Alcoholic beverages have been used throughout American history but their use has always been controversial. Ethyl alcohol is one of the few alcohols man is able to drink, although it is never full strength. The fermentation process is used to manufacture alcoholic beverages. Wines are made from a variety of fruits. Beer is made from yeast and a…

It is important for the prevention of alcohol abuse to agree on standards of responsible alcohol-related behaviors that contribute to the enhancement of health as well as the prevention of problems. (MM)

Explored portrayal of alcohol, alcoholics, and drinking in annual samples of prime-time network dramatic television programs. Reference to alcohol and drinking increased steadily since 1969 while number of alcoholics portrayed remained stable. Compared to respondents who watched less television, those who watched four or more hours per day were…

Studies show that the percentage of women in the United States who drink, has remained stable over the last several decades. However, patterns in female drinking have changed, indicating a trend toward higher rates of heavy/frequent drinking among young women. Negative attitudes toward female intoxication still prevail and a double standard…

The Mount Carmel Hospital program for skid-row male and female alcoholics is examined. (MM)

Investigated beliefs of male college students (N=55) regarding drinking behavior, alcohol, and alcoholism. Results indicated differential agreement with various belief statements. Subjects' responses appeared to fall into two distinct belief patterns: hedonistic and helpless beliefs. These patterns have significance in the development and…

Discusses the relationship between alcohol and fatal automobile crashes. Stresses the need for controlled studies in order to determine the correlation between drunk drivers and fatal accidents and to obtain dependable statistics on alcohol-related crashes. (BD)

The cultural and historical factors that have combined to make alcohol a problematic beverage for Americans are discussed. (MM)

Collected data on alcohol practice for Nigerian college students (N=300) in New York. Results were obtained using frequencies and percentages of responses to items relating to drinking practices. Results indicated a high degree of alcohol abuse among Nigerian students in New York. (Author/RC)

Studies characteristics of 70 adolescents who affiliate with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Participants completed in-patient treatment and were contacted as part of follow-up survey. Half had affiliated with AA. Used discriminant analysis to predict affiliation. Found affiliators were more likely to have had prior treatment, friends who did not use…

This document contains 10 papers from the ninth World Conference of Therapeutic Communities (TC) that deal with a variety of health-related subjects. Papers include: (1) "AIDS among IV Drug Users: Epidemiology, Natural History & TC Experiences" (Don C. Des Jarlais, et al.); (2) "AIDS and Therapeutic Communities: Policy Implications" (Don C. Des…

The authors describe a study undertaken at the State University of New York at Buffalo which sought to develop an effective Alcohol Instruction Model and to develop an Alcohol Behavior Inventory that would measure the drinking severity and the severity of alcohol-related behavior of university students. (MJB)

Assessed a cognitive-behavioral program with a goal of either abstinence (AB) or controlled drinking (CD) with early-stage problem drinkers (N=70). Results of a two-year follow up indicated that most CD clients achieved moderation of alcohol use and that most AB clients failed to abstain but nonetheless moderated their drinking. (LLL)

Whether a person drinks a little or a lot, one thing remains the same--alcohol is a drug that changes the body in specific ways. Information on alcohol, how it is made, and how it affects the body are presented in this book. Written in an easy to understand style, the text begins with a detailed explanation of the various uses of alcohol and how…