title: Blackouts among male and female youth seeking emergency department care.
abstract: Alcohol-related blackouts are a common consequence of heavy drinking, and these blackouts pose risk for injury and other adverse health outcomes.
  
  
  
  To examine the prevalence and correlates of blackouts among underage drinkers.
  
  
  
  Youth (ages 14-20) presenting to a suburban Emergency Department (ED) completed screening surveys. Among those reporting past-year alcohol consumption, we examined past 3-month blackouts in relation to: background characteristics (e.g., demographics, fraternity/sorority involvement), substance use, sexual risk behaviors and incapacitated sexual assault (unaware/unable to consent due to alcohol/drugs), forced sexual assault, positive depression screening, and reason for ED visit (injury vs. medical).
  
  
  
  In total, 2,300 past-year drinkers participated: 58% female, 75% Caucasian, and mean age = 18.4. Regarding past 3-month blackouts, 72.7% reported none, 19.3% reported monthly or less, and 8% reported monthly or more. Multivariate cumulative logit regression indicated that blackout frequency was positively associated with: college involvement in Greek life, alcohol use severity, prescription drug misuse, marijuana, screening positive for depression, incapacitated sexual assault, and a gender by alcohol use severity interaction.
  
  
  
  With one-quarter of this clinical sample reporting recent blackouts, as well as the association between blackout frequency and health risk behaviors and other outcomes, findings underscore the need for programs focusing on substance use, depression, and preventing sexual assault. Interventions should also address poly-substance use and drinking motives. Although findings highlight how college students in Greek life may be at high risk for blackouts, many participants not in college also reported blackouts, suggesting that interventions in other settings are also needed.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry, Narcology, Neurology and Medical Psychology , V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University , Kharkiv , Ukraine.|b University of Michigan Addiction Center, Department of Psychiatry , University of Michigan School of Medicine , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.
authors.forename: Diana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Voloshyna
authors.affiliation: b University of Michigan Addiction Center, Department of Psychiatry , University of Michigan School of Medicine , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.
authors.forename: Erin E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Bonar
authors.affiliation: c University of Michigan Injury Center , University of Michigan School of Medicine , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.|d Department of Emergency Medicine , University of Michigan School of Medicine , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.|e Department of Health Behavior and Health Education , University of Michigan School of Public Health , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: b University of Michigan Addiction Center, Department of Psychiatry , University of Michigan School of Medicine , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.|f VA Center for Clinical Management Research , VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ilgen
authors.affiliation: b University of Michigan Addiction Center, Department of Psychiatry , University of Michigan School of Medicine , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.|f VA Center for Clinical Management Research , VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.
authors.forename: Frederic C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Blow
authors.affiliation: b University of Michigan Addiction Center, Department of Psychiatry , University of Michigan School of Medicine , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.|c University of Michigan Injury Center , University of Michigan School of Medicine , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.
authors.forename: Maureen A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Walton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000425:Alcohol Amnestic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000066608:Underage Drinking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol; alcohol-induced blackout; sexual risk taking; substance use; youth