Search resultsBiphasic alcohol response differs in heavy versus light drinkers
Title
Biphasic alcohol response differs in heavy versus light drinkers
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2002
Authors
Journal
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
Volume
26
Issue
6
Pagination
827 - 835
Date published
2002
ISBN
01456008 (ISSN)
Keywords
Adult, Affect, alcohol, alcohol blood level, alcohol consumption, Alcohol Drinking, Alcohol Response, Alcoholism, Analysis of Variance, article, Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale, blood, clinical article, clinical trial, comparative study, controlled clinical trial, controlled study, Cortisol, drinking behavior, drug effect, Ethanol, Female, Heavy Drinker, human, Humans, hydrocortisone, male, metabolism, physiology, priority journal, psychological aspect, rating scale, risk assessment, risk factor, Risk for Alcoholism, sedation, Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
Abstract
Background: Most studies of risk factors for alcohol-related problems have focused on biological family history as a primary risk factor. However, other factors, such as early-age heavy drinking, are also risk factors for sustained or progressive heavy consumption. Little is currently known about the mechanisms underlying binge or heavy drinking. Methods: This study examined the acute subjective and objective effects of ethanol in heavy drinkers versus light drinkers. Thirty-four subjects participated in this within-subjects study consisting of three early-evening testing sessions in which subjects consumed a beverage containing either 0.8 or 0.4 g/kg ethanol or placebo. Results: Compared with lighter drinkers, heavy drinkers were more sensitive to the positive stimulant-like effects of ethanol (p < 0.05), especially during the increasing limb of the blood alcohol curve. Heavy drinkers also showed less sedation and cortisol response after alcohol than the light drinkers (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results indicate that young adult binge drinkers show a biphasic alcohol response, with heightened sensitivity to stimulant-like alcohol effects and greater tolerance to sedative alcohol effects compared with their light-drinking counterparts.