Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Melbourne, 1960. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-125).

This quasi-experimental field study examined the efficacy of an intervention to decrease alcohol abuse by college students. The harm reduction approach states that the ultimate goal when dealing with an unsafe behavior should be abstinence, but any change in behavior in the direction of less harm is supported. This approach was used as the basis of the current research, in combination with differential reinforcement in order to reduce alcohol consumption and its behavioral outcome, blood alcohol concentration (BAC). A total of 409 male and female college students participated while in the applied setting of four fraternity parties. The study took place at two separate fraternity houses, a control fraternity and an experimental fraternity. During the intervention phase, participants with a BAC below .05 were entered into a raffle to win a cash prize. Upon entry to the intervention party, participants were given flyers announcing the raffle and contingency, and gender-specific nomograms to aid in BAC self-monitoring. Dependent measures were blood alcohol concentration measured by hand-held breathalyzers, percentage of participants below criterion BAC levels (i.e., .05 and .08), accuracy of BAC self-estimation, number of negative outcomes due to excessive alcohol consumption, number of positive outcomes due to abstinence or moderate alcohol consumption, and amount of reported fun experienced at the party. Results showed the intervention did not significantly reduce the intoxication of participants or increase the percentage of participants below criterion BAC levels. These results are best explained by a floor effect, as the experimental fraternity had a relatively low baseline BAC. The use of nomograms at the intervention party increased the accuracy of students' BAC self-estimations. Implications for nomogram use and improvements for future implementation of the incentive/reward intervention are discussed. / Master of Science

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-136). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the biggest public health problems in the United States. A number of theories exist as to why people drive after drinking, one of the dominant being that they believe that they are not legally intoxicated. The purpose of the present study is to determine if people tend to accurately estimate the number of alcoholic beverages they can consume before reaching a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent. Participants consisted of27 college students. Results showed a significant difference between the participants' estimated number of drinks and the actual number of drinks as determined by a Virtual Bar program. This virtual bar delivery system calculates BAC based on gender, weight, and number of drinks in a given time. Links to past research and theory are presented.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Statistics and Actuarial Science / Master / Master of Philosophy

INTRODUÇÃO: O consumo excessivo de álcool é considerado um grave problema de saúde pública e apontado como um importante facilitador das situações de violência, o que sugere uma forte associação entre a ingestão de bebidas alcoólicas e a vitimização por homicídio. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a associação entre o uso de álcool e a vitimização por homicídio em indivíduos autopsiados nos postos médico-legais do município de São Paulo. MÉTODOS: Dados de 2042 vítimas de homicídio no ano de 2005 foram levantados a partir dos laudos necroscópicos obtidos dos arquivos do Instituto Médico Legal de São Paulo. As informações coletadas foram: sexo, idade, grupo étnico, meio de perpetração da morte, concentração de álcool no sangue das vítimas e circunstâncias dos homicídios, como o local, data e horário da morte. RESULTADOS: O álcool estava presente em amostras de sangue de 43% das vítimas, com uma média de alcoolemia de 1,55 ± 0,86 g/l. A prevalência de alcoolemia positiva foi maior entre os homens (44,1%) do que entre as mulheres (26,6%), p<0,01. As armas de fogo causaram a maior parte das mortes (78,6%) e o consumo de álcool foi maior entre as vítimas de homicídio cujo meio utilizado foi a arma branca (p<0,01). Houve uma maior proporção de vítimas alcoolizadas aos finais de semana do que durante os dias da semana (56,4 e 38,5%, respectivamente; p<0,01) e foi encontrada uma correlação positiva entre as taxas de homicídio e a média de concentração de álcool no sangue para a área Central da cidade (rs=0,90; p<0,01). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados demonstram a magnitude da influência do álcool como fator de contribuição para a vitimização por homicídio no maior centro urbano da América do Sul, fornecendo subsídios para políticas públicas e estudos futuros com o objetivo de prevenir os homicídios e a violência relacionada ao consumo de álcool. / INTRODUCTION: The excessive consumption of alcohol is a serious public health issue and a major factor in triggering violent situations, which suggests a strong association between alcohol ingestion and becoming a victim of homicide. The aim of this study was to assess the association between alcohol use and victimization by homicide in individuals autopsied at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Sao Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Data from 2,042 victims of homicides in 2005 were obtained from medical examiner reports. The victims gender, age, ethnicity, and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) information were collected. The method of death and homicide circumstances, as well as the date, time and place of death were also studied. RESULTS: Alcohol was detected in blood samples of 43% of the victims, and mean BAC levels were 1.55 ± 0.86 g/L. The prevalence of positive BAC levels was higher among men (44.1%) than women (26.6%), p<0.01. Firearms caused most of the deaths (78.6%) and alcohol consumption was greater among victims of homicide by sharp weapons (p<0.01). A greater proportion of victims with positive BAC were killed on weekends compared to weekdays (56.4 and 38.5%, respectively; p<0.01), and the correlation between homicide rates and the average BAC for the central area of the city was positive (rs=0.90; p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight alcohol as a contributing factor for homicide victimization in the greatest urban center in South America, supporting public strategies and future research aiming to prevent homicides and violence related to alcohol consumption.

published_or_final_version / Statistics and Actuarial Science / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

No description available.

INTRODUÇÃO: O consumo excessivo de álcool é considerado um grave problema de saúde pública e apontado como um importante facilitador das situações de violência, o que sugere uma forte associação entre a ingestão de bebidas alcoólicas e a vitimização por homicídio. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a associação entre o uso de álcool e a vitimização por homicídio em indivíduos autopsiados nos postos médico-legais do município de São Paulo. MÉTODOS: Dados de 2042 vítimas de homicídio no ano de 2005 foram levantados a partir dos laudos necroscópicos obtidos dos arquivos do Instituto Médico Legal de São Paulo. As informações coletadas foram: sexo, idade, grupo étnico, meio de perpetração da morte, concentração de álcool no sangue das vítimas e circunstâncias dos homicídios, como o local, data e horário da morte. RESULTADOS: O álcool estava presente em amostras de sangue de 43% das vítimas, com uma média de alcoolemia de 1,55 ± 0,86 g/l. A prevalência de alcoolemia positiva foi maior entre os homens (44,1%) do que entre as mulheres (26,6%), p<0,01. As armas de fogo causaram a maior parte das mortes (78,6%) e o consumo de álcool foi maior entre as vítimas de homicídio cujo meio utilizado foi a arma branca (p<0,01). Houve uma maior proporção de vítimas alcoolizadas aos finais de semana do que durante os dias da semana (56,4 e 38,5%, respectivamente; p<0,01) e foi encontrada uma correlação positiva entre as taxas de homicídio e a média de concentração de álcool no sangue para a área Central da cidade (rs=0,90; p<0,01). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados demonstram a magnitude da influência do álcool como fator de contribuição para a vitimização por homicídio no maior centro urbano da América do Sul, fornecendo subsídios para políticas públicas e estudos futuros com o objetivo de prevenir os homicídios e a violência relacionada ao consumo de álcool. / INTRODUCTION: The excessive consumption of alcohol is a serious public health issue and a major factor in triggering violent situations, which suggests a strong association between alcohol ingestion and becoming a victim of homicide. The aim of this study was to assess the association between alcohol use and victimization by homicide in individuals autopsied at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Sao Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Data from 2,042 victims of homicides in 2005 were obtained from medical examiner reports. The victims gender, age, ethnicity, and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) information were collected. The method of death and homicide circumstances, as well as the date, time and place of death were also studied. RESULTS: Alcohol was detected in blood samples of 43% of the victims, and mean BAC levels were 1.55 ± 0.86 g/L. The prevalence of positive BAC levels was higher among men (44.1%) than women (26.6%), p<0.01. Firearms caused most of the deaths (78.6%) and alcohol consumption was greater among victims of homicide by sharp weapons (p<0.01). A greater proportion of victims with positive BAC were killed on weekends compared to weekdays (56.4 and 38.5%, respectively; p<0.01), and the correlation between homicide rates and the average BAC for the central area of the city was positive (rs=0.90; p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight alcohol as a contributing factor for homicide victimization in the greatest urban center in South America, supporting public strategies and future research aiming to prevent homicides and violence related to alcohol consumption.

No description available.