High Opportunity Cost Demand as an Indicator of Weekday Drinking and Distinctly Severe Alcohol Problems: A Behavioral Economic Analysis. (29th October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Joyner, Keanan J.; Meshesha, Lidia Z.; Dennhardt, Ashley A.; Borsari, Brian; Martens, Matthew P.; Murphy, James G.
• Is Part Of: Alcoholism. Volume 43:Number 12(2019)
• Page Start: 2607
• Page End: 2619
• Publication Date: 2019-10-29
• Subjects: Behavioral Economics -- Alcohol Demand -- Behavioral Allocation Disorder -- Alcohol -- Young Adult Drinking; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoolisme; Electronic journals; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.861005
• DOI: 10.1111/acer.14206
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-6008

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: Behavioral economic theory views addiction as a reinforcer pathology characterized by excessive demand for drugs relative to alternatives. Complementary to this theory, Lamb and Ginsburg (Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 164, 2018, 62) describe addiction as a behavioral allocation disorder and predict that decisions to drink under increasingly stringent constraints are a central indicator of addiction. This study used a modified demand‐curve paradigm to examine alcohol demand in the context of a next‐day contingency (high opportunity cost demand) as a specific indicator of a severe pattern of alcohol problems. Methods: Participants were 370 undergraduates (61.1% female, 86.5% white, M age = 18.8) reporting multiple past‐month heavy drinking episodes (5/4 drinks per occasion for men/women) who completed 2 versions of an alcohol purchase task (APT), along with measures of past‐month alcohol use and problems. In 1 APT (low opportunity cost), students imagined they had no next‐day responsibilities, and in the other APT (high opportunity cost), they imagined having a 10:00 am test the next day. Item‐response theory analyses were used to determine mild and severe alcohol problems from the Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire (Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 67, 2006, 169), and the most and least severe binge drinking days throughout the week. Results: Low opportunity cost demand ( β = 0.15, p = 0.02) significantly predicted beyond high opportunity cost demand for the least severe problems, and high opportunity cost demand ( β = 0.17, p = 0.009) significantly predicted beyond low opportunity cost demand for the most severe problems. Similarly, low opportunity cost demand ( β = 0.26, p < 0.001) was more highly associated with weekend drinking, whereas high opportunity cost demand ( β = 0.21, p = 0.001) was more highly associated with weekday drinking. Conclusions: The current results suggest high opportunity cost alcohol demand is a distinct marker of severe alcohol problems among college student heavy drinkers. Abstract : People normatively reduce their drinking in instances involving an opportunity cost. Desire for alcohol under the presence/absence of an opportunity cost can be probed using an 'alcohol purchase task', which involves hypothetical alcohol consumption across a range of prices. This study found that people generally desired alcohol less in the presence of an opportunity cost, but individuals whose desire for alcohol was modulated least by the opportunity cost specifically experienced more severe kinds of alcohol problems (dependence, compulsive drinking).