicated driver while knowing it was unsafe. Conclusions/Importance: Combined-users are more likely to drive after drinking, drive while knowingly drunk, and participate in other high-risk behaviors such as heavy drinking that increase the potential for injury. Public policy makers and health professionals should focus prevention efforts to reduce high-risk combined-use behavior.
authors.affiliation: 1Logan University, College of Health Sciences, Chesterfield, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Conrad L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Woolsey
authors.forename: Bert H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: Ronald D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Adam E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Marion W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Niels C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Beck
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology; D003625:Data Collection; D061215:Energy Drinks / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D012309:Risk-Taking
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol
keywords: alcohol; college student drivers; combined-use; drunk driving; energy drinks