The association of long-term alcohol biomarkers with risk for alcohol-related injury: Implications for screening. (4th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fendrich, Michael; Berger, Lisa; Fuhrmann, Daniel
• Is Part Of: Journal of substance use. Volume 22:Number 2(2017:Apr.)
• Page Start: 232
• Page End: 235
• Publication Date: 2017-03-04
• Subjects: Alcohol -- injury -- biomarker -- college students; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Medication abuse -- Periodicals; 362.2905
• DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2016.1217090
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1465-9891

Abstract

Abstract: Alcohol misuse is a leading risk factor for serious injury and death. For those experiencing trauma in emergency care settings, recent alcohol misuse history is typically assessed via self-report measures. Since underreporting may be a problem in these settings, objective indicators like long-term biomarkers may be useful for identifying hazardous drinkers who may need intervention. Recognizing this, we investigated (1) whether hazardous drinking was linked to reports of alcohol-related injury in a probability sample of over 600 college students from a large, Midwestern, urban university; (2) whether elevated long-term biomarkers showed similar associations in the same sample. Associations derived from responses to the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-C (AUDIT-C) as well as from hair and fingernails tested for ethyl glucuronide, a direct alcohol biomarker, suggested that hazardous drinking is significantly associated with elevated risk for alcohol-related injury. Implications for screening and intervention in health care settings are discussed.