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Updated: October 16, 2011 2:48PM

Deadline for items for the Community Calendar is noon Wednesday two weeks before desired publication date. Send information on fund-raisers, clubs, lectures, community events, reunions and support groups to Community Calendar, Pioneer Press, 3701 W. Lake, Glenview IL 60026; fax it to (847) 486-7495; or e-mail it to jmolitor@pioneerlocal.com. There is no charge for publication.

Business

The Buffalo Grove Area Chamber will hold a LinkedIn 201 training session from 7:30-8:30 a.m. (during the BG Networkers meeting) Oct. 25 at the chamber office, 50 1/2 Raupp Blvd., Buffalo Grove. Michael Yublosky of JEM Web Tutors will teach how to use a profile on LinkedIn to expand one’s business network. Bring a laptop or other electronic device. Call the chamber to reserve space and to state if you are bringing a computer.

Help for the Unemployed. Harper College’s Career Stimulus program free to first-timers. Subsequent sessions $10. Memberships $85; include a year of meetings, free one-on-one sessions with Harper’s career coach, free workshops, and materials for, and admission to, an intensive Networking session. For dates visit www.harpercollege.edu.

Kingswood United Methodist Church, 401 W. Dundee Road, Buffalo Grove, offers support group for those seeking employment. Meets first, third Wednesday of month 9 a.m., room 122. www.kingswoodumc.com or (847) 398-0770.

NW Suburban Jewish Networking Group host series of professional networking and support meetings second and fourth Mondays of every month 10-11:30 a.m. Free. (847) 459-1677.

Children

Neighborhood Boys and Girls Club celebrates its 80th anniversary from 6-11 p.m. Oct. 22 at Chevy Chase Country Club, 1000 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling. Residents and members of the business community are invited to join alumni, friends and family to reminisce and pay tribute to the history of the club and to the many thousands of people whose lives have been affected by the organization. Tickets are $80 per person; and $800 per table of 10. Call (773) 463-4161 to reserve space.

Clubs

The Aviva/Lilah Hadassah Group of the North Shore Chapter will conduct an Ice Cream Social to learn about Hadassah and the work of the Aviva/Lilah Group at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Hadassah office, 3000 Dundee, Unit 313, Northbrook. Call the Hadassah North Shore office at (847) 205-1900, e-mail northshore@hadassah.org or visit www.northshore.hadassah.org for information.

Chai Group of Hadassah North Shore Chapter will conduct a Culinary Spectacular to benefit stem-cell research at Hadassah Hospital at 11:15 a.m. Oct. 26 at Ristorante Abruzzo, 483 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield. Dr. Neal Samors will give insight on restaurant leaders, chefs and food critics. A four-course lunch, mini-boutique by “The Pampered Chef,” raffles and food demonstrations will be part of the event. The minimum donation is $38. Contact the Hadassah office at (847) 205-1900, e-mail northshore@hadassah.org or go to www.northshore.hadassah.org for information.

The Na’amat Avivah Club will conduct its fourth annual Mah Jongg Tournament fund-raiser from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at The Arboretum Club, 401 W. Half Day Road, Buffalo Grove. Bring a Mah Jongg set and cards for a table. Lunch and admission is $38 per person. Raffle prizes will be awarded. Proceeds benefit women and children in Israel. To register, call Janet Reicher at (847) 392-6405.

The Garden Club of Inverness regularly meets 9:30 a.m. on third Thursday of the month, September-November and January-April, at All Saints Lutheran Church in Palatine. All area gardeners welcome. Call Betty Ann (847) 358-8438 or visit www.gardenclubofinverness.org.

Community

Career Resource Center October calendar of events is at http://careerresourcecenter.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Oct.2.pdf

Village Hall (lower level) is accepting old batteries for recycling. Batteries that will be accepted are: Alkaline: AA, AAA, C, D and 9V. Rechargeable batteries accepted are: NiCd, NiMh, lithium ion and lithium polymer. Before dropping off rechargeable batteries, tape the contact points on each battery or place them in individual self-locking plastic bags to avoid sparks. For information, go to www.comed.com/sites/customerservice/Pages/Construction.aspx

Learn about disability policy and community issues with Robin Jones, director of the Great Lakes Americans with Disabilities Act and Accessible Information Technology Center instructor at the University of Illinois – Chicago at 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at Buffalo Grove Village Hall, 50 Raupp Blvd. The program is open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

School District 103 sponsors its 23rd annual Senior Citizens’ Day from 1:15-2:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at Daniel Wright Junior High School, 1370 Riverwoods Road, Lincolnshire. Members of the District 103 community and surrounding area are invited to attend. Afternoon performances will be given by the school’s music students. Refreshments will be served. Members of the Daniel Wright Junior High School Show Choir, Band, Chorus and Orchestra will perform. Questions about Senior Citizens’ Day may be addressed to Nancy Alban at (847) 295-1560 or nalban@district103.k12.il.us

Stevenson High School Children’s Theater performance of “Darius the Dragon” will be held from 1-3 p.m. Oct. 23 in the West Auditorium of the school. All seats are $5

Link Together is a coalition dedicated to promoting healthy communities in the Wheeling/Buffalo Grove High School area. If you or someone you know is passionate about working toward being a drug-free community, contact Wendy Prado at (847) 353-1710. The next coalition meeting is from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Oct. 26 at OMNI Youth Services building, 1111 W. Lake Cook Road, Buffalo Grove.

Grove United Soccer Association will conduct tryouts for boys and girls ages 6-14 on Oct. 21 at 4:30 p.m. at Willow Stream Park. Tryouts for high school boys takes place at 77 p.m. Oct. 23 at Vernon Township Park, 3050 N. Main St., Buffalo Grove.

Fund-raiser

On Oct. 21, a fund-raiser is being held at Nibbles Play Cafe, 13 Huntington Lane, Wheeling, to benefit the La Leche League of Rolling Meadows. The event is open to all families in search of support and information about breast-feeding. The child-friendly event includes a dinner buffet for adults, children’s meals, play time for young children, and a visiting “Ninja.” Children are encouraged to come in Halloween costumes. The event will be held from 5:30-8 p.m. and is $16 per adult, $8 for first child and $4 for additional children. Raffle tickets are $2. For information, contact Stephanie Sutton at (847) 577-2048.

The Citizens for Conservation has produced a calendar with photographs of CFC properties, as well as resident wildflowers and birds. CFC members took the photographs, all of which demonstrate the health and diversity of the ecosystems on CFC’s preserves. The card-stock paper of the 8.5” x 11” calendar allows page-turning and hangs flat to show the monthly images and calendar grid with CFC events, like the Spring Native Plant Sale. The calendar is available for $20. A customized version can make a gift for family members. A custom version can feature birthdays, anniversaries and events with personal pictures and text. Cost is $40 for the first copy and $30 for each subsequent copy. Contact Jim Bodkin at (847) 382-7934 or jrbodkin@comcast.net for information. The standard calendar is available for sale at the CFC office. Call (847) 382-7283 to reserve a copy. Mailing arrangements will be made for anyone unable to pick one up from the office. All purchases are tax-deductible.

Page it Forward: Lake County’s Biggest Book Drive. Support Page it Forward at www.facebook.com/pageitforward. There is an option to donate four books toward goal of 100,000 books with Text2Give. Text the word PAGE to 85944 and reply with the word ‘YES’ to confirm your $10 donation to Page it Forward. www.liveunitedlakecounty.org/pageitforward. A current list of drop off sites found at: www.liveunitedlakecounty.org/donatebooks

Morton Grove Group of Hadassah North Shore Chapter hosts Adopt-A-Patient fund-raiser to raise funds for an orphaned 13-year-old boy, who has been diagnosed with a cancer. The group wants to help him and others with medical expenses to cover treatments/necessary care. Donations go to the Moshe Sharett Institute of Oncology at Hadassah-University Hospital in Jerusalem. Call Hadassah North Shore Office (847) 205-1900, e-mail northshore@hadassah.org or visit www.northshore.hadassah.org.

Library

A group of women authors from publisher Simon & Schuster head a panel discussion about real-life concerns and how they inform the creation of fiction. “Women Writers on Women’s Issues: Author Panel & Afternoon Tea” will take place from 2-4 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Arboretum Club, 401 Half Day Road, Buffalo Grove. The event is free and open to the public. It features four novelists — young adult author Ellen Hopkins (Triangles, her first adult novel, which is written in verse) speaking on mid-life crisis); Amy Hatvany (Best Kept Secret) on alcoholism; Lisa Tucker (Winters in Bloom) on parenting; and Sarah Pekkanen (Skipping a Beat) on marriage. Door prizes and giveaways include advance reader’s copies of other Simon & Schuster titles and a group conference call with author Sarah Pekkanen for your book club or writer’s group. Only individuals who register in advance are eligible for the drawings. Tea service and light refreshments are included with registration. Books will be available for purchase and signing, courtesy of Lake Forest Book Store. To register, call (224) 543-1485 or register online at http://bit.ly/books-tea.

Vernon Area Public Library District programs are free and open to all, unless otherwise indicated. Register for programs online at http://calendar.vapld.info, by telephone at (224) 543-1485 (adult and teen programs) or (224) 543-1486 (youth programs), or in person at the library at 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire.

The Friends of the Vernon Area Public Library’s semi-annual Used Book Sale is held Oct. 21–23 and Oct. 29. Fiction and nonfiction titles, children’s books, CDs, DVDs, books on tape and special collection items available at sale. No fee to enter. Sale opens to the public 6 p.m. Oct. 21. On “Bargain Sunday,” Oct. 23, all remaining items half-price. On “Box Sale Saturday,” Oct. 29, remaining items sold for $10 per box.

Lake County Discovery Museum: During October, seniors, 62 years old and older, admitted free. Contact Ghida Neukirch (847) 459-2518, or e-mail gneukirch@vbg.org

The Schwaben Soccer Club, in Buffalo Grove, invites high school boys and girls to travel tryouts 3 p.m. Oct. 23 on the east fields. For tryout schedule, check www.schwabensoccer.com or contact Thomas Gansauge at thomasgansauge@hotmail.com.

Trick Or Treat Hours: Oct. 31, 2-7 p.m.

Volunteers needed for a touring art exhibit in Long Grove once a week, once every other week, or once a month for duration of exhibit to watch over the art and provide information to visitors. Volunteer shifts are 4 or 8 hour shifts. Contact Leah Maxon at leahmaxon@greencourtepartners.com

School District 21 needs school supplies for its low-income families. If you have any supplies you are able to donate, bring them to the District Administration Center, 999 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling between 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Kids: Morning Matinee – Mo Willems Film Fest 10 a.m. Oct. 22. Enjoy short films of Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny, and other favorites. No registration required. For kids ages 2-6.

Movie: Bridesmaids (R) 2 p.m. Oct. 22. Popcorn served.

Teens: Young Adult author Ellen Hopkins 7-9 p.m. Oct. 24 at Stevenson High School – West Auditorium, 1 Stevenson Drive, Lincolnshire. Author Ellen Hopkins reads from her new release for young adults, Perfect. Books available for pre-order and signing through Library and Stevenson High School Information and Learning Center. Books available for purchase at event. Event is free; open to all, registration required.

Henna for Teens 7 p.m. Oct. 24. Teens learn about traditional Mehndi (henna) history and create a temporary tattoo.

Preschool Storytime 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. Oct. 27. Ready your future reader with weekly stories, songs, and movement that lay a foundation for literacy skills. No registration required. For children ages 3-5.

Kids: Write Away! Children’s Writing Workshop. Grades 3-4 at 4:30 p.m., grades 5-8 at 7 p.m. Oct. 25.

Kids: Science Sleuths 4:30 p.m., Oct. 26. Stories, films, and hands-on science experiments for kids in grades 2-3.

Kids: Preschool Storytime 10 a.m. or 2 p.m., Oct. 27. Ready your future reader with weekly stories, songs, and movement that lay a foundation for literacy skills. No registration required. For children ages 3-5.

Kids: Scary Stories 7 p.m., Oct. 27. Spooky tales for kids in grades 3-8.

Indian Trails Library, (847) 459-4100, www.indiantrailslibrary.org. Library staff may not give out library-card numbers. Notify library staff if your library card is missing. A $1 fee is required to replace damaged, lost or stolen library cards. Programs require registration unless otherwise noted.

Adult Programs

Friends’ Used Book Sale – Oct. 21-23. Preview sale Friday, 5-8:30 p.m, Friday preview admission free to members only, (memberships are $3 for individual, $6 for family and available at the door). Free admission Oct. 22, from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; and Oct. 23, from noon to 3 p.m. A limited amount of audiovisual materials offered. On Sunday, most books are included in a $3 per bag sale.

Ghost Hunting Techniques on Video: 7 p.m., Oct. 24. Celebrate Halloween when Dale Kaczmarek, author of Field Guide to Ghost Hunting Techniques, Windy-City Ghosts, A Field Guide to Spirit Photography, and Illuminating the Darkness: The Mystery of Spook Lights, presents a PowerPoint presentation of some of the Ghost Research Society’s best evidence of America’s most haunted sites. Sites include Moundsville and Mansfield Prison, both now abandoned penitentiaries; the Booth House in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia; Havencrest Castle in Savannah, Illinois; Lincoln Theater in Decatur; Illinois; Cheney House in Jerseyville; Illinois; Mineral Springs Hotel in Alton; Illinois; an abandoned house in Bristow, Virginia; and a few private local homes. Registration required.

Tribute to Female Legends (Impressions): 2 p.m., Oct. 25. Hear the voices of Marilyn Monroe, Carol Channing, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Liza Minelli, Carol Channing, and many more as singing talent and impressionist Diane Noe does perfect imitations with her voice. Registration required.

Computer Instruction: Microsoft Excel: 7 p.m., Oct. 25. Hands-on class covers this program used to compute budgets, evaluate purchases, and compile statistics. Learn how to format a spreadsheet and apply simple formulas. Registration required.

Guided Meditation with Om Johari: 1 p.m., Oct. 26. No registration required.

Poetic License: 7:30 p.m., Oct. 26. A supportive writer’s group specifically for poets. Members share creative ideas, learn about publishing markets, engage in writing exercises, and read poems aloud. Registration required.

Sunshine Water: Vocal and Instrumental by Marcy Novit: 2 p.m., Oct. 27, accompanied by guitar, banjo, and bass, Novit sings a mix of her original music, folk songs, and old time favorites. Registration required.

Computer Instruction: Organizing Your Files: 2 p.m. Oct. 27, in hands-on class. Learn how to create, name, and store information so that it can be instantly retrieved. Registration required.

Great Discussion Group: 7 p.m., Oct. 27, an informative discussion on current world, national, and local events led by Jim Bernard. No cost or materials needed. Bring an open mind and an opinion. Registration required.

Loading up on Library Downloads! 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Oct. 29. Library District provides books, audiobooks, movies, and music to download to your favorite device! Learn how to put books on your eReader, music, or put an audiobook on your MP3, or any place else you might want to read, view, or listen. Staff available to share the potential of the OverDrive (Digital Books) and Freegal (online music) collections! No registration required for this drop-in program!

Just in Time for Halloween – They’re Back! – The Those Were The Days Radio Players: 7 p.m., Oct. 31, for an evening of chills and excitement with the best and scariest of old time radio! Registration required.

Youth Programs

Children’s Used Book Sale: 5-8:30 p.m., Oct. 21; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Oct., 22; Noon to 3 p.m., Oct. 23: Books on sale for children of all age levels. Most books sell for 25 cents. Sunday there is a $3 per bag special.

Teen Programs

CSI: Missing Person: 4:30 p.m., Oct. 26. Solve the case with a pro as you join Police Officer and author Michael A. Black take apart a crime scene to solve a case. Black wrote Hostile Takeovers, a murder-mystery set in Cook County. He also co-authored I Am Not a Cop with Law & Order SVU star Richard Belzer. Grades 6-8. Registration required.

Teen Late Night Halloween Bash: 7 p.m. Oct. 28. Wear a costume to win prizes, read scary stories, eat ghoulish treats, and play games! Grades 6-8. Registration required.

Family Programs

Sea Beast Puppet Company: 7 p.m., Oct. 25. The Sea Beast Puppet Company invites you to the town of Dümm for “Little Red Rosie and the Dragon of Dumm,” a show for the entire family. Tickets required, distributed 30 minutes before program on a first-come, first-served basis.

Cowboy Storytime: 7 p.m., Nov. 4. Wanted! All cowboys and cowgirls! Lasso your horse, saddle up, and head to the Library for stories, activities, a craft, and a snack. Entertainment for entire family. Registration required.

Multi-cultural programs

Little Actors Present: 5 p.m., Oct. 28. Actors present Adventures of the Little Pumpkin. Program is in the Russian Language. Content most appropriate for 3- to 5-year-olds but all ages welcome. Registration required.

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead): 2 p.m. Oct. 30. This Mexican festival focuses on remembering friends and family members who have died. Focus is on traditional music, storytelling, folk arts, crafts, and a community altar. The event is hosted by Mexican Consulate and National Museum of Mexican Arts in Chicago. Registration required.

Religion

The 1:30 Mincha Minyan, held at BAY Shul, has started on Mondays-Thursdays. E-mail Rabbi Zehnwirth at rabbiz@torahacademybg.com to be put on the Minyan e-mail list. A daily e-mail is sent out to see who can attend, followed by a confirmation (or cancellation) e-mail. Check out Aish.com for videos and information on High Holidays and what they mean.

The Men’s Hebrew Literacy Class teaches how to read Hebrew regardless of level of previous instruction, through a 12-week program from the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs. The class is open to any adult, regardless of affiliation. Classes held 8-9 p.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 25; Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29; and Dec. 6. “Graduation” is at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9. Cost is $30, which includes the “Shalom Aleichem” textbook. Make checks payable to the “Beth Judea Men’s Club.” To register, call (847) 634-0777 and leave message for Sandy.

Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m.: Simchat Torah Celebration and Flag Parade…Bring a flag, sing/dance with the Torah!

Oct. 27 from 2-2:45 p.m. Challah Chaverim. Challah making and story time with Rabbi Jeff Pivo and a Shabbat song session with Cantor Roger Weisberg. Registration required.

Oct. 30 beginning at Noon: Blessing of the Animals…Dogs, cats and fish, Oh My! Even pets can have a Hebrew name. Bring pets (leash/carrier required) for special blessing from Rabbi Pivo and to receive their Hebrew name. Consider pet’s disposition around other animals when attending. Visit www.bethjudea.org. Registration required.

Every Shabbat morning, 10:30-11:30 a.m.: Gan Shabbat is a Shabbat service designed for children ages nine and under, together with their families. After Gan Shabbat, participants encouraged to join the main service and the community Kiddush. To RSVP contact Beth Judea office (847) 634-0777 or info@bethjudea.org.

Volunteers

Women’s Board of Catholic Charities of Lake County needs volunteers to help sort, check and distribute thousands of gifts that come through the warehouse in time for its Christmas Gift Giving Program. Shifts are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 2231 N. Lewis Ave., Waukegan. The program benefits needy children of Lake County. Donations are needed. Lunches are also need to be provided to workers. Call Kathy Brosmith at (847) 949-7536 for information.

Education

Short Story Treasures 10-11:30 a.m. through Nov. 14 at The Garlands in Barrington. Free. LLI0105-099 20677. Edith Maynard discusses selected short stories by Virginia Woolf, William Carlos Williams, Eudora Welty, and others. You will be using The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction, second edition, edited by R. V. Cassill from your local library or purchased online.

Harper College offers:

District 214 Community Adult Education offers free classes in reading, math and language skills needed for jobs in manufacturing and technology. Classes run 9 a.m.-noon Tuesdays and Thursdays until Dec. 15 at Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights, To determine your qualifications, call Kelly Barinholtz at (847) 718-7876 or e-mail kelly.barinholtz@214.org.

Read to Learn, an adult literacy/volunteer program, offers free adult classes in reading and writing, and individual tutoring. Attend class to register. Call (847) 718-7724 for a class in your area. A class is held 9:30 a.m.-noon through Nov. 23 at Indian Trails Public Library District and 7-9:30 p.m. through Nov. 30 in Wheeling High School Library.

Health

Oral Cancer Therapies: 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 25. Kim Hart, NP, MS, AOCN, Illinois Cancer Specialists. Hart discusses some of the most commonly prescribed oral cancer therapies to address their effectiveness and management of side effects. Focus is on oral therapies for breast, brain, lung, gastrointestinal, kidney and skin cancers. Bring questions; discussion encouraged. Registration deadline Oct. 20 at (847) 221-2400.

Healing Partners of Greater Chicago (HPGC) dedicated to improving quality of life for those diagnosed with breast cancer. Clients receive free services up to one year. Call (773) 899-5989 or e-mail healingpartnersgc@yahoo,com

Cancer Wellness Center, 215 Revere Drive, Northbrook, offers free Reiki, healing touch, reflexology, massage and personal training wellness sessions to anyone impacted by cancer, including those with a diagnosis, family members and those who have lost a loved one to cancer. (847) 509-9595 to register or visit www.thecancerwellnesscenter.org

Support

Parents Without Partners Lake County Chapter 247 offers a social outlet for single parents and their children. Contact the group about its newcomer orientation. Contact (847) 817-5687 or info@pwplakecounty.org

Let’s Talk! Military Families with Children, Parents and Caregivers from all branches – active, inactive, reserve and veterans, including civilian spouses and grandparents is offered through the non-profit Children’s Home & Aid of Chicago and meets 6-7:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Alexian Brothers Med/Roncoli Center, 600 Alexian Way, Elk Grove Village. Share experiences, feelings and challenges with other military parents and caregivers in a support group. A free Parents Care + Share Support Group and free children’s program with child care specialists and free dinner held at every meeting. Call Carolyn Dixon (312) 513-9650 or e-mail cdixon@childrenshomeandaid.org.

Heavy drinking undergraduates who are impulsive, aggressive may be at high risk for alcohol problems Public release date: 14-Oct-2011
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Contact: Cheryl L. Beseler, Ph.D.
cheryl.beseler@colostate.edu
907-491-2680
Colorado State University

Kenneth J. Sher, Ph.D.
sherk@missouri.edu
573-882-4279
The University of Missouri

Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research

Researchers used an anonymous online survey to examine drinking patterns and personality traits. Results identified three groups, two of which drank at fairly high levels. The group with higher levels of impulsivity and aggression appears most at-risk for future alcohol problems. In a national survey of undergraduates, roughly six percent met criteria for current alcohol dependence (AD), and approximately 31 percent met criteria for current alcohol abuse. While many undergraduates “mature out” of heavy alcohol use after graduation, a minority will continue to abuse alcohol and be at risk for alcohol-related problems. This study investigated which undergraduates are most likely to engage in high-risk drinking, using alcohol-use disorder (AUD) criteria and binge-drinking endorsement as identifiers. Results will be published in the January 2012 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View. “Many, if not most, undergraduate college students reduce their level of drinking after they graduate from college and are no longer in the environment that led to their drinking,” said Cheryl L. Beseler, a researcher at Colorado State University and corresponding author for the study. “Some of the reduction is motivated by having to take on adult responsibilities, such as employment and starting a family. However, some young adults continue to drink at levels that increase their risk of an AUD. We do not yet understand why this occurs, but probably the reasons include genetic and personality factors and interactions between them. Therefore, we included in our study assessments of potentially relevant aspects of personality as well as family history, which is a proxy for genetics.” “The general issue of predicting chronicity of alcohol problems or excessive alcohol use at any age is important since the course of heavy drinking and AUDs is variable across individuals,” noted Kenneth J. Sher, Curators’ Professor of psychological sciences at The University of Missouri and the Midwest Alcoholism Research Center. “Certainly being able to establish a prognosis for college-student problem drinkers would be helpful information both to the drinker and to those providing services to them. While it would be helpful to have more longitudinal data, it certainly seems likely that the more severe groups would have poorer prognosis, regardless if students or nonstudents.” Researchers analyzed data from an anonymous online survey of 361 undergraduates (265 females, 96 males) including items from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Disorders – Fourth Edition that clinicians use to diagnose an alcohol dependence and/or abuse problem to help identify drinking patterns and personality traits. “Our most interesting finding is that we found two groups of college students who drank at fairly high levels,” said Beseler, “but one group was more inclined to drink to feel better, more impulsive, and more aggressive than the other group, which also drank a lot of alcohol.” These two groups were the latter of three groups identified: the largest class (n=217) primarily endorsed tolerance, none were considered AD; the middle class (n=114) endorsed primarily tolerance and drinking more than intended, 34.2 percent met criteria for AD; the third class (n=30) endorsed all criteria with high probabilities, all met criteria for AD. “Using state-of-the art statistical techniques, this manuscript shows that there is a continuum of problematic alcohol involvement and this can be represented via either a dimensional or a categorical approach to representing this severity,” said Sher. “Individuals with more severe problems tend to be higher on risk factors that have been previously shown to be associated with alcohol problems.” In response to a query about the possibility of skewed results due to the large number of female respondents in the sample, Sher noted that “the issue isn’t the proportion of women in the sample but, rather, how representative the sample is of the population from which it was drawn. As currently described, it is difficult to determine if sampling bias materially affected the results reported.” Beseler pointed out that they found very little difference in the amount of alcohol that the women drank compared to the men, and contended that a higher number of young men in the sample would have simply led to more extreme differences in the impulsivity and aggression group as young men tend to score higher on these scales than young women. “If a college student knows they drink to make things more fun, is impulsive, and has a history of aggressive behavior, they may want to monitor their drinking,” said Beseler. “If a parent knows his or her child possesses these traits, they should be aware of the risks these personality traits might pose if their child is drinking too much. Additionally, those who treat alcohol problems in young adults may want to screen for these behaviors in their patients.” ### Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research (ACER) is the official journal of the Research Society on Alcoholism and the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism. Co-authors of the ACER paper, “A Latent Class Analysis of DSM-IV Alcohol Use Disorder Criteria and Binge Drinking in Undergraduates,” were: Laura A. Taylor of George Washington University School of Medicine; Deborah Tebes Kraemer of Southern Connecticut State University; and Robert F. Leeman of Yale University School of Medicine. The study was funded primarily by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. This release is supported by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network at http://www.ATTCnetwork.org. [ | E-mail | Share ]  
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Heavy drinking undergraduates who are impulsive, aggressive may be at high risk for alcohol problems Public release date: 14-Oct-2011
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Contact: Cheryl L. Beseler, Ph.D.
cheryl.beseler@colostate.edu
907-491-2680
Colorado State University

Kenneth J. Sher, Ph.D.
sherk@missouri.edu
573-882-4279
The University of Missouri

Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research

Researchers used an anonymous online survey to examine drinking patterns and personality traits. Results identified three groups, two of which drank at fairly high levels. The group with higher levels of impulsivity and aggression appears most at-risk for future alcohol problems. In a national survey of undergraduates, roughly six percent met criteria for current alcohol dependence (AD), and approximately 31 percent met criteria for current alcohol abuse. While many undergraduates “mature out” of heavy alcohol use after graduation, a minority will continue to abuse alcohol and be at risk for alcohol-related problems. This study investigated which undergraduates are most likely to engage in high-risk drinking, using alcohol-use disorder (AUD) criteria and binge-drinking endorsement as identifiers. Results will be published in the January 2012 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View. “Many, if not most, undergraduate college students reduce their level of drinking after they graduate from college and are no longer in the environment that led to their drinking,” said Cheryl L. Beseler, a researcher at Colorado State University and corresponding author for the study. “Some of the reduction is motivated by having to take on adult responsibilities, such as employment and starting a family. However, some young adults continue to drink at levels that increase their risk of an AUD. We do not yet understand why this occurs, but probably the reasons include genetic and personality factors and interactions between them. Therefore, we included in our study assessments of potentially relevant aspects of personality as well as family history, which is a proxy for genetics.” “The general issue of predicting chronicity of alcohol problems or excessive alcohol use at any age is important since the course of heavy drinking and AUDs is variable across individuals,” noted Kenneth J. Sher, Curators’ Professor of psychological sciences at The University of Missouri and the Midwest Alcoholism Research Center. “Certainly being able to establish a prognosis for college-student problem drinkers would be helpful information both to the drinker and to those providing services to them. While it would be helpful to have more longitudinal data, it certainly seems likely that the more severe groups would have poorer prognosis, regardless if students or nonstudents.” Researchers analyzed data from an anonymous online survey of 361 undergraduates (265 females, 96 males) including items from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Disorders – Fourth Edition that clinicians use to diagnose an alcohol dependence and/or abuse problem to help identify drinking patterns and personality traits. “Our most interesting finding is that we found two groups of college students who drank at fairly high levels,” said Beseler, “but one group was more inclined to drink to feel better, more impulsive, and more aggressive than the other group, which also drank a lot of alcohol.” These two groups were the latter of three groups identified: the largest class (n=217) primarily endorsed tolerance, none were considered AD; the middle class (n=114) endorsed primarily tolerance and drinking more than intended, 34.2 percent met criteria for AD; the third class (n=30) endorsed all criteria with high probabilities, all met criteria for AD. “Using state-of-the art statistical techniques, this manuscript shows that there is a continuum of problematic alcohol involvement and this can be represented via either a dimensional or a categorical approach to representing this severity,” said Sher. “Individuals with more severe problems tend to be higher on risk factors that have been previously shown to be associated with alcohol problems.” In response to a query about the possibility of skewed results due to the large number of female respondents in the sample, Sher noted that “the issue isn’t the proportion of women in the sample but, rather, how representative the sample is of the population from which it was drawn. As currently described, it is difficult to determine if sampling bias materially affected the results reported.” Beseler pointed out that they found very little difference in the amount of alcohol that the women drank compared to the men, and contended that a higher number of young men in the sample would have simply led to more extreme differences in the impulsivity and aggression group as young men tend to score higher on these scales than young women. “If a college student knows they drink to make things more fun, is impulsive, and has a history of aggressive behavior, they may want to monitor their drinking,” said Beseler. “If a parent knows his or her child possesses these traits, they should be aware of the risks these personality traits might pose if their child is drinking too much. Additionally, those who treat alcohol problems in young adults may want to screen for these behaviors in their patients.” ### Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research (ACER) is the official journal of the Research Society on Alcoholism and the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism. Co-authors of the ACER paper, “A Latent Class Analysis of DSM-IV Alcohol Use Disorder Criteria and Binge Drinking in Undergraduates,” were: Laura A. Taylor of George Washington University School of Medicine; Deborah Tebes Kraemer of Southern Connecticut State University; and Robert F. Leeman of Yale University School of Medicine. The study was funded primarily by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. This release is supported by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network at http://www.ATTCnetwork.org. [ | E-mail | Share ]  
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Link between alcohol and harm is stronger in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Sweden than in Italy Public release date: 14-Oct-2011
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Contact: Jonas Landberg, Ph.D.
jonas.landberg@sorad.su.se
46-735-454-940
Center for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs

Thor Norstrm, Ph.D.
thor.norstrom@sofi.su.se
46-8-16-23-14
Stockholm University

Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research

A new study examines the impact that the cultural context of drinking may have on the relationship between drinking and harm in several European countries. Results suggest a significant relationship between volume of consumption and risk of experiencing alcohol-related problems in all five countries examined. The relationship appears to be stronger in three Baltic countries and Sweden than in Italy. Research clearly shows a dose-response relationship between alcohol and health issues such as cirrhosis of the liver. More recent research has shown linkages between greater drinking and greater problems such as interpersonal violence. A study of the impact that the larger, cultural context of drinking in several European countries may have on the relationship between drinking and harm has found that this relationship is stronger in the Baltic countries and Sweden than Italy. Results will be published in the January 2012 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View. “Previous research on Western European countries has shown that the strength of the relationship between alcohol and harm seems to be contingent on the cultural context of drinking,” explained Jonas Landberg, a researcher at the Centre for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs and sole author of the study. “For example, northern European countries, where drinking into intoxication is more common, tend to have more alcohol-related problems and mortality per litre of alcohol consumed than southern European countries, where drinking is more mundane and integrated into everyday life. For this study, I compared findings from the three Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with two countries representing two distinct ideal-types of European drinking cultures: Sweden, assumed to be similar to the Baltic countries with respect to drinking culture; and Italy, assumed to be markedly different.” “There are much larger differences in the alcohol culture and drinking patterns across European countries than across U.S. states,” observed Thor Norstrm, a professor at Stockholm University. “This may prompt and allow European researchers to look at variations in alcohol cultures and how these impinge on harm.” Landberg used data collected from two general-population surveys of approximately 1,000 respondents from each country: Sweden, Italy, and the three Baltic countries. The data were analyzed for the risk of experiencing alcohol-related problems in relation to self-reported volumes of alcohol consumption in each country. This method has only once before been used for cross-national comparisons. “My findings showed that most people who increased their consumption were at risk of experiencing some form of alcohol-related problems, but also that people who live in countries where drinking occasions often lead to intoxication for example, Sweden and the Baltic countries more often experience alcohol-related problems when they increase their alcohol consumption when compared to people who live in Italy, were the drinking primarily takes place with meals and less often leads to intoxication.” These differences might depend on several factors, added Landberg. “The most important one is probably related to cultural differences in drinking patterns, that is, people in the northern part of Europe usually drink in a way that more often results in alcohol-related problems compared to people in southern Europe,” he said. “However, the results may also reflect cultural differences in how people regard alcohol and harm. For example, in a country like Sweden, where drinking is seen as problematic, alcohol often gets blamed for problems when someone has been drinking, while on the other hand, people may be less likely to blame problems on alcohol in a country like Italy, where alcohol is not regarded as problematic, but rather as a part of day-to-day life.” Norstrm suggested that the alcohol-harm relationships tend to be stronger in the northern part of Europe due to the higher prevalence of heavy episodic drinking or “binge drinking” in northern Europe compared to southern Europe. “To my knowledge, this is the first individual-level study to assess the risk of experiencing alcohol-related problems in relation to volume of consumption in the Baltic countries and to directly compare the results with findings from Western European countries,” said Landberg. “What my findings add to the field is, primarily, that the Baltic countries may be placed alongside the countries of northern Europe in terms of how alcohol consumption may be expected to result in negative consequences. This can be viewed in the context of a ‘European north to south’ gradient in the strength of the risk relationship, that is, strongest in the northern part of Europe such as Sweden and Finland, and gradually decreasing while moving south, such as France and Italy.” ### Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research (ACER) is the official journal of the Research Society on Alcoholism and the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism. The ACER paper is entitled “Self-Reported Alcohol Consumption and the Risk of Alcohol-Related Problems: A Comparative Risk-Curve Analysis of the Three Baltic Countries, Sweden and Italy.” The study was funded by the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research. This release is supported by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network at http://www.ATTCnetwork.org. [ | E-mail | Share ]  
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Link between alcohol and harm is stronger in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Sweden than in Italy Public release date: 14-Oct-2011
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Contact: Jonas Landberg, Ph.D.
jonas.landberg@sorad.su.se
46-735-454-940
Center for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs

Thor Norstrm, Ph.D.
thor.norstrom@sofi.su.se
46-8-16-23-14
Stockholm University

Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research

A new study examines the impact that the cultural context of drinking may have on the relationship between drinking and harm in several European countries. Results suggest a significant relationship between volume of consumption and risk of experiencing alcohol-related problems in all five countries examined. The relationship appears to be stronger in three Baltic countries and Sweden than in Italy. Research clearly shows a dose-response relationship between alcohol and health issues such as cirrhosis of the liver. More recent research has shown linkages between greater drinking and greater problems such as interpersonal violence. A study of the impact that the larger, cultural context of drinking in several European countries may have on the relationship between drinking and harm has found that this relationship is stronger in the Baltic countries and Sweden than Italy. Results will be published in the January 2012 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View. “Previous research on Western European countries has shown that the strength of the relationship between alcohol and harm seems to be contingent on the cultural context of drinking,” explained Jonas Landberg, a researcher at the Centre for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs and sole author of the study. “For example, northern European countries, where drinking into intoxication is more common, tend to have more alcohol-related problems and mortality per litre of alcohol consumed than southern European countries, where drinking is more mundane and integrated into everyday life. For this study, I compared findings from the three Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with two countries representing two distinct ideal-types of European drinking cultures: Sweden, assumed to be similar to the Baltic countries with respect to drinking culture; and Italy, assumed to be markedly different.” “There are much larger differences in the alcohol culture and drinking patterns across European countries than across U.S. states,” observed Thor Norstrm, a professor at Stockholm University. “This may prompt and allow European researchers to look at variations in alcohol cultures and how these impinge on harm.” Landberg used data collected from two general-population surveys of approximately 1,000 respondents from each country: Sweden, Italy, and the three Baltic countries. The data were analyzed for the risk of experiencing alcohol-related problems in relation to self-reported volumes of alcohol consumption in each country. This method has only once before been used for cross-national comparisons. “My findings showed that most people who increased their consumption were at risk of experiencing some form of alcohol-related problems, but also that people who live in countries where drinking occasions often lead to intoxication for example, Sweden and the Baltic countries more often experience alcohol-related problems when they increase their alcohol consumption when compared to people who live in Italy, were the drinking primarily takes place with meals and less often leads to intoxication.” These differences might depend on several factors, added Landberg. “The most important one is probably related to cultural differences in drinking patterns, that is, people in the northern part of Europe usually drink in a way that more often results in alcohol-related problems compared to people in southern Europe,” he said. “However, the results may also reflect cultural differences in how people regard alcohol and harm. For example, in a country like Sweden, where drinking is seen as problematic, alcohol often gets blamed for problems when someone has been drinking, while on the other hand, people may be less likely to blame problems on alcohol in a country like Italy, where alcohol is not regarded as problematic, but rather as a part of day-to-day life.” Norstrm suggested that the alcohol-harm relationships tend to be stronger in the northern part of Europe due to the higher prevalence of heavy episodic drinking or “binge drinking” in northern Europe compared to southern Europe. “To my knowledge, this is the first individual-level study to assess the risk of experiencing alcohol-related problems in relation to volume of consumption in the Baltic countries and to directly compare the results with findings from Western European countries,” said Landberg. “What my findings add to the field is, primarily, that the Baltic countries may be placed alongside the countries of northern Europe in terms of how alcohol consumption may be expected to result in negative consequences. This can be viewed in the context of a ‘European north to south’ gradient in the strength of the risk relationship, that is, strongest in the northern part of Europe such as Sweden and Finland, and gradually decreasing while moving south, such as France and Italy.” ### Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research (ACER) is the official journal of the Research Society on Alcoholism and the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism. The ACER paper is entitled “Self-Reported Alcohol Consumption and the Risk of Alcohol-Related Problems: A Comparative Risk-Curve Analysis of the Three Baltic Countries, Sweden and Italy.” The study was funded by the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research. This release is supported by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network at http://www.ATTCnetwork.org. [ | E-mail | Share ]  
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Alcohol consumption greatly increases serious injury risk for heavy and moderate drinkers Public release date: 14-Oct-2011
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Contact: Ted R. Miller, Ph.D.
miller@pire.org
240-441-2890 or 410-381-1197
Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation

Cheryl J. Cherpitel, Dr. P.H.
ccherpitel@arg.org
510-597-3453
Alcohol Research Group

Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research

A new study has investigated the linkages between alcohol consumption and hospitalized injury. Heavy drinkers face higher injury risks than most people when sober; conversely, their injury risk rises less when alcohol positive. Moderate drinkers who occasionally drink to excess suffer more injuries than heavy drinkers per alcohol-positive hour. Researchers know that alcohol impairs coordination and the ability to perceive and respond to hazards, and that hangovers impair neurocognitive performance and psychomotor vigilance. This study closely examined alcohol-related injuries admitted to hospital, finding that alcohol greatly increases risk for serious injury. Results will be published in the January 2012 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View. “We know that alcohol is more heavily involved in fatalities than injuries,” said Ted R. Miller, a senior research scientist at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation and corresponding author for the study. “It is less clear whether and how heavily alcohol is involved in serious injury.” “It is important to understand the proportion of injury attributable to alcohol for those injuries which are more severe and subsequently hospitalized, compared to those not needing hospitalization,” said Cheryl J. Cherpitel, a senior scientist with the Alcohol Research Group. “Taken together, both are important for a more comprehensive understanding of the proportional decline in injury in the absence of alcohol.” The study authors combined national alcohol consumption data with alcohol metabolism rates to estimate hours that heavy drinkers versus other drinkers and non-drinkers spent as “alcohol positive” versus “alcohol negative” within one calendar year. “If we know how much alcohol people drink, we can estimate how many hours per day people are alcohol-positive versus alcohol-negative,” explained Miller. “Dividing the number of alcohol-positive injuries by the number of alcohol-positive hours indicates injury-risk when alcohol-positive. A similar calculation gives the alcohol-negative risk.” Results showed that alcohol consumption is a major cause of hospitalized injury. Even though heavy drinkers generally lead risky lifestyles, and even though they tolerate alcohol better than most drinkers, their injury risks still tripled when they drank. “Risk during hours that people were alcohol-positive was 4.5 times their risk when sober,” said Miller. “Heavy drinkers claim they can handle their alcohol. Within limits, that’s true. Alcohol raises a heavy drinker’s injury risk less than an average person’s risk. Still, a heavy drinker is three times more likely to be injured during an alcohol-positive than a sober hour. Possibly due to hangover effects, heavy drinkers also are 1.35 times as likely as other people to be injured when sober. Alcohol especially raises risk for assault, near drowning, non-elderly fall, and pedestrian injuries. An estimated 36 percent of hospitalized assaults and 21 percent of all injuries are attributable to alcohol use by the injured person.” “Non-heavy drinkers also seem to have a higher risk of injury-related hospitalization when alcohol positive compared to alcohol-positive heavy drinkers,” said Cherpitel, “likely due to their not being accustomed to alcohol’s effects, while heavier drinkers have developed a tolerance to alcohol and are therefore less affected by the same amount of alcohol. It is also possible that heavier drinkers may have consumed so much alcohol that they are unable to place themselves in risky situations that may result in injury; for example, they may become a passenger in a vehicle and sleep rather than attempt to drive. These findings are similar to those from our emergency-room studies.” “Our estimates set the stage for injury-warning labels on alcohol bottles,” said Miller. “They also suggest what percentage of public injury cost justifiably could be recovered through alcohol taxes. Moderate drinking has not traditionally been considered hazardous. Yet from an injury viewpoint, it appears to be more hazardous per drink than regular heavy drinking. Moderate drinkers who occasionally drink to excess suffer more injuries than heavy drinkers per alcohol-positive hour. Nonetheless, intervention rarely has been targeted to this group because its high risk was hidden.” “Certainly these findings point to the importance of screening and brief intervention in clinical practice,” added Cherpitel, “as well as advancing public health knowledge regarding the potential effects of even small quantities of alcohol. Injury research needs to consider that even a small amount of alcohol in less experienced drinkers can be especially dangerous when undertaking potentially risky activities such as driving or using heavy equipment.” ### Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research (ACER) is the official journal of the Research Society on Alcoholism and the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism. The co-author of the ACER paper, “Hospital-Admitted Injury Attributable to Alcohol,” was Rebecca S. Spicer of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. The study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the National Institute of Mental Health. This release is supported by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network at http://www.ATTCnetwork.org. [ | E-mail | Share ]  
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Alcohol consumption greatly increases serious injury risk for heavy and moderate drinkers Public release date: 14-Oct-2011
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Ted R. Miller, Ph.D.
miller@pire.org
240-441-2890 or 410-381-1197
Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation

Cheryl J. Cherpitel, Dr. P.H.
ccherpitel@arg.org
510-597-3453
Alcohol Research Group

Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research

A new study has investigated the linkages between alcohol consumption and hospitalized injury. Heavy drinkers face higher injury risks than most people when sober; conversely, their injury risk rises less when alcohol positive. Moderate drinkers who occasionally drink to excess suffer more injuries than heavy drinkers per alcohol-positive hour. Researchers know that alcohol impairs coordination and the ability to perceive and respond to hazards, and that hangovers impair neurocognitive performance and psychomotor vigilance. This study closely examined alcohol-related injuries admitted to hospital, finding that alcohol greatly increases risk for serious injury. Results will be published in the January 2012 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View. “We know that alcohol is more heavily involved in fatalities than injuries,” said Ted R. Miller, a senior research scientist at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation and corresponding author for the study. “It is less clear whether and how heavily alcohol is involved in serious injury.” “It is important to understand the proportion of injury attributable to alcohol for those injuries which are more severe and subsequently hospitalized, compared to those not needing hospitalization,” said Cheryl J. Cherpitel, a senior scientist with the Alcohol Research Group. “Taken together, both are important for a more comprehensive understanding of the proportional decline in injury in the absence of alcohol.” The study authors combined national alcohol consumption data with alcohol metabolism rates to estimate hours that heavy drinkers versus other drinkers and non-drinkers spent as “alcohol positive” versus “alcohol negative” within one calendar year. “If we know how much alcohol people drink, we can estimate how many hours per day people are alcohol-positive versus alcohol-negative,” explained Miller. “Dividing the number of alcohol-positive injuries by the number of alcohol-positive hours indicates injury-risk when alcohol-positive. A similar calculation gives the alcohol-negative risk.” Results showed that alcohol consumption is a major cause of hospitalized injury. Even though heavy drinkers generally lead risky lifestyles, and even though they tolerate alcohol better than most drinkers, their injury risks still tripled when they drank. “Risk during hours that people were alcohol-positive was 4.5 times their risk when sober,” said Miller. “Heavy drinkers claim they can handle their alcohol. Within limits, that’s true. Alcohol raises a heavy drinker’s injury risk less than an average person’s risk. Still, a heavy drinker is three times more likely to be injured during an alcohol-positive than a sober hour. Possibly due to hangover effects, heavy drinkers also are 1.35 times as likely as other people to be injured when sober. Alcohol especially raises risk for assault, near drowning, non-elderly fall, and pedestrian injuries. An estimated 36 percent of hospitalized assaults and 21 percent of all injuries are attributable to alcohol use by the injured person.” “Non-heavy drinkers also seem to have a higher risk of injury-related hospitalization when alcohol positive compared to alcohol-positive heavy drinkers,” said Cherpitel, “likely due to their not being accustomed to alcohol’s effects, while heavier drinkers have developed a tolerance to alcohol and are therefore less affected by the same amount of alcohol. It is also possible that heavier drinkers may have consumed so much alcohol that they are unable to place themselves in risky situations that may result in injury; for example, they may become a passenger in a vehicle and sleep rather than attempt to drive. These findings are similar to those from our emergency-room studies.” “Our estimates set the stage for injury-warning labels on alcohol bottles,” said Miller. “They also suggest what percentage of public injury cost justifiably could be recovered through alcohol taxes. Moderate drinking has not traditionally been considered hazardous. Yet from an injury viewpoint, it appears to be more hazardous per drink than regular heavy drinking. Moderate drinkers who occasionally drink to excess suffer more injuries than heavy drinkers per alcohol-positive hour. Nonetheless, intervention rarely has been targeted to this group because its high risk was hidden.” “Certainly these findings point to the importance of screening and brief intervention in clinical practice,” added Cherpitel, “as well as advancing public health knowledge regarding the potential effects of even small quantities of alcohol. Injury research needs to consider that even a small amount of alcohol in less experienced drinkers can be especially dangerous when undertaking potentially risky activities such as driving or using heavy equipment.” ### Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research (ACER) is the official journal of the Research Society on Alcoholism and the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism. The co-author of the ACER paper, “Hospital-Admitted Injury Attributable to Alcohol,” was Rebecca S. Spicer of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. The study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the National Institute of Mental Health. This release is supported by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network at http://www.ATTCnetwork.org. [ | E-mail | Share ]  
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Genetically influenced responses to alcohol affect brain activation both with and without alcohol Public release date: 14-Oct-2011
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Contact: Marc A. Schuckit, M.D.
mschuckit@ucsd.edu
858-822-0880
University of California, San Diego

Edith V. Sullivan, Ph.D.
edie@stanford.edu
650-498-7328
Stanford University School of Medicine

Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research

A low level of response (LR) to alcohol reflects at least in part a low brain response to alcohol and carries significant risk for the later development of alcoholism. This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine brain activation in individuals with low and high LRs to alcohol while they performed a cognitive task. Significant differences detected in brain activation may contribute to the inability by individuals with a low LR to recognize modest levels of alcohol intoxication. A low level of response (LR) to alcohol is a genetically influenced characteristic, or phenotype, that reflects at least in part a low brain response to alcohol, and carries significant risk for the later development of alcoholism. This study addressed the physiological underpinnings of a low and high LR, finding significant differences in brain activation during a cognitive task, possibly reflecting differences in the amount of brain activity used to deal with a cognitive challenge. Results will be published in the January 2012 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View. “While some genes that contribute to LR have been provisionally identified, the mechanism through which the low LR operates in the brain has not been extensively studied,” explained Marc A. Schuckit, distinguished professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, and corresponding author for the study. “This report confirms prior reports from our group that used a different cognitive task to show that people with a low LR process information differently from those with a high LR even when tested with placebo. The differences between LR groups after placebo and alcohol across different cognitive tasks may help explain why low LR subjects might have more problems recognizing the effects of moderate doses of alcohol. If you aren’t able to recognize the effects of lower doses of alcohol, you are more likely to drink heavy amounts per occasion, which both directly and indirectly increases your risk for alcohol problems.” “A phenotype provides an observable window into a genetically influenced behavior, in this case, the predisposition to alcohol use disorders,” added Edith V. Sullivan, a professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. “Here, the phenotype was a behavior with a physiological basis associated with a difference in response when having alcohol in the system. This combination provides the potential of identifying individuals who are at risk for developing alcohol use disorders before they develop. This is the essence of a genetic marker for a behavior. Few markers are perfect predictors, but those that approach a genetic basis should be robust and also be related to associated behaviors that are surrogate markers for the primary behavior.” Sullivan added that this study is cutting edge in its use of differential responses to alcohol at different levels of physiological processing as a grouping variable to interpret performance measures and brain physiological responses while performing cognitive tasks in an fMRI setting. Schuckit and his colleagues examined 98 (52 females, 46 males) young, healthy drinkers who were not alcohol dependent and who had been identified in prior testing as clearly having low or high LRs to alcohol. The subjects in the two LR groups were matched to be similar on recent drinking histories, age, gender, race, and histories of smoking and using illicit drugs. All participants were evaluated during two event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) sessions while performing a validated cognitive task based on the stop-signal paradigm. The two groups were given a placebo or approximately 0.7 ml/kg of alcohol (roughly the equivalent of 3 standard drinks), in random order, and treated subjects developed identical blood alcohol levels during the sessions. “Those with a low LR seemed to have had to exert more cognitive effort to perform a cognitive task than those with high LR’s after placebo,” said Schuckit. “After alcohol, the low LR subjects seemed to do the task with less effort than after placebo, while the high LR subjects had to work harder to do the task after alcohol than after placebo. So when the low LR people drink modest amounts of alcohol, they may not perceive much change in how their brain is working. Also, if a modest dose of alcohol produces a situation where you don’t have to exert as much effort to think about how a challenging task needs to be done, as might be true for low LR subjects, perhaps drinking is a bit more rewarding for you compared to people who find that modest alcohol doses impair their thinking, as is seen for high LR subjects.” In short, intoxication seemed to become almost a ‘normalized’ state for low LR individuals. “Extrapolating from these findings allows us to speculate that adolescents who are genetically predisposed for a low response, and therefore relatively high tolerance, to drinking alcohol would have poor ability for self-correction the lesson we have from the Stop task and their high tolerance may enable them to drink to dangerous levels,” said Sullivan. “The real issue for clinicians is that the low LR is an important genetically influenced risk factor for later alcohol problems,” said Schuckit. “These results can also inform researchers interested in how the low LR might actually work to affect how intoxicated a person might feel.” ### Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research (ACER) is the official journal of the Research Society on Alcoholism and the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism. Co-authors of the ACER paper, “fMRI Differences between Subjects with Low and High Responses to Alcohol during a Stop Signal Task,” were: Susan Tapert, Scott C. Matthews, Martin P. Paulus, Neil J. Tolentino, Tom L. Smith, Ryan S. Trim, Shana Hall, and Alan Simmons of the University of California, San Diego. The study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. This release is supported by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network at http://www.ATTCnetwork.org. [ | E-mail | Share ]  
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Genetically influenced responses to alcohol affect brain activation both with and without alcohol Public release date: 14-Oct-2011
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Contact: Marc A. Schuckit, M.D.
mschuckit@ucsd.edu
858-822-0880
University of California, San Diego

Edith V. Sullivan, Ph.D.
edie@stanford.edu
650-498-7328
Stanford University School of Medicine

Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research

A low level of response (LR) to alcohol reflects at least in part a low brain response to alcohol and carries significant risk for the later development of alcoholism. This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine brain activation in individuals with low and high LRs to alcohol while they performed a cognitive task. Significant differences detected in brain activation may contribute to the inability by individuals with a low LR to recognize modest levels of alcohol intoxication. A low level of response (LR) to alcohol is a genetically influenced characteristic, or phenotype, that reflects at least in part a low brain response to alcohol, and carries significant risk for the later development of alcoholism. This study addressed the physiological underpinnings of a low and high LR, finding significant differences in brain activation during a cognitive task, possibly reflecting differences in the amount of brain activity used to deal with a cognitive challenge. Results will be published in the January 2012 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View. “While some genes that contribute to LR have been provisionally identified, the mechanism through which the low LR operates in the brain has not been extensively studied,” explained Marc A. Schuckit, distinguished professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, and corresponding author for the study. “This report confirms prior reports from our group that used a different cognitive task to show that people with a low LR process information differently from those with a high LR even when tested with placebo. The differences between LR groups after placebo and alcohol across different cognitive tasks may help explain why low LR subjects might have more problems recognizing the effects of moderate doses of alcohol. If you aren’t able to recognize the effects of lower doses of alcohol, you are more likely to drink heavy amounts per occasion, which both directly and indirectly increases your risk for alcohol problems.” “A phenotype provides an observable window into a genetically influenced behavior, in this case, the predisposition to alcohol use disorders,” added Edith V. Sullivan, a professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. “Here, the phenotype was a behavior with a physiological basis associated with a difference in response when having alcohol in the system. This combination provides the potential of identifying individuals who are at risk for developing alcohol use disorders before they develop. This is the essence of a genetic marker for a behavior. Few markers are perfect predictors, but those that approach a genetic basis should be robust and also be related to associated behaviors that are surrogate markers for the primary behavior.” Sullivan added that this study is cutting edge in its use of differential responses to alcohol at different levels of physiological processing as a grouping variable to interpret performance measures and brain physiological responses while performing cognitive tasks in an fMRI setting. Schuckit and his colleagues examined 98 (52 females, 46 males) young, healthy drinkers who were not alcohol dependent and who had been identified in prior testing as clearly having low or high LRs to alcohol. The subjects in the two LR groups were matched to be similar on recent drinking histories, age, gender, race, and histories of smoking and using illicit drugs. All participants were evaluated during two event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) sessions while performing a validated cognitive task based on the stop-signal paradigm. The two groups were given a placebo or approximately 0.7 ml/kg of alcohol (roughly the equivalent of 3 standard drinks), in random order, and treated subjects developed identical blood alcohol levels during the sessions. “Those with a low LR seemed to have had to exert more cognitive effort to perform a cognitive task than those with high LR’s after placebo,” said Schuckit. “After alcohol, the low LR subjects seemed to do the task with less effort than after placebo, while the high LR subjects had to work harder to do the task after alcohol than after placebo. So when the low LR people drink modest amounts of alcohol, they may not perceive much change in how their brain is working. Also, if a modest dose of alcohol produces a situation where you don’t have to exert as much effort to think about how a challenging task needs to be done, as might be true for low LR subjects, perhaps drinking is a bit more rewarding for you compared to people who find that modest alcohol doses impair their thinking, as is seen for high LR subjects.” In short, intoxication seemed to become almost a ‘normalized’ state for low LR individuals. “Extrapolating from these findings allows us to speculate that adolescents who are genetically predisposed for a low response, and therefore relatively high tolerance, to drinking alcohol would have poor ability for self-correction the lesson we have from the Stop task and their high tolerance may enable them to drink to dangerous levels,” said Sullivan. “The real issue for clinicians is that the low LR is an important genetically influenced risk factor for later alcohol problems,” said Schuckit. “These results can also inform researchers interested in how the low LR might actually work to affect how intoxicated a person might feel.” ### Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research (ACER) is the official journal of the Research Society on Alcoholism and the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism. Co-authors of the ACER paper, “fMRI Differences between Subjects with Low and High Responses to Alcohol during a Stop Signal Task,” were: Susan Tapert, Scott C. Matthews, Martin P. Paulus, Neil J. Tolentino, Tom L. Smith, Ryan S. Trim, Shana Hall, and Alan Simmons of the University of California, San Diego. The study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. This release is supported by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network at http://www.ATTCnetwork.org. [ | E-mail | Share ]  
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Press Release Source: Ryan, LLC On Friday October 14, 2011, 8:57 am EDT

CHICAGO, Oct. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Supreme Court of Illinois (“Supreme Court”) reversed Wirtz v. Quinn (“Wirtz”), an Illinois First District Appellate Court (“Appellate Court”) decision, and upheld the state’s increased tax rate on alcohol, candy, soft drinks, and grooming and hygiene products. The decision should not change the amount of tax Illinois retailers collect on sales of candy, soft drinks, etc., as the Illinois Department of Revenue (“Department”) instructed sellers to collect the increased tax while waiting for a Supreme Court decision.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110726/DA41187LOGO)

Wirtz involved whether Public Act 96-35 (“Act”) violated the state’s “one subject” requirement. The Act, which originally went into effect September 1, 2009, implemented numerous tax changes, including an increase in the sales and use tax rate from 1% to 6.25% on soft drinks, candy, and grooming and hygiene products. In addition, the Act almost doubled the tax due on alcoholic beverages, wine, and beer.

In its opinion, the Supreme Court overruled the Appellate Court and held the Act to be constitutional. The Supreme Court noted that the word “subject” may be as broad as the Legislature chooses and should be construed liberally in favor of upholding the legislation. The Appellate Court had previously held that the single subject of the Act was “revenue,” due to its official title “an act concerning revenue.” However, the Supreme Court disagreed, concluding that the single subject of the Act was in fact “capital projects.” The Supreme Court further held that not only was “capital projects” a legitimate subject, but the provisions within the Act had a “natural and logical connection” to the subject of the legislation. Thus, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Act, and the increased tax rates on alcohol, candy, soft drinks, and grooming and hygiene products remain in effect.

About Ryan
Ryan is a leading global tax services firm, with the largest indirect tax practice in North America and the seventh largest corporate tax practice in the United States. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the Firm provides a comprehensive range of state, local, federal, and international tax advisory and consulting services on a multi-jurisdictional basis, including audit defense, tax recovery, credits and incentives, tax process improvement and automation, tax appeals, tax compliance, and strategic planning. In 2010, Ryan received the International Service Excellence Award from the Customer Service Institute of America (CSIA) for its commitment to world-class client service. Empowered by the award-winning myRyan work environment, which is widely recognized as the most innovative in the tax services industry, Ryan’s multi-disciplinary team of more than 900 professionals and associates serves many of the world’s most prominent Fortune 1000 companies. More information about Ryan can be found at www.ryan.com.

Headline Posted by Marc Middleton on 4:16:25 PM Oct 13, 2011

Scott Hall’s struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction will be profiled on next Wednesday’s episode of E:60 on ESPN. A preview clip has been released featuring comments from Eric Bischoff.

The Wrestler – Scott Hall

At the height of professional wrestling in the 90’s, Scott Hall was adored by millions, his name chanted by loyal fans. Today, he has hit rock bottom. E:60 follows his descent from superstar to a broken man battling alcoholism and drug addiction, but still trying to hold onto the glory he once found in the ring.

Discuss wrestling & more in the TWNPNews.com Forums

The following are business- and consumer-related events taking place in Chester County and the region in the near future.

WEDNESDAY

SPEAK Unlimited Inc. will hold its second annual free community job fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kennett Friends Meeting House, 125 West Sickle Street in Kennett Square.

Representatives from Genesis Health Care, Chester County government, Aflac, Mary Kay, The Brickman Group, IBC and CADES plus CareerLink, HireOne and SCORE will provide information and support to job seekers as well as small and startup businesses.

For more information contact Susan F. Rzucidlo at 610-659-3145.

FRIDAYS

The Chester County Workforce Investment Board’s Free 12 Steps Toward Employment workshops have been scheduled in two locations to aid Chester County’s unemployed and underemployed, including recent college students, in seeking, obtaining and retaining suitable employment.

The seminars will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, at the First Baptist Church, 103 West St., Parkesburg, and from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 28, at the Exton Square Mall, 260 Exton Square Parkway, Exton.

To get required registration information for limited available seats at individual workshops and additional job-seeking tools along with workshops as they are scheduled visit www.chesco.org/JobSeekerToolkit.

For more information contact bps461@msn.com or 610-707-1494. Continued…

UPCOMING

OCT. 25

The Main Line Chamber of Commerce will present Network at Noon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Paddock at Devon, 175 Strafford Ave., Suite 130, in Wayne.

Each month there will be a five- to 10-minute message from the luncheon’s sponsor plus time to network.

Visit www.mlcc.org to register.

NOV. 3 & 10

Legacy Planning Partners and Ruggiero Law Offices LLC will present Family Financial Nights Nov. 3 and 10 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Exton Senior Living, 600 N. Pottstown Pike, Exton.

At the financial planning workshops Samuel S. Stroud Jr., and James J. Ruggiero Jr. will discuss the following: Organize and simplify your financial affairs (How do I organize all this paper?); Investment and cash flow (Do I have enough money?); Are things in order? (The taxing issues of retirement – Is my estate together for my family?).

Seating is limited. Reserve a seat by calling 610-594-0200.

To be listed in Datebook, e-mail your information to business@dailylocal.com.

The following are business- and consumer-related events taking place in Chester County and the region in the near future.

WEDNESDAY

SPEAK Unlimited Inc. will hold its second annual free community job fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kennett Friends Meeting House, 125 West Sickle Street in Kennett Square.

Representatives from Genesis Health Care, Chester County government, Aflac, Mary Kay, The Brickman Group, IBC and CADES plus CareerLink, HireOne and SCORE will provide information and support to job seekers as well as small and startup businesses.

For more information contact Susan F. Rzucidlo at 610-659-3145.

FRIDAYS

The Chester County Workforce Investment Board’s Free 12 Steps Toward Employment workshops have been scheduled in two locations to aid Chester County’s unemployed and underemployed, including recent college students, in seeking, obtaining and retaining suitable employment.

The seminars will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, at the First Baptist Church, 103 West St., Parkesburg, and from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 28, at the Exton Square Mall, 260 Exton Square Parkway, Exton.

To get required registration information for limited available seats at individual workshops and additional job-seeking tools along with workshops as they are scheduled visit www.chesco.org/JobSeekerToolkit.

For more information contact bps461@msn.com or 610-707-1494.

UPCOMING

OCT. 25

The Main Line Chamber of Commerce will present Network at Noon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Paddock at Devon, 175 Strafford Ave., Suite 130, in Wayne.

Each month there will be a five- to 10-minute message from the luncheon’s sponsor plus time to network.

Visit www.mlcc.org to register.

NOV. 3 & 10

Legacy Planning Partners and Ruggiero Law Offices LLC will present Family Financial Nights Nov. 3 and 10 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Exton Senior Living, 600 N. Pottstown Pike, Exton.

At the financial planning workshops Samuel S. Stroud Jr., and James J. Ruggiero Jr. will discuss the following: Organize and simplify your financial affairs (How do I organize all this paper?); Investment and cash flow (Do I have enough money?); Are things in order? (The taxing issues of retirement – Is my estate together for my family?).

Seating is limited. Reserve a seat by calling 610-594-0200.

To be listed in Datebook, e-mail your information to business@dailylocal.com.

Scott Hall’s struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction will be profiled on next Wednesday’s episode of E:60 on ESPN. A preview clip has been released featuring comments from Eric Bischoff.

The Wrestler – Scott Hall

At the height of professional wrestling in the 90’s, Scott Hall was adored by millions, his name chanted by loyal fans. Today, he has hit rock bottom. E:60 follows his descent from superstar to a broken man battling alcoholism and drug addiction, but still trying to hold onto the glory he once found in the ring.