Risk of motor vehicle collision associated with cannabis and alcohol use among patients presenting for emergency care.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between cannabis and alcohol use and occurrence of motor vehicle collision (MVC) among patients in the emergency department (ED). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of visits to EDs in Denver, CO, Portland, OR, and Sacramento, CA by drivers who were involved in MVCs and presented with injuries (cases) and non-injured drivers (controls) who presented for medical care. We obtained blood samples and measured delta-9-THC and its metabolites. Alcohol levels were determined by breathalyzer or samples taken in the course of clinical care. Participants completed a research-assistant-administered interview consisting of questions about drug and alcohol use prior to their visit, context of use, and past-year drug and alcohol use. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the association between MVC and cannabis/alcohol use, adjusted for demographic characteristics. We then stratified participants based on levels of cannabis use and calculated the odds of MVC across these levels, first using self-report and then using blood levels for delta-9-THC in separate models. We conducted a case-crossover analysis, using 7-day look-back data to allow each participant to serve as their own control. Sensitivity analyses examined the influence of usual use patterns and driving in a closed (car, truck, van) versus open (motorcycle, motorbike, all-terrain vehicle) vehicle. RESULTS: Cannabis alone was not associated with higher odds of MVC, while acute alcohol use alone, and combined use of alcohol and cannabis were both independently associated with higher odds of MVC. Stratifying by level of self-reported or measured cannabis use, higher levels were not associated with higher odds for MVC, with or without co-use of alcohol; in fact, high self-reported acute cannabis use was associated with lower odds of MVC (odds ratio [OR] 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.05-0.65). In the case-crossover analysis, alcohol use alone or in combination with cannabis was associated with higher odds of MVC, while cannabis use alone was again associated with decreased odds of MVC. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol use alone or in conjunction with cannabis was consistently associated with higer odds for MVC. However, the relationship between measured levels of cannabis and MVC was not as clear. Emphasis on actual driving behaviors and clinical signs of intoxication to determine driving under the influence has the strongest rationale.

Could reasons for admission help to screen unhealthy alcohol use in emergency departments? A multicenter French study.

Background: Many patients admitted to general emergency departments (EDs) have a pattern of drinking that could lead to future alcohol-related complications. However, it is often difficult to screen these patients in the context of emergency. The aim of this study is to analyze whether reasons for admission could help to screen patients who have an unhealthy alcohol use. Method: Patients were recruited among six public hospital ED in France, between 2012 and 2014. During a one-month period in each hospital, anonymous questionnaires including sociodemographic questions, AUDIT-C and RAPS4-QF were administered to each patients visiting the ED. The reason for admission of each patient was noted at the end of their questionnaire by the ED practitioner. Results: Ten thousand Four hundred twenty-one patients were included in the analysis. Patients who came to the ED for injuries and mental disorders were more likely to report unhealthy alcohol use than non-harmful use or no use. Among male patients under 65 years old admitted to the ED for a mental disorder, 24.2% drank more than four drinks (40 g ethanol) in typical day at least four time a week in the last 12 months. Among these patients, 79.7% reported daily or almost daily heavy episodic drinking (HED, 60 g ethanol), and all were positive on the RAPS4-QF. Conclusion: This study highlights that unhealthy alcohol use is frequent among ED patients and particularly among those who come for injuries or mental disorders. Men under 65 years old with a mental disorder require special attention because of their increased prevalence of daily or almost daily HED.

The Relationship Between Drinking Patterns and Chronic Health Conditions: New Evidence From Two U.S. National Alcohol Surveys.

OBJECTIVE: The association of many chronic disease conditions with alcohol consumption is well established, and research on drinking patterns following diagnosis suggests that those with a chronic condition drink less than their healthy counterparts. However, these studies have not controlled for confounding influences on this relationship. This article reports current drinking patterns of those with one of four chronic disease conditions (hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, cancer) compared to those without, controlling for covariates. METHOD: Data were analyzed from a merged sample of the two National Alcohol Surveys of the U.S. adult population (2014-2015 and 2019-2020; n = 9,597). Those reporting any one of the four disease conditions were matched to healthy control respondents on demographic characteristics and history of drinking using propensity score weighting (PSW). RESULTS: Those with hypertension and heart disease appeared to drink less than controls during the last year, but after models were adjusted for covariates or PSW, no significant differences were found. For diabetes, only the PSW models showed no significant difference in drinking from controls, whereas both unadjusted and adjusted models for cancer showed no differences from controls. CONCLUSIONS: Controlling for covariates and PSW appeared to make cases and their healthy controls more similar in past-year drinking patterns. Observed similarity in drinking patterns of those with and without a chronic disease may serve as an impetus for a greater focus on screening and identification of those with chronic conditions who would benefit from focused harm-reduction messages and implementation of effective alcohol interventions.

Association of short-term changes in drinking after onset of a serious health condition and long-term heavy drinking.

BACKGROUND: Literature on changes in drinking following diagnosis of chronic health conditions is limited, especially differential response to specific conditions or across demographic subgroups. Methods Data were analyzed from the 2020 National Alcohol Survey of the U.S. adult population (n = 9968). Predictors of change in drinking following first diagnosis of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, and how the short-term post-disease change in drinking was associated with a change in long-term heavy (5 +) drinking from the decade before diagnosis to the decade following diagnosis were analyzed. Results The majority of respondents reported no change in drinking after diagnosis. Men were more likely than women to reduce drinking after hypertension (OR=1.47) but less likely to quit after heart disease (OR=0.46). Black and Hispanic/Latinx drinkers were more likely than white or other drinkers to reduce (OR=2.68, 2.35, respectively) or quit (OR=2.69, 2.34) after hypertension, and more likely to quit after diabetes (OR=3.44, 2.74) and cancer (OR=5.00, 5.27). Black drinkers were more likely to quit after heart disease (OR=3.26). Heavier drinkers were more likely to reduce or quit drinking than lighter drinkers. For all disease types, those who quit drinking after disease onset were less likely to report heavy drinking in the following decade. Conclusions Just cutting down had little effect on subsequent long-term heavy drinking compared to quitting. These data are important for informing efforts aimed at harm reduction in patients diagnosed with a chronic health condition and suggest specific demographic subgroups.

Increased identification of cannabis use among drivers involved in motor vehicle collisions using an expanded cannabis inventory.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to implement and examine the potential capture rate of a novel instrument, the Expanded Cannabis Inventory, in a population of emergency department (ED) patients presenting after motor vehicle collisions (MVC). METHODS: Study participants who presented to the ED after MVC were recruited from three hospitals in cannabis-legal states (Denver, CO; Portland, OR; and Sacramento, CA). Research assistants (RAs) administered the Expanded Cannabis Inventory, which includes a wide variety of products that have become readily available in states where cannabis is legal, in addition to assessments related to patient demographic characteristics, general health, cannabis attitudes, and dependency measures. RAs also obtained blood samples for delta-9-THC and metabolites. RESULTS: Among 692 participants who provided responses to questions about cannabis use, 292 (42%) reported past-year use. Seventy-eight (27%) of those identified as using cannabis were only captured due to items in the expanded instrument. These patients were more likely to be White and were more likely to perceive daily use to be of high risk. Fewer had Cannabis Use Disorder Inventory Test (CUDIT) scores consistent with hazardous cannabis use. However, more of the patients only captured by the expanded instrument had high measured blood levels of delta-9-THC on samples obtained in the ED. CONCLUSIONS: Changing cannabis use patterns must be reflected in our measurements for clinical practice, research, and surveillance. Instruments that are the current standard in clinical practice capture limited data and may no longer perform well enough to identify a complete cohort or to provide insight into the health behaviors of patients.

Road traffic injury risk from alcohol and cannabis use among emergency department patients in Argentina.

Objective: To report the risk from alcohol, cannabis, and their combined use for non-fatal road traffic injuries for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Methods: Risk was estimated using the case-crossover method. Participants (N= 306) were injured patients from an emergency department in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Results: Alcohol use (OR= 6.78, CI 95% 3.75-12.25) as well as combined alcohol and cannabis use (OR= 7.05, CI 95% 1.16-42.73) significantly increased the risk of a road traffic injuries. Alcohol use increased the risk in both, women (OR= 8.87, CI 95% 2.69-29.21) and men (OR= 6.16, CI 95% 3.10-12.23); in those >30 years old (OR= 6.01, CI 95% 2.09-17.24) and those <30 years old (OR= 7.15, CI 95% 3.49-14.65). This last group also had an increased risk after combined alcohol and cannabis use (OR= 7.05, CI 95% 1.16-42.75). Both drivers (OR= 6.40, CI 95% 3.23-12.69) and passengers (OR= 13.83, CI 95% 2.87-66.42) had an increased risk after alcohol consumption. Conclusions: To our knowledge, these are the first estimates of the risk of having a road traffic injury after alcohol and cannabis consumption in one of the countries of the Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay). These results highlight the urgent need to implement and enforce comprehensive alcohol control measures. Furthermore, given the global trend towards legalizing cannabis for recreational use, our results could also inform policymakers to enact or amend impaired driving laws.

Neighborhood Contexts and Alcohol Use Disorder Among Mexican Americans Living in the US-Mexico Border Region.

AIMS: This study assessed contributions of exposure to neighborhood stressors (violent victimization, witnessing crime, greater alcohol and drug availability) to variation in alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms among drinkers in three cities in Texas, USA. METHODS: We used data from interviews conducted from 2011 to 2013 with Mexican-origin adults (ages 16-65) in the US-Mexico Study of Alcohol and Related Conditions who were past-year drinkers (N = 1960; 55% male) living in two cities in the Texas-Mexico border region (Laredo, n = 751 and Brownsville/McAllen, n = 814) and one interior comparison site (San Antonio, n = 771). Analyses (conducted in 2018 and 2019) examined overall and gender-stratified multilevel mediated effects of each border site (versus San Antonio) on AUD symptoms through the neighborhood-level factors, adjusting for individual- and neighborhood-level covariates. RESULTS: Overall, drinkers in Laredo reported more AUD symptoms than drinkers in the other cities, and their neighborhoods had more witnessing of crime and greater perceived drug availability, as well as higher levels of disadvantage and a lower proportion non-Hispanic White residents, than neighborhoods in San Antonio. Witnessing neighborhood crime was associated with increased AUD symptoms, while neighborhood disadvantage and proportion non-Hispanic White residents each were negatively associated with AUD symptoms. Perceived neighborhood insecurity, crime victimization, perceived neighborhood drug availability and neighborhood alcohol availability (off- and on-premise) were not significantly associated with AUD symptoms. Stratified models suggested possible gender differences in indirect effects through witnessing neighborhood crime. CONCLUSION: Reducing witnessing of neighborhood crime may help reduce AUD symptoms among adults living in the US border region.

Cannabis presentations to the emergency department after MVC in the era of legalization for recreational use.

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of this study were to examine cannabis and alcohol use among injured patients presenting to emergency departments (ED) in cannabis-legal states to capture an expanded profile of cannabis use and evaluate differences in motor-vehicle collision (MVC) characteristics among those using cannabis alone and in combination with alcohol. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of ED visits by drivers in MVC who presented to one of three study sites. Event-related and usual drug and alcohol use information were obtained using a detailed interviewer-administered computerized questionnaire. We also obtained data from blood and breathalyzer tests and the electronic medical record. We examined frequency and types of acute and past-year cannabis and alcohol use and crash mechanisms and characteristics. Our primary method of determining substance use was self-report; we used biosamples secondarily. RESULTS: Eight percent of drivers reported cannabis use in the 8 h prior to MVC, alone or in combination with alcohol; however, a higher proportion (18%) were positive by biosample. High-risk crash features were common in MVCs associated with cannabis, as they were for alcohol use and co-use of cannabis and alcohol; however, patients injured seriously enough to require admission were less likely to report cannabis use (7% vs. 9%) and more likely to report alcohol use (16% vs. 10%). CONCLUSIONS: Cannabis use was common among patients presenting after MVC in this sample of cannabis-legal states. Practical Applications: Differences between self-report and biosample data for cannabis and alcohol use were significant and supports the need to use both means of assessing acute use.

Efficacy of Brief Intervention for Alcohol Consumption during Pregnancy in Argentinean Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Although Brief Intervention (BI) has proven to reduce alcohol consumption during pregnancy in high income countries, there is no evidence from the Southern Cone of America. Thus, we conducted a study to assess BI efficacy among Argentinean pregnant women. METHOD AND MATERIALS: We collected data on pregnant women receiving prenatal care at the public health system in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Women with less than 26 weeks of gestation (n = 486) were randomized to brief advice (BA) or BI. Three months later they were re-assessed; women with more than 26 weeks of gestation constituted a screening only control group (SC) (n = 154). Self-reported quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption, frequency of binge drinking, and related problems after three months were used as outcomes. We performed generalized estimating equations and clinical significance analyses. Also, we obtained newborn health indicators from the city's health system database to use as objective outcomes. Women who did not participate in any of the three former conditions were randomly selected to constitute a non-screening control group (NSC) (n = 150). We compared objective outcomes among BI, BA, and NSC groups using the Wilcoxon rank test. RESULTS: In comparison with SC, BI and BA reduced alcohol consumption, without differences between the latter two. Newborns of women who received BI and BA had better health indicators compared with the NSC group. CONCLUSIONS: performing either a BI or BA reduces alcohol consumption among Argentinean pregnant women and might lead to healthier newborns.

Racial/Ethnic and Gender Differences in Risk of Injury and Life-Course Drinking Patterns: Data from US National Alcohol Surveys.

AIMS: To estimate risk of injury associated with frequency of drinking and heavy drinking (5+ drinks on occasion) by gender and race/ethnicity in the US population. METHODS: Data were from a merged sample of two National Alcohol Surveys (telephone and web-based) (2014-2015 and 2019-2020) on 16,639 respondents, and analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models with age as the timescale in a retrospective cohort design. Life-course drinking was determined by age of onset and questions on any drinking and heavy drinking by decade of life. The outcome measure was having had an injury from a serious accident at a certainage. RESULTS: Frequent heavy drinking (5+ daily, weekly and monthly) was significantly predictive of injury with hazard ratios (HRs) of 2.40, 1.81 and 1.50, respectively, while frequent light drinking (alcohol at least weekly and 5+ yearly or less) was also significant for women (HR = 1.73). For White respondents, 5+ at least weekly was significant for both men (HR = 1.74) and women (HR = 2.42). Among Hispanic respondents, 5+ at least weekly and 5+ monthly were both significant for men (HR = 2.81 and 2.49, respectively) and women (HR = 2.81 and 3.48, respectively). Among Black women, risk was significant for 5+ monthly (HR = 2.90) and for any alcohol ≥ weekly (HR = 2.72), but neither frequency of any drinking or 5+ was significant for Blackmen. CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest a greater risk of injury from a serious accident for frequent heavy drinkers among all White and Hispanic respondents, and Black women, but not for Blackmen.

Road traffic injury risk from alcohol and cannabis use among emergency department patients in Argentina / Riesgo de lesiones por accidentes de tránsito debido al consumo de alcohol y cannabis en pacientes de urgencias en Argentina / Risco de lesões no trânsito devido ao uso de álcool e cannabis entre pacientes atendidos em um pronto-socorro na Argentina

ABSTRACT Objective. To report the risk from alcohol, cannabis, and their combined use for non-fatal road traffic injuries for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Methods. Risk was estimated using the case-crossover method. Participants (N= 306) were injured patients from an emergency department in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Results. Alcohol use (OR= 6.78, CI 95% 3.75-12.25) as well as combined alcohol and cannabis use (OR= 7.05, CI 95% 1.16-42.73) significantly increased the risk of a road traffic injuries. Alcohol use increased the risk in both, women (OR= 8.87, CI 95% 2.69-29.21) and men (OR= 6.16, CI 95% 3.10-12.23); in those >30 years old (OR= 6.01, CI 95% 2.09-17.24) and those <30 years old (OR= 7.15, CI 95% 3.49-14.65). This last group also had an increased risk after combined alcohol and cannabis use (OR= 7.05, CI 95% 1.16-42.75). Both drivers (OR= 6.40, CI 95% 3.23-12.69) and passengers (OR= 13.83, CI 95% 2.87-66.42) had an increased risk after alcohol consumption. Conclusions. To our knowledge, these are the first estimates of the risk of having a road traffic injury after alcohol and cannabis consumption in one of the countries of the Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay). These results highlight the urgent need to implement and enforce comprehensive alcohol control measures. Furthermore, given the global trend towards legalizing cannabis for recreational use, our results could also inform policymakers to enact or amend impaired driving laws.

RESUMEN Objetivo. Informar sobre el riesgo lesiones por accidentes de tránsito debido al consumo de alcohol, cannabis o su combinación en conductores, pasajeros y peatones. Métodos. Se estimó el riesgo mediante el método de casos cruzados. Los participantes (N = 306) fueron pacientes que habían sufrido lesiones, provenientes de una sala de urgencias en Mar del Plata (Argentina). Resultados. El consumo de alcohol (OR = 6,78, IC95% 3,75-12,25), así como el consumo combinado de alcohol y cannabis (OR = 7,05, IC95% 1,16-42,73) aumentaron significativamente el riesgo de traumatismos por accidentes de tránsito. El consumo de alcohol aumentó el riesgo tanto en mujeres (OR = 8,87, IC95% 2,69-29,21) como en hombres (OR = 6,16, IC95% 3,10-12,23); así como en mayores de 30 años (OR = 6,01, IC95% 2,09-17,24) y en menores de 30 años (OR = 7,15, IC95% 3,49-14,65). Este último grupo también tuvo mayor riesgo tras un consumo combinado de alcohol y cannabis (OR = 7,05, IC95% 1,16-42,75). Tanto los conductores (OR = 6,40, IC95% 3,23-12,69) como los pasajeros (OR = 13,83, IC95% 2,87-66,42) presentaron mayor riesgo después del consumo de alcohol. Conclusiones. Hasta donde sabemos, estas son las primeras estimaciones del riesgo de sufrir lesiones por accidentes de tránsito tras el consumo de alcohol y cannabis en uno de los países del Cono Sur (Argentina, Chile y Uruguay). Estos resultados ponen de relieve la urgente necesidad de aplicar y hacer cumplir medidas integrales de control del alcohol. Además, dada la tendencia mundial hacia la legalización del cannabis para consumo recreativo, nuestros resultados también podrían orientar a los responsables de las políticas para que promulguen o enmienden las leyes sobre la conducción con capacidades alteradas debido al consumo de sustancias.

RESUMO Objetivo. Relatar o risco de lesões não fatais no trânsito atribuível ao álcool, à cannabis e a seu uso combinado para motoristas, passageiros e pedestres. Métodos. O risco foi estimado usando o método clínico cruzado (case-crossover). Os participantes (N=306) eram feridos atendidos em um pronto-socorro em Mar del Plata, Argentina. Resultados. O uso de álcool (OR = 6,78, IC95% 3,75; 12,25) e o uso combinado de álcool e cannabis (OR= 7,05, IC95% 1,16; 42,73) aumentaram significativamente o risco de lesões no trânsito. O uso de álcool aumentou o risco tanto em mulheres (OR = 8,87, IC95% 2,69; 29,21) quanto em homens (OR = 6,16, IC95% 3,10; 12,23); naqueles >30 anos de idade (OR = 6,01, IC95% 2,09; 17,24) e <30 anos de idade (OR = 7,15, IC95% 3,49; 14,65). Esse último grupo também apresentou um risco maior após o uso combinado de álcool e cannabis (OR = 7,05, IC95% 1,16; 42,75). Tanto motoristas (OR = 6,40, IC95% 3,23; 12,69) quanto passageiros (OR = 13,83, IC95% 2,87; 66,42) apresentaram risco maior após o consumo de álcool. Conclusões. Até onde sabemos, estas são as primeiras estimativas do risco de lesões de trânsito após o consumo de álcool e cannabis em um dos países do Cone Sul (Argentina, Chile e Uruguai). Os resultados destacam a necessidade urgente de implementar e aplicar medidas abrangentes de controle do álcool. Além disso, considerando a tendência global de legalização da cannabis para uso recreativo, nossos resultados também poderiam ajudar os formuladores de políticas a decretar ou alterar as leis sobre a condução sob efeito de substâncias psicoativas.

Quantifying risk of injury from usual alcohol consumption: An instrumental variable analysis.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies of roadside accidents among emergency room patients show elevated risk of injury from acute alcohol consumption, i.e., recent drinking precedes the injury event. The observed effects are large and show a dose-response relationship. In contrast, studies quantifying the association between injury risk and chronic consumption, such as past-year average volume, show lower relative risk estimates than those from acute consumption. METHODS: Combining data from 4 waves of US National Alcohol Surveys (NAS) for years 2000-2015 (N = 29,571, 53% overall cooperation rate), we estimated the risk of any past-year injury from past-year volume using logistic regression. This was contrasted with an instrumental variable (IV) analysis utilizing a 2-stage residual inclusion (2SRI) approach to estimate injury risk from volume, which adjusted for unobserved confounders using state beer and spirits tax rates, zip code-level outlet and bar density, and control state status as instruments. RESULTS: Based on the combined US population surveys and controlling for sociodemographics, using conventional logistic regression, the odds ratios of injury from an average volume of 1, 2, and 5 drinks per day were 1.12 [95% confidence interval: 1.02, 1.24], 1.10 [1.00, 1.22], and 1.04 [0.88, 1.22], respectively. These compared with 1.67 [1.00, 2.78], 2.38 [0.87, 6.54], and 6.98 [0.57, 85.89] using the IV method. The proportion of injury attributed to alcohol also increased in magnitude, from 6.2% [0.3%, 11.9%] using the conventional approach to 17.9% [8.2%, 27.7%] using the IV method. CONCLUSIONS: The association between injury and chronic alcohol consumption may be confounded by unobserved factors, resulting in a possible downward bias of the risk estimate.

A Case-CrossovEr study deSign to inform tailored interventions to prevent disease progression in Acute Pancreatitis (ACCESS-AP) - study design and population.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Alcohol is the most common etiology of recurrent acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. The extent and timing of drinking that increases the transient risk of acute pancreatitis is yet unknown. METHODS: We designed a case-crossover study to determine the effective hazard period of drinking in relation to episodes of pancreatitis. We aim to evaluate the dose-response relationship between excess drinking and pancreatitis comparing the extent of drinking during case and control periods from the same individual. We aim to recruit 160 patients hospitalized with acute pancreatitis, whose AUDIT-C score reaches 3 or higher. Interviews of each enrolled patient to define their 15-day history of alcohol consumption employing the timeline follow-back method. Long-term drinking and smoking will be investigated as modifiers of the impact of short-term excess drinking. Patients are followed-up for evaluation of usual alcohol consumption during asymptomatic periods following the index hospitalization. Blood and urine specimens are collected while the patients are hospitalized and during a standard-of-care follow-up visit. RESULTS: We have recruited 31 patients to date, with a median age of 33 years. Females and non-White participants make up 26% and 35% of the enrolled population, respectively. Forty-eight % of patients have had a prior history of acute pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study will shed light on the impact of short-term changes in drinking on triggering acute pancreatitis. It will provide data on other covarying factors of drinking and behaviors changes after acute pancreatitis.

Road traffic injuries and substance use among emergency department patients in the Dominican Republic and Peru.

OBJECTIVE: To report demographic and substance use characteristics and risk of road traffic injury (RTI) from alcohol use, cannabis use, and combined use in a sample of emergency department patients from two countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. METHODS: A cross-sectional study in which patients 18 years and older admitted within six hours of suffering an RTI to one emergency department in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic (n = 501) and in Lima, Peru (n = 431) were interviewed. Case-crossover analysis, based on self-reported use prior to the RTI, was used to analyze risk from alcohol, cannabis, and co-use. RESULTS: Overall, 15.3% reported alcohol use prior to the event and 2.5% cannabis use. Drivers using alcohol only were over twice as likely to have an RTI (OR = 2.46, p < 0.001), and nearly eight times more likely if using both alcohol and cannabis (OR = 6.89, p < 0.01), but risk was not elevated for cannabis alone. Significant differences were not found for passengers or pedestrians. CONCLUSIONS: Risk of RTI for drivers in these two samples is significantly elevated from alcohol use, and more so for co-use with cannabis. Differences between the two countries underscore the need for similar data from the region to determine risk of RTI from substance use, including risk for passengers and pedestrians. Data suggest that alcohol contributes significantly to the burden of RTI, which calls for more stringent enforcement of alcohol control policy related to drink driving in the region.

Shifting patterns of disparities in unintentional injury mortality rates in the United States, 1999-2016.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze changes in racial/ethnic disparities for unintentional injury mortality from 1999-2016. METHODS: Mortality data are from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) for all unintentional injuries, analyzed separately by injury cause (motor vehicle accidents [MVA], poisonings, other unintentional) for white,black, and Hispanic populations within four age groups: 15-19, 20-34, 35-54, 55-74 for males and for females. RESULTS: Rates across race/ethnic groups varied by gender, age and cause of injury. Unintentional injury mortality showed a recent increase for both males and females, which was more marked among males and for poisoning in all race/ethnic groups of both genders. Whites showed highest rates of poisoning mortality and the steepest increase for both genders, except for black males aged 55-74. MVA mortality also showed an increase for all race/ethnic groups, with a sharper rise among blacks, while Hispanics had lower rates than either whites or blacks. Rates for other unintentional injury mortality were similar across groups except for white women over 55, for whom rates were elevated. CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest while mortality from unintentional injury related to MVA and poisoning is on the rise for both genders and in most age groups, blacks compared to whites and Hispanics may be suffering a disproportionate burden of mortality related to MVAs and to poisonings among those over 55, which may be related to substance use.

The Early Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Stress and Addictive Behaviors in an Alcohol-Consuming Student Population in France.

Background: This study evaluated factors linked with perceived stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown and addictive behaviors prior to and during lockdown in a sample of students who indicated engaging in alcohol consumption behaviors before lockdown. Methods: Cross-sectional study. French students from four universities participated in this study, and 2,760 students reported alcohol use. During the first week of lockdown, students reported their perceived levels of stress regarding COVID-19. Substance use and addictive behaviors were reported before and during lockdown, and media exposure, demographical, living conditions, and environmental stressors were reported during lockdown. Results: Women reported greater levels of stress (95% CI: 1.18 to 1.93, p < 0.001). Highly-stressed students also report less social support (95% CI: -1.04 to -0.39, p < 0.001) and were more likely to worry about the lockdown (95% CI: 0.27 to -0.65, p < 0.001). Alcohol-related problemswere more prevalent among the most stressed students (95% CI: 0.02 to 0.09, p = 0.004) as well as eating problems (95% CI: 0.04 to 0.36, p = 0.016) and problematic internet use (95% CI, 0.06 to 0.14, p < 0.001). Students reporting the highest levels of stress also indicated more compulsive eating during the previous seven days (95% CI, 0.21 to 1.19, p = 0.005). Conclusions: The level of stress was strongly related to four categories of variables: (i) intrinsic characteristics, (ii) addictive behaviors before lockdown, (iii) lockdown-specific conditions, and (iv) addictive behaviors during the lockdown. Several variables linked to COVID-19 were not directly linked with perceived stress, while perceived stress was found to correlate with daily life organization-related uncertainty and anticipated consequences of lockdown. Importantly, social support seems to be a protective factor on high level of stress.

Trends and disparities in American Indian/Alaska Native unintentional injury mortality from 1999 to 2016.

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol and drug use are significant problems in the US, and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities and individuals are known to be among the most affected. This study evaluates disparities in unintentional injury mortality causes since 1999. METHODS: Analyses in 2020 of unintentional injury mortality rate disparities between AI/ANs and white population over the 1999-2016 period with attention to motor vehicle crashes, alcohol poisoning, drug poisoning and all other cause types. Rates in each of the 10 states with the largest AI/AN populations were also investigated to account for geographical concentration. RESULTS: Motor vehicle mortality rates declined for both AI/AN and white groups, but a large racial disparity was maintained. Conversely, poisoning mortality rates rose substantially in both groups, with a jump in rates in 2007 due to a coding change, resulting in a large disparity that was maintained through 2016. Comparison of alcohol and drug poisonings showed that the AI/AN alcohol poisoning rate was about eight times the white rate, whereas drug poisoning rates were similar. For 'all other' unintentional injuries, the highest rates were seen for AI/AN men, with rates generally rising over the study period. State-specific analyses found substantial variation in AI/AN rates, with few or no disparities in New York and Texas. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate substantial and persisting disparities in unintentional injury mortality, with especially large differences in alcohol poisoning. The absence of disparities in New York and Texas suggest the importance of situational factors.

Shifting patterns of disparities in unintentional injury mortality rates in the United States, 1999-2016 / Tendencias cambiantes en las disparidades en las tasas de mortalidad por traumatismo no intencional en Estados Unidos entre 1999 y 2016 / Mudança nos padrões de disparidade nas taxas de mortalidade por lesões acidentais nos Estados Unidos, 1999-2016

ABSTRACT Objectives. To analyze changes in racial/ethnic disparities for unintentional injury mortality from 1999-2016. Methods. Mortality data are from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) for all unintentional injuries, analyzed separately by injury cause (motor vehicle accidents [MVA], poisonings, other unintentional) for white,black, and Hispanic populations within four age groups: 15-19, 20-34, 35-54, 55-74 for males and for females. Results. Rates across race/ethnic groups varied by gender, age and cause of injury. Unintentional injury mortality showed a recent increase for both males and females, which was more marked among males and for poisoning in all race/ethnic groups of both genders. Whites showed highest rates of poisoning mortality and the steepest increase for both genders, except for black males aged 55-74. MVA mortality also showed an increase for all race/ethnic groups, with a sharper rise among blacks, while Hispanics had lower rates than either whites or blacks. Rates for other unintentional injury mortality were similar across groups except for white women over 55, for whom rates were elevated. Conclusions. Data suggest while mortality from unintentional injury related to MVA and poisoning is on the rise for both genders and in most age groups, blacks compared to whites and Hispanics may be suffering a disproportionate burden of mortality related to MVAs and to poisonings among those over 55, which may be related to substance use.

RESUMEN Objetivos. Analizar cambios en las disparidades por raza y grupo étnico en materia de mortalidad por traumatismos no intencionales de 1999 al 2016. Métodos. Los datos de mortalidad de todos los traumatismos no intencionales provienen del Centro Nacional de Estadísticas Sanitarias y se han analizado por separado por causa de traumatismo (colisiones automovilísticas, intoxicaciones y otras causas no intencionales) y por población blanca, negra e hispana, tanto en hombres como en mujeres, en cuatro grupos etarios: de 15 a 19, de 20 a 34, de 35 a 54 y de 55 a 74. Resultados. Las tasas en todos los grupos raciales y étnicos variaron según el sexo, la edad y la causa del traumatismo. La mortalidad por traumatismo no intencional mostró un aumento reciente tanto en hombres como en mujeres, que fue más marcado en el caso de los hombres, y por intoxicación en todos los grupos raciales y étnicos de ambos sexos. La población blanca mostró las tasas más elevadas de mortalidad por intoxicación y el incremento más acentuado en ambos sexos, con excepción de los hombres negros entre 55 y 74 años de edad. La mortalidad por colisión automovilística también registró un aumento en todos los grupos raciales y étnicos, con un incremento mayor en la población negra, mientras que la población hispana mostró tasas inferiores que la blanca o la negra. Las tasas de mortalidad por otros traumatismos no intencionales fueron similares en todos grupos salvo en el caso de las mujeres blancas de más de 55 años, cuyas tasas mostraron un incremento. Conclusiones. Los datos indican que, si bien la mortalidad por traumatismo no intencional relacionada con colisiones automovilísticas e intoxicación está en alza en ambos sexos y en la mayoría de los grupos etarios, la población negra en comparación con la blanca y la hispana puede estar presentando una carga desproporcionada de mortalidad relacionada con colisiones automovilísticas e intoxicación en personas mayores de 55, que podrían estar relacionado con el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas.

RESUMO Objetivos. Analisar as mudanças nas disparidades étnico-raciais da mortalidade por lesões acidentais no período 1999-2016. Métodos. Os dados de mortalidade foram obtidos do Centro Nacional de Estatísticas de Saúde (NCHS) dos Estados Unidos para todos os tipos de lesões acidentais e analisados em separado por causa de lesão (acidentes de trânsito de veículos a motor, envenenamento/intoxicação e outros tipos de acidentes) em grupos populacionais de brancos, negros e hispânicos de ambos os sexos divididos em quatro faixas etárias: 15-19, 20-34, 35-54 e 55-74 anos. Resultados. As taxas de mortalidade nos grupos étnico-raciais variaram segundo sexo, idade e causa de lesão. Houve um aumento recente na mortalidade por lesões acidentais nos sexos masculino e feminino, sendo mais acentuado no sexo masculino e por envenenamento/intoxicação em todos os grupos étnicos-raciais de ambos os sexos. A população branca apresentou as maiores taxas de mortalidade por envenenamento/intoxicação e o aumento mais acentuado na mortalidade em ambos os sexos, exceto por homens negros de 55-74 anos. Ocorreu também um aumento da mortalidade por acidentes de trânsito de veículos a motor em todos os grupos étnico-raciais, sendo mais acentuado em negros, e a mortalidade na população hispânica foi menor que em brancos ou negros. As taxas de mortalidade por outros tipos de acidentes foram semelhantes em todos os grupos, exceto em mulheres brancas acima de 55 anos que apresentaram taxas elevadas. Conclusões. Os dados analisados indicam que, apesar de a mortalidade por lesões acidentais por acidentes de trânsito de veículos a motor e envenenamento/intoxicação estar aumentando em ambos os sexos e na maioria das faixas etárias, em comparação a brancos e hispânicos, os negros possivelmente sofrem um ônus desproporcional de mortalidade por acidentes de trânsito e envenenamento/intoxicação no grupo acima de 55 anos que pode estar associada ao uso de substâncias químicas.

Road traffic injuries and substance use among emergency department patients in the Dominican Republic and Peru / Traumatismos causados por el tránsito y consumo de sustancias psicoactivas en pacientes del departamento de urgencias en Perú y República Dominicana / Lesões por acidentes de trânsito e uso de substâncias químicas em pacientes que deram entrada no setor de emergência na República Dominicana e Peru

ABSTRACT Objective. To report demographic and substance use characteristics and risk of road traffic injury (RTI) from alcohol use, cannabis use, and combined use in a sample of emergency department patients from two countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Methods. A cross-sectional study in which patients 18 years and older admitted within six hours of suffering an RTI to one emergency department in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic (n = 501) and in Lima, Peru (n = 431) were interviewed. Case-crossover analysis, based on self-reported use prior to the RTI, was used to analyze risk from alcohol, cannabis, and co-use. Results. Overall, 15.3% reported alcohol use prior to the event and 2.5% cannabis use. Drivers using alcohol only were over twice as likely to have an RTI (OR = 2.46, p < 0.001), and nearly eight times more likely if using both alcohol and cannabis (OR = 6.89, p < 0.01), but risk was not elevated for cannabis alone. Significant differences were not found for passengers or pedestrians. Conclusions. Risk of RTI for drivers in these two samples is significantly elevated from alcohol use, and more so for co-use with cannabis. Differences between the two countries underscore the need for similar data from the region to determine risk of RTI from substance use, including risk for passengers and pedestrians. Data suggest that alcohol contributes significantly to the burden of RTI, which calls for more stringent enforcement of alcohol control policy related to drink driving in the region.

RESUMEN Objetivo. Presentar las características demográficas y de consumo de sustancias psicoactivas y el riesgo de traumatismos causados por el tránsito debidos al consumo de alcohol, cannabis y su consumo combinado en una muestra de pacientes del departamento de urgencias de dos países de América Latina y el Caribe. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio transversal en que se entrevistaron pacientes de 18 años o más ingresados en las siguientes seis horas de haber recibido traumatismos causados por el tránsito en un departamento de urgencias en Lima (Perú) (n = 431) y en Santo Domingo (República Dominicana) (n = 501). Se empleó el análisis de cruce de casos, basado en el consumo autoinformado con anterioridad a los traumatismos causados por el tránsito, para evaluar el riesgo por consumo de alcohol, cannabis y consumo combinado. Resultados. En términos generales, 15,3% notificó consumo de alcohol con anterioridad al evento y 2,5%, consumo de cannabis. Los conductores que consumieron alcohol únicamente tuvieron más del doble de probabilidades de sufrir traumatismos causados por el tránsito (OR = 2,46, p < 0,001) y casi ocho veces más probabilidades si consumieron tanto alcohol como cannabis (OR = 6,89, p < 0,01), si bien el riesgo no fue tan elevado para el consumo único de cannabis. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en pasajeros o peatones. Conclusiones. El riesgo de sufrir traumatismos causados por el tránsito para los conductores en estas dos muestras es significativamente más elevado por el consumo de alcohol y más aún por el consumo combinado con cannabis. Las diferencias entre ambos países ponen de manifiesto la necesidad de obtener datos similares sobre la región para determinar el riesgo de sufrir traumatismos causados por el tránsito debidos al consumo de sustancias psicoactivas, así como el riesgo para pasajeros y peatones. Los datos indican que el alcohol agrava significativamente la carga de los traumatismos causados por el tránsito, lo que exige un cumplimiento más estricto de las políticas de control del alcohol relacionadas con la conducción bajo los efectos del alcohol en la región.

RESUMO Objetivo. Descrever as características demográficas e uso de substâncias químicas e o risco de lesões por acidentes de trânsito associados ao consumo de álcool, uso de cannabis (maconha) e uso combinado de álcool e cannabis em uma amostra de pacientes que deram entrada no setor de emergência em dois países da América Latina e no Caribe. Métodos. Estudo transversal em que foram entrevistados pacientes maiores de 18 anos que deram entrada no setor de emergência no espaço de seis horas após sofrerem lesões por acidentes de trânsito em Santo Domingo, na República Dominicana (n = 501), e em Lima, Peru (n = 431). Foi realizada uma análise cruzada de casos com dados obtidos do autorrelato do uso de substâncias químicas anterior ao acidente de trânsito para avaliar o risco associado ao consumo de álcool, uso de cannabis e uso combinado. Resultados. Dos pacientes entrevistados, 15,3% relataram consumo de álcool e 2,5% referiram uso de cannabis antes do acidente. Os condutores que fizeram uso de álcool tiveram uma chance duas vezes maior de ter lesões por acidente de trânsito (OR = 2,46, p < 0,001) e uma chance de cerca de oito vezes maior com o uso combinado de álcool e cannabis (OR = 6,89, p < 0,01). Porém, o risco não foi elevado com o uso somente de cannabis. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas no risco para passageiros ou pedestres. Conclusões. Verificou-se que o risco de lesões por acidentes de trânsito para os condutores nas duas amostras estudadas foi significativamente elevado com o consumo de álcool e foi ainda maior com o uso combinado de álcool e cannabis. As diferenças entre os dois países reforçam a necessidade de dados semelhantes da Região para determinar o risco de lesões por acidentes de trânsito com o uso de substâncias químicas, inclusive para determinar o risco para passageiros e pedestres. Os dados indicam que o álcool contribui significativamente à carga de lesões por acidentes de trânsito requerendo o cumprimento mais rigoroso da política de controle do consumo de álcool associado à condução de veículos na Região.

Neighborhood Context and Drug Use Among Mexican Americans on and off the U.S.-Mexico Border.

OBJECTIVE: Prior research has suggested that drug use rates may be high at the U.S.-Mexico border, but in more recent research rates varied significantly between border communities. This study reports findings on the mediating influence of neighborhood-level variables on the observed difference in past-year drug use rates between two border sites and an interior site, focusing on Mexican Americans. METHOD: Data were analyzed from the U.S.-Mexico Study on Alcohol and Related Conditions (UMSARC) on 1,345 Mexican-origin respondents ages 18-40 from the border sites of Laredo and Brownsville/McAllen compared with the nonborder site of San Antonio, separately for men and women. Neighborhood-level variables (based on census tracts and block groups) included drug availability, neighborhood insecurity, crime victimization, crime witnessing, off-premise alcohol outlet density, on-premise alcohol outlet density, percentage crossing the border more than 100 times, neighborhood disadvantage, residential stability, and percentage of White/non-Hispanic. RESULTS: When individual sociodemographic characteristics were controlled for, lower drug use among men in Brownsville/McAllen (vs. San Antonio) was partially mediated by lower drug availability and lower perceived neighborhood insecurity whereas increased drug use among women in both Laredo and Brownsville/McAllen was partially mediated by the lower proportion of White/non-Hispanic residents compared with San Antonio. CONCLUSIONS: Neighborhood-level variables partially explain the heterogeneity in drug use across sites at the U.S.-Mexico border, but different factors appear to be operating for men compared with women. These findings suggest the potential importance of addressing neighborhood factors in reducing drug-related harm at the U.S.-Mexico border.