Alcohol Research Group

This is a statewide prevention and early intervention effort to achieve mental health equity for populations most affected by disparities —African Americans; Asian and Pacific Islanders; Latinos; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning; and Native American. Through TA to API population, the goal is to demonstrate the effectiveness of “Community Defined Evidence Practices” through a rigorous community-participatory evaluation over the 5-year period. PI: Camillia K. Lui

This study aims to better understand barriers that may explain Latino-White disparities in the use of alcohol treatment services. It involves interviews to refine a newly developed, theory-driven, treatment barriers scale and recruitment of a nationally representative sample of Whites and Latinos with recent alcohol use disorders to validate the treament barriers scale via psychometric testing and examine barriers that give rise to Latino-White disparities. PI: Sarah E. Zemore

Using prospective data from children born to female participants in the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, this study examines long-term effects of early childhood adversity on educational success and substance use outcomes from birth through young adulthood. This study aims to identify modifiable, education-related factors at multiple levels (school, family, individual) that can mitigate negative effects of early adversity. PI: Nina Mulia

The long-term goal of this study is to expand the repertoire of responses to problem drinking. Using mixed quantitative-qualitative approaches, the study will test how recovery definitions vary by treatment exposure, characterize the processes of recovery without treatment, and estimate the likelihood of sustained recovery and identify modifiable correlates associated with recovery. PI: Sarah E. Zemore

This K01 project assesses how race/ethnicity impacts alcohol’s effect on inflammation and how environmental stressors and unhealthy behaviors contribute to the impact of race/ethnicity on the risk of developing hypertension, diabetes, and depression from using alcohol. The study will also examine the utility and feasibility of using self-administered dried blood spots in the U.S. National Alcohol Survey and explore immune markers to study alcohol’s effect on inflammation. PI: Priscilla Martinez

This project aims to develop agent-based models and systems-based models of the UK and US populations for the sequential and linked purposes of testing theories of alcohol use behaviors, predicting population alcohol use patterns, predicting population level alcohol outcomes of liver cirrhosis and alcohol poisonings and evaluating the impacts of policy interventions on alcohol use patterns and harmful outcomes. PI: William C. Kerr

The primary aims were to develop and test a socioecological model of relapse and recovery from alcohol problems in order to describe how neighborhood, social network and individual factors independently and interactively predict relapse and recovery from alcohol problems and alcohol use disorder over time. PI: Katherine Karriker-Jaffe

The study seeks to identify neural mechanisms, as well as individual and community risk factors, for substance use disorders (SUDs) and suicide in a community sample of American Indians (AI) residing on rural reservations. We emphasize multiple risk factor pathways that emerge in the adolescent and young adult periods which can influence the development of both SUDs and suicidal behaviors. PI: Katherine Karriker-Jaffe

This study is focused on the effects of state-level policies relating to alcohol use during pregnancy and whether effects vary by race/ethnicity and SES. This project identified state-level policies targeting alcohol use during pregnancy that are associated with improved alcohol use and pregnancy outcomes, as well as which policies are associated with unintended consequences (of prenatal care avoidance) and examined whether there are disparate effects of these policies. PI: William C. Kerr

This study analyzed data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, waves I and II, to examine racial/ethnic variation in the need for alcohol treatment and the persistence of need over time, racial disparities in access to appropriate treatment, and factors contributing to racial/ethnic disparities in treatment. MPI: Nina Mulia

Project aims were to (1) estimate rates, sources and severity of alcohol’s harms to others (AHTO); test hypotheses about gender and other differences in AHTO; (2) examine environmental influences (e.g., urbanicity, disadvantage, alcohol access) to gain insight about preventing such harms; and (3) use study the roles of state alcohol policies (like taxes and availability) and investigate the interplay of influences on events, sources and severity of US harms. MPI: Thomas K. Greenfield and Katherine Karriker-Jaffe

This study analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79) to assess racial/ethnic disparities in men’s and women’s heavy drinking and alcohol problems from late adolescence to midlife. The study investigated lifecourse socioeconomic factors that increased risk for these outcomes, and examined whether disparities are explained by differential exposure to, and consequences of, these risk factors. PI: Nina Mulia

This TRDRP New Investigator Study examines campus and community factors on smoke-free policy adoption in community colleges. Through partnerships with CYAN and HSACCC, this is a mixed methods study of existing data (tobacco control policy databases, school records, survey data, and Census) and case studies of community colleges. Findings will help facilitate the adoption of smoke-free policy at California community colleges. PI: Camillia K. Lui

This scale development study aimed to develop a new scale of treatment readiness based on Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior. The study conducted focus groups and individual interviews (N=200) at an outpatient treatment facility to develop and validate a new readiness scale. In addition to key validity tests, the study explored the impact of reporting biases on the measurement of alcohol outcomes and treatment readiness. PI: Sarah E. Zemore

This survey study aimed to help illuminate mechanisms of action underlying acculturation's effects on alcohol use and problems among Latinas, along with protective mechanisms. The study focused on Latina respondents to the 2005 National Alcohol Survey. PI: Sarah Zemore

Goals are to develop a multilevel, bio-psychosocial-ecological model of risk and protective factors for binge drinking, alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and other mental health behaviors in Mexican American young adults (primarily second generation immigrants). The team has expertise in community studies, bio-psychosocial measures, biometrics and genetics to tackle these complex problems. PI: Katherine Karriker-Jaffe

This project will utilize geo-referenced survey data from 2014 to 2016 to investigate relationships between local cannabis policy and retail outlet locations and measures of cannabis use patterns including use with alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. County-level analyses of mortality rates will evaluate relationships with store openings and numbers over the 2008 to 2018 period. PI: William C. Kerr

The study draws on minority stress, intersectionality, and social-ecological frameworks and a mixed-methods research design to identify and assess factors that underlie the effect of marriage recognition on health and to examine relationships between these factors and three health outcomes among SMW: hazardous drinking, depression, and poor general health. Several key innovations ensure the success and high impact of this project. PI: Karen Trocki

The study employs new methods to collect data from a large oversample of sexual minority women (SMW) through an extension of the National Alcohol Survey (NAS) to examine mediators and moderators of hazardous drinking and other substance use among SMW and to conduct methodological studies comparing population-based to volunteer samples of SMW. PI: Karen Trocki

This health services research study will examine the availability and characteristics of recovery housing across the US and identify factors associated with use of evidence-based practices. PI: Amy Mericle

This project focuses on outpatient treatment for women with alcohol problems and is designed to assess the efficacy of intensive motivational interviewing (IMI). The study will recruit 220 adult women, each randomized to one of two treatment types with services provided by licensed therapists and practitioners. The study will also look at effectiveness over time, following participants up to a year after their treatment concludes. PI: Douglas L. Polcin

This project addresses a number of highly important areas related to estimating alcohol attributable fraction of injury morbidity, worldwide, for informing the global burden of disease, and will inform U.S. policy, potentially leading to policy change as well as intervention and prevention strategies, important to policymakers, public health professionals and the research community. PI: Cheryl Cherpitel

Alcohol use is the third largest contributor to cancer cases among U.S. women, and female breast cancer accounts for nearly 80% of alcohol-attributable cases of cancer. However, many people are unaware of how drinking can increase their risk. Through the development and distribution of an educational campaign, this project will promote a greater understanding among young women about their own drinking and how it impacts their health so they can make more informed choices. PI: Priscilla Martinez

This study aims to improve understanding of the relationship between harmful drinking patterns and cardiovascular disease and related conditions in Asian Americans. It is a secondary analysis of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions II and III. A strong focus of this study is on the roles alcohol metabolizing genes and other risk behaviors play in the drinking-disease risk relationship. PI: Won Kim Cook

This international, interdisciplinary team assessed effects of exposure to risk factors in the neighborhood environment, peer context and family system during different phases in the lifecourse on development, severity and social sequelae of alcohol use disorder using longitudinal population data from Sweden. PI: Katherine Karriker-Jaffe

Common markers of socioeconomic status may not adequately capture the social position affecting drinking in immigrant populations. Using the National Latino and Asian American Survey data, this study examined the role of two alternative indicators of disadvantage (subjective social status and financial hardship) in heavy drinking and alcohol use disorder in Asian American adults and the moderation of this relationship by ethnic identification. PI: Won Kim Cook

This was a longitudinal survey study involving original data collection with attendees of 12-step groups and the major secular alternatives to those groups in the U.S. (i.e., SMART Recovery, LifeRing, and Women for Sobriety). Aims were to characterize attendees of each group and to compare how participation in each group relates to recovery outcomes across time. The study also compared patterns of participation over time across the four mutual help groups. PI: Sarah E. Zemore

This project quantified the impacts of health problems and conditions on drinking patterns over the life-course and will utilized these findings to more clearly evaluate the role of alcohol in diabetes, hypertension and heart disease and on general health status with attention to disparities in these relationships. This project also evaluated impacts of childhood adversity on these outcomes. PI: William C. Kerr

Our studies of spirits privatization included analyses of spirits price changes, cross-border sales to neighboring states and changes in per capita consumption. Survey based analyses evaluated changes in drinks patterns across privatization, opinions on privatization and other policies, changes in spirits purchasing and store satisfaction and changes in the use of cannabis with alcohol. PI: William C. Kerr

Aims of this epidemiological study were to describe and explain disparities between Whites, Blacks, and Latinos in heavy drinking and alcohol problems. Particular focus was devoted to the differential relationship between alcohol consumption and consequences (including dependence) across race/ethnicity. Methods primarily involved secondary analysis of the 2010 National Alcohol Survey data. MPIs: Sarah E. Zemore and Nina Mulia

This is a collaborative study across four medical centers (Cedars-Sinai, VA Greater LA, Pittsburgh and Ohio State University) which will examine the timing and extent of drinking that precipitates an attack of acute pancreatitis. Patients will be interviewed at the time of admission and bio-specimens obtained, and followed up to 24 months for prospective control periods and recurrent acute pancreatitis. PI: Cheryl Cherpitel

This project examines the prevalence of cannabis use, patterns and context among adult injured drivers and driving medical patients at Oregon Health & Science University ED. It estimates the relative risk of motor vehicle crashes for cannabis use controlling for injury and other drug use context and the dose-response relationship of cannabis use of MVC risk, quantifying the amount of use through serum ?-9-THC and cannabis metabolites and interviews regarding use of cannabis. PI: Cheryl Cherpitel

This project uses a risk and resilience framework to pinpoint specific ages over the lifecourse, from adolescence into adulthood, when Asian Americans are at highest risk for alcohol and tobacco use. Identifying modifiable factors that are important for avoiding excessive alcohol and tobacco use for specific subgroups based on gender, nativity, and ethnicity will ameliorate disparities and provide a knowledge base for targeted prevention efforts among a racial/ethnic group that is typically overlooked in research and programming. PI: Christina Tam

The COVID-19 pandemic may be particularly harmful to the physical health and wellbeing of those in recovery from alcohol and other drug disorders. Among individuals in recovery from these disorders, those living in recovery housing are among the most vulnerable. By conducting a national longitudinal survey of recovery residences, this study will provide requisite data to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on recovery housing and how recovery residences are responding to it. PI: Amy Mericle

This project addresses the limited awareness among young women that alcohol use increases the risk of developing breast cancer. The materials, messaging, and strategies are evidence-based and grounded in health communication theory and practice. The messaging also addresses the need to understand one’s own drinking habits and place them in the context of breast cancer risk so that the messaging can initiate changes in drinking behavior that reduce breast cancer risk. PI: Priscilla Martinez

Hazardous alcohol and drug use are leading causes of avoidable mortality. Alongside 12-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, numerous mutual help groups are now available to help individuals address alcohol and drug problems. These groups are appealing because they can be used before, during, after, and instead of formal treatment, thus extending the continuum of care. Yet, little is known about the many alternatives to 12- step groups, which may be particularly attractive to those who dislike the 12-step approach. The current study will provide much-needed information on the nature and effectiveness of secular 12-step alternatives, including Women for Sobriety, LifeRing, and SMART Recovery, in addressing alcohol problems. PI: Sarah Zemore

This study seeks to better understand the risk relationship between harmful drinking patterns and chronic health conditions—specifically, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death for Asian Americans, and three common conditions that increase CVD risk (diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol level). No U.S.-based study has examined the relationship between drinking and these conditions in Asian Americans. This is an important gap as CVD risk profiles differ between Asians and non-Asians, and there are indications that drinking may pose a greater risk for Asians than whites. PI: Won Kim Cook

Pancreatitis and the progressive and chronic forms of the disease cause significant patient suffering, for which there are currently no approved treatments or preventative measures. This project will make significant gains in understanding the risk factors and behaviors that contribute to pancreatic diseases and developing lifestyle recommendations for prevention and potential therapeutics for treatment. Co-PI: Cheryl Cherpitel

As suicide is the leading cause of death among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adolescents, research into the mechanisms that increase suicide risks for different AAPI subgroups is a critical area for public health. By looking at AAPI subgroups, this study investigates factors that affect suicide risk, including school-related stressors, alcohol use, and insufficient sleep, and the school and community contexts that might help mediate these factors. PI: Camillia K. Lui

Heavy drinking is a leading cause of preventable death, and untreated alcohol use disorder (AUD) has economic and social costs that are due in part to disparities in access to alcohol health services. This study will use existing survey and administrative data to simulate multiple, simultaneous improvements in access to care across the continuum from screening for unhealthy drinking to treatment and recovery support to model long-term impacts on recovery from AUD. Subaward PI: Nina Mulia.