Is the deliberate self-induction of alcohol tolerance associated with negative alcohol outcomes?

Effects of alcohol sensitivity on alcohol-induced blackouts and passing out: An examination of the alcohol sensitivity questionnaire among underage drinkers

BACKGROUND

The role of alcohol sensitivity in the experience of blacking out and passing out has not been well established. Here, we examined the relation between individual differences in alcohol sensitivity (i.e., numbers of drinks required to experience various effects of alcohol) and reports of blacking out and passing out in the past year.

METHODS

Participants (925 healthy, underage college student drinkers) completed the Alcohol Sensitivity Questionnaire (ASQ) and reported on their past year blacking out and passing out experiences.

RESULTS

The fit of the ASQ's 2-factor structure was fair (CFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.09) in this sample of underage drinkers. In unadjusted models, higher ASQ scores (i.e., requiring more drinks to experience effects, indicating lower alcohol sensitivity) were associated with experiencing more blackouts (IRR = 1.68 [1.31-2.15]) and passing out (IRR = 2.25 [1.59-3.18]) in the past year. After controlling for typical consumption, however, higher ASQ scores were associated with fewer past-year blackouts (IRR = 0.76 [0.60-0.98]). Total ASQ scores moderated the relationship between typical alcohol consumption and blackout occurrence (interaction IRR = 0.96 [0.93-0.98]), but not passing out occurrence (interaction IRR = 0.95 [0.89-1.01]), with the quantity of alcohol consumed more strongly associated with blackout occurrence among higher-sensitivity than lower-sensitivity drinkers.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings are consistent with prior work suggesting that low sensitivity may act as a paradoxical risk factor for certain heavy drinking effects, contributing to higher levels of alcohol consumption and more frequent negative consequences while also conferring protection (relative to high-sensitivity peers) at a given level of alcohol exposure.

Women's Alcohol Sensitivity Predicts Alcohol-Related Regretted Sex

BACKGROUND

Low sensitivity (LS) to alcohol's acute effects is a known risk factor for heavy drinking and its negative consequences. However, LS could be protective due to LS drinkers being less impaired at a given level of consumption. Here, we tested whether LS is associated with differences in men's and women's reports of alcohol-related regretted sex.

METHODS

Eight hundred and one young adults (393 women) aged 21 to 35 (M = 23.11 years) recruited for a study of alcohol's effects on cognition completed self-report measures of alcohol sensitivity, typical alcohol use, and alcohol consequences (including regretted sex).

RESULTS

Participants whose alcohol sensitivity scores classified them as LS were more likely to experience alcohol-related regretted sex than were high-sensitivity (HS) participants. However, when controlling for typical alcohol use and experience of alcohol consequences in general, alcohol sensitivity was negatively associated with risk of alcohol-related regretted sex, but only among women.

CONCLUSIONS

At a given level of consumption, and controlling for experience of alcohol consequences other than regretted sex, reduced sensitivity to certain effects of alcohol may be a protective factor for women against risk for alcohol-related regretted sexual situations. This study provides insight on the unique risks of drinking among LS and HS women.