This application addresses broad Challenge Area (06): Enabling Technologies, and specific Challenge Topic, 06-AA-108: Innovative Technologies for Drinking Pattern Analysis. Using an innovative technique to assess drinking patterns (oral assays), the purpose of this application is to examine the club as a specific ecological context to assess drinking patterns and related risky behaviors. The club setting attracts young adults who are working and not in college (approximately one-third of attendees are in college) and thus allows us to measure drinking patterns at high-risk ecological moments for young adults in hard to reach young adults.
The specific aims are: (1) To determine the contribution and interaction of personal and group characteristics on drinking and patterns at entrance and exit (as measured by biological assays), both in the presence and absence of other substances. Drinking patterns are defined as amount of alcohol consumed at entrance/exit (measured by biological assays), intentions to drink in the club, and perceived level of intoxication at entrance/exit. Personal characteristics include demographics, lifetime and recent history of drug use, usual drinking patterns, and regularity of club attendance. Group characteristics include composition of group, group drinking patterns, group drug use patterns, and designated driver in group. (2) To determine the accuracy of self-reports of drinking patterns at exit, relative to biological assays of alcohol use at exit, and examine the extent to which concomitant drug use, individual and group characteristics relate to this accuracy. (3)To identify the extent that individual drinking intentions, as measured on entry, accurately predict exit drinking patterns, and the extent to which concomitant drug use, individual and group characteristics, relate to this accuracy. Using portal methodology, we will be randomly sampling groups of patrons as they approach the club and collecting data anonymously as they enter and exit the club. By sampling multiple high attendance evenings (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) over the course of 12 months in clubs, we will be able to include sufficient numbers of groups (N=360) from various contexts with an estimated N of 864 individuals. By collecting information from the group, data can be analyzed to determine how groups influence the drinking patterns over the course of the evening for young adults who frequent clubs. These findings will provide a framework for developing environmental strategies to reduce alcohol use in the club settings. In addition, this study will provide us with valuable data about group behaviors that will serve as a basis for developing a brief prevention strategy for groups attending clubs.

Public Health Relevance

Clubs are ubiquitous across all cities in the U.S. and around the world. Despite the prevalence of problems for young adults in these settings, there is little attention given to implementing prevention strategies in these settings. Because working young adults, and specifically young adults who work and do not attend college, populate these settings, this study will provide important information for creating new strategies that can be introduced to reduce drinking and related risky behaviors.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
NIH Challenge Grants and Partnerships Program (RC1)
Project #
5RC1AA019110-02
Application #
7938946
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-HDM-P (58))
Program Officer
Scott, Marcia S
Project Start
2009-09-30
Project End
2012-08-31
Budget Start
2010-09-01
Budget End
2012-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$497,301
Indirect Cost
Name
Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation
Department
Type
DUNS #
021883350
City
Beltsville
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
20705
Bourdeau, Beth; Miller, Brenda A; Voas, Robert B et al. (2017) Social Drinking Groups and Risk Experience in Nightclubs: Latent Class Analysis. Health Risk Soc 19:316-335
Byrnes, Hilary F; Miller, Brenda A; Bourdeau, Beth et al. (2016) Drinking group characteristics related to willingness to engage in protective behaviors with the group at nightclubs. Psychol Addict Behav 30:168-74
Johnson, Mark B; Voas, Robert; Miller, Brenda A et al. (2016) Night club patrons who feel safe will return: Evidence to encourage management to address club violence. J Safety Res 56:29-32
Johnson, Mark B; Voas, Robert; Miller, Brenda et al. (2015) Clubbing With Familiar Social Groups: Relaxed Vigilance and Implications for Risk. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 76:924-7
Miller, Brenda A; Bourdeau, Beth; Johnson, Mark et al. (2015) Experiencing aggression in clubs: social group and individual level predictors. Prev Sci 16:527-37
Bourdeau, Beth; Miller, Brenda A; Johnson, Mark B et al. (2015) Method of transportation and drinking among club patrons. Transp Res Part F Traffic Psychol Behav 32:11-22
Byrnes, Hilary F; Miller, Brenda A; Johnson, Mark B et al. (2014) Indicators of club management practices and biological measurements of patrons' drug and alcohol use. Subst Use Misuse 49:1878-87
Miller, Brenda A; Byrnes, Hilary F; Branner, Amy et al. (2013) Group influences on individuals' drinking and other drug use at clubs. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 74:280-7
Miller, Brenda A; Byrnes, Hilary F; Branner, Amy C et al. (2013) Assessment of club patrons' alcohol and drug use: the use of biological markers. Am J Prev Med 45:637-43
Voas, Robert B; Johnson, Mark B; Miller, Brenda A (2013) Alcohol and drug use among young adults driving to a drinking location. Drug Alcohol Depend 132:69-73

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