Risk Factors and Priority Populations

Traditionally some people are at a higher risk for increased alcohol consumption or for driving impaired, depending on numerous factors ranging from family background to community environments and disposition. This in no way means that people fitting such descriptions are sure to abuse alcohol or drive impaired, but it's important to know the warning signs if you or someone you know is at risk. This way, you can make better and more conscious decisions in preventing negative behaviors and avoiding the consequences.

At the same time, studies have shown that there are factors that can help to ward off irresponsible drinking attitudes and behaviors. Having these factors in your favor is not fool proof though. Everyone, despite community, family, personality, etc., needs to be aware of the risks and make intelligent decisions for themselves.

• Statistically, men are more likely than women to abuse alcohol, possibly even at a ratio of 5:1, however the gap is increasingly narrowing. ⁴
  
  
• Whites and Native Americans are known for more commonly abusing alcohol, though people from all races do so. ⁴
  
  
• Rates of alcohol problems are highest among young people ages 18-29. ⁵
  
  
• Young adults with parents who have drinking problems or addictions are much more likely to initiate drinking during adolescence and to abuse alcohol, become dependent on it or develop alcoholism. ¹ A recent study found that about 25% of sons of alcoholic fathers abuse or become dependent on alcohol or develop alcoholism. ³
  
  
• Parents' drinking behavior and favorable attitudes about drinking have been positively associated with adolescents' initiating and continuing drinking. ¹
  
  
• Children who were warned about alcohol by their parents and children who reported being closer to their parents were less likely to start drinking. ¹
  
  
• Lack of parental support, monitoring, and communication have been significantly related to frequency of drinking, heavy drinking, and drunkenness among adolescents. Harsh, inconsistent discipline and hostility or rejection toward children have also been found to significantly predict adolescent drinking and alcohol-related problems. ¹
  
  
• Peer drinking and peer acceptance of drinking have been associated with adolescent drinking. ¹
  
  
• Positive alcohol-related expectancies have been identified as risk factors for adolescent drinking. Positive expectancies about alcohol have been found to increase with age and to predict the onset of drinking and problem drinking among adolescents. ¹

General Risk Factors:
(taken from http://www.hawaii.gov/health/resource/adad/adprvpri.htm):

Community Environment:
Living in an economically depressed area with:

• High unemployment
• Inadequate housing
• High prevalence of crime
• High prevalence of illegal drug use

Minority status involving:

• Racial discrimination
• Culture devalued in American society
• Differing generational levels of assimilation
• Cultural and language barriers to getting adequate health care and other social services
• Low educational levels
• Low achievement expectations from society

Family Environment:

• Alcohol and other drug dependency of parent(s)
• Parental abuse and neglect of children
• Antisocial, sexually deviant, or mentally ill parents
• High levels of family stress, including financial strain
• Large, overcrowded family
• Unemployed or underemployed parents
• Parents with little education
• Socially isolated parents
• Single female parent without family/other support
• Family instability
• High level of marital and family conflict and/or family violence
• Parental absenteeism due to separation, divorce, or death
• Lack of family rituals
• Inadequate parenting and little parent/child contact
• Frequent family moves

Early Behavior Problems:

• Aggressiveness combined with shyness
• Aggressiveness
• Decreased social inhibition
• Emotional problems
• Inability to express feelings appropriately
• Hypersensitivity
• Inability to cope with stress
• Problems with relationships
• Cognitive problems
• Low self-esteem
• Difficult temperament
• Overreacting

Adolescent Problems:

• School failure and dropout
• At risk of dropping out
• Delinquency
• Violent acts
• Gateway drug use
• Other drug use and abuse
• Early unprotected sexual activity
• Teen pregnancy/parenthood
• Unemployment or underemployment
• At risk of being unemployed
• Mental health problems
• Suicidal

Negative Adolescent Behavior and Experiences:

• Lack of bonding to society (family, school, and community)
• Rebelliousness and nonconformity
• Resistance to authority
• Strong need for independence
• Cultural alienation
• Fragile ego
• Feelings of failure
• Present versus future orientation
• Hopelessness
• Lack of self-confidence
• Low self-esteem
• Inability to form positive close relationships
• Vulnerability to negative peer pressure

References:

1. What You Need to Know About. Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. Retrieved on November 25, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://alcoholism.about.com/library/blnaa37.htm

2. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Impaired Driving. Retrieved on November 25, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/drving.htm

3. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Youth Fatal Crash and Alcohol Facts. Retrieved on November 25, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/alcohol/2002YFCAF/youthfspa.html

4. Mental Health Channel. Alcohol Abuse and Dependence. Retrieved on November 26, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.mentalhealthchannel.net/alcohol/riskfactors.shtml

5. Health A to Z. Risk Factors for Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse. Retrieved on November 26, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/dc/caz/suba/alco/risks.html

6. Hawaii Department of Health Public Resources. Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Retrieved on November 26, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.hawaii.gov/health/resource/adad/adprvpri.htm

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