Researchers: Won Kim Cook, PhD, Christina Tam, PhD, Camillia Lui, PhD, Thomas K. Greenfield, PhD, William C. Kerr, PhD
Excessive alcohol consumption remains a critical public health issue, particularly among individuals with chronic health conditions. While heavy drinking and high-intensity drinking (HID) are well-documented concerns, their relationship with multimorbidity, that is managing multiple chronic illnesses, adds another layer of complexity to understanding alcohol-related risks.
Our recent studies explore how multimorbidity influences drinking behavior, the motivations behind HID, and the specific risk factors that contribute to at-risk drinking among adults with chronic conditions. Findings highlight key disparities across age and sex groups, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. While older adults and women with multiple health conditions tend to drink less, younger men with chronic illnesses often continue heavy drinking, increasing their vulnerability to severe health complications. Additionally, social settings such as bars and parties play a significant role in driving high-intensity drinking behaviors across all demographics.
By examining these patterns, researchers provide valuable insights into the intersection of alcohol use and health, offering a foundation for tailored public health strategies aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm among at-risk populations.
Key Takeaways
- Multimorbidity reduces the likelihood of heavy and binge drinking, especially among older adults and women.
- Younger men with chronic conditions continue heavy drinking, posing higher health risks.
- High-intensity drinking (HID) motivations differ by age and gender:
- Young men drink heavily due to sensation-seeking.
- Older men engage in heavy drinking as a coping mechanism.
- Women of all ages show both sensation-seeking and coping behaviors.
- Drinking at bars and parties increases HID risk across all age groups, emphasizing the role of social settings in excessive alcohol use.
- Men over 50 with hypertension have an increased likelihood of at-risk drinking, highlighting the need for targeted interventions among older adults with health conditions.
- Diabetes and heart conditions are linked to lower at-risk drinking rates, particularly among older White adults and women.
- These studies underscore the need for tailored public health strategies, focusing on:
- Younger men with chronic conditions who continue heavy drinking.
- Older adults who use alcohol as a coping mechanism.
- High-risk drinking environments such as bars and parties.
- Prevention efforts should address motivations for drinking and ensure at-risk individuals receive targeted support to reduce alcohol-related harm.
Related Studies
Won Kim Cook, PhD
Multimorbidity and Drinking Behavior
Managing multiple chronic conditions (multimorbidity) presents significant health challenges, particularly when alcohol use is involved. A study analyzing data from the 2015–2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health examined how diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer influence drinking behavior. Findings revealed that as multimorbidity increased, the likelihood of heavy and binge drinking declined, especially among adults over age 50 and among women. However, younger men with multiple chronic conditions showed little change in drinking habits, suggesting a higher risk population for alcohol-related health complications. These results emphasize the need for targeted alcohol interventions, particularly for heavy-drinking men under 50 who may be at increased risk of worsening their health conditions.
Christina Tam, PhD
High-Intensity Drinking (HID) and Its Risk Factors
While heavy drinking is widely studied, high-intensity drinking (HID), consuming significantly more than heavy episodic drinking thresholds, has serious long-term consequences. This study used data from the 2015 and 2020 National Alcohol Surveys to identify factors associated with HID across different age groups. Results showed that younger men engaged in HID primarily due to sensation-seeking, while older men drank heavily to cope with stress or emotions. Women of all ages exhibited both coping and sensation-seeking behaviors as motivations for HID. Additionally, frequent drinking at bars and parties was linked to higher odds of HID across all age groups, highlighting the role of social drinking environments in excessive alcohol consumption.
Won Kim Cook, PhD
Study on At-Risk Drinking Among Adults with Health Conditions
This study explores the relationship between chronic health conditions and at-risk drinking among U.S. adults, revealing important differences by gender, race, and ethnicity. Using data from over 209,000 respondents in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2015–2019), researchers found that men over 50 with hypertension were more likely to engage in at-risk drinking, while women over 50 with heart conditions and individuals with diabetes were less likely to do so. Notably, among older adults, White and Hispanic men with hypertension had higher odds of at-risk drinking, suggesting that targeted prevention efforts are needed in both community and clinical settings to mitigate alcohol-related health risks in these subgroups.
