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325192
Examination of breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) levels, alcohol-related problems, and alcohol-related injuries among bar-attending college students


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Ryan J. Martin, Ph.D., Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Kerry Brechbiel, BS, Department of Public Health, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Beth Chaney, Ph.D., MCHES, Department of Health Education & Promotion, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Jennifer Cremeens-Matthews, Ph.D., Department of Health Education & Promotion, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Background:Alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems are associated with alcohol-related injuries; however, most studies examining alcohol-related injuries rely on subjective measures (e.g., participant self-report) to assess alcohol-related behaviors.  Our study, examined this association using both an objective (breath alcohol concentration [BrAC] levels) and a subjective measure (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT-C] classification) among a sample of bar-attending college students.

Methods:We conducted a series of four anonymous field studies to examine BrAC levels, alcohol-related problems (using AUDIT-C), and alcohol-related injuries among a sample of bar patrons in the primary area of town where students frequent (N = 766). We conducted a Chi-square analysis and a one-way ANOVA to examine associations between these measures.

Results:Among participants in our sample, the average BrAC level was .076 (SD = .055; range = .000 to .259).  The majority of participants (584; 76.2%) met the threshold (AUDIT-C score of > 4 for males or > 3 for females) for a potential alcohol-related problem and 47 (6.1%) experienced an alcohol-related injury in the past year. Our analyses indicated that:

(1) Participants classified by the AUDIT-C as having an alcohol-related problem were significantly more likely to have experienced an alcohol-related injury in the past year (X2=12.9, p < .001).

(2) The BrAC of participants who experienced an alcohol-related injury in the past year (.108) was significantly higher (p < .001) than participants who had not experienced an injury (.074).

Conclusions: Both our measures confirmed that alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems correlate with experiencing alcohol-related injuries.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education

Learning Objectives:
Explain the association between alcohol-related injuries and alcohol-related problems among participants in this sample. Describe the association between alcohol-related injuries and BrAC among participants in this sample.

Keyword(s): College Students, Alcohol Use

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have studied alcohol and other addictions for approximately 10 years. My work has led to 20+ peer-reviewed publications and numerous professional presentations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4178.0: Risky sex and violence: alcohol-related consequences among youth and young adults