Measuring Alcohol Consumption

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. Psychosocial Measures of Alcohol Consumption

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Just the Facts

      • Thomas F. Babor, Frances K. Del Boca

      Pages 3-19

   3. Computerized Approaches to Alcohol Assessment

      • Douglas R. Gavin, Harvey A. Skinner, Margo S. George

      Pages 21-39

   4. Timeline Follow-Back

      • Linda C. Sobell, Mark B. Sobell

      Pages 41-72

   5. Using Subject and Collateral Reports to Measure Alcohol Consumption

      • Stephen A. Maisto, Gerard J. Connors

      Pages 73-96

3. Biochemical Measures of Alcohol Consumption

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 97-97

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   2. An Overview of Current and Emerging Markers of Alcoholism

      • Alan S. Rosman, Charles S. Lieber

      Pages 99-134

   3. Blood and Liver Markers in the Estimation of Alcohol Consumption

      • Paul Cushman Jr.

      Pages 135-147

   4. Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin and 5-Hydroxytryptophol

      • Stefan Borg, Olof Beck, Anders Helander, Annette Voltaire, Helena Stibler

      Pages 149-159

   5. Protein-Acetaldehyde Adducts as Biochemical Markers of Alcohol Consumption

      • Lawrence Lumeng, Renee C. Lin

      Pages 161-182

   6. Measuring Alcohol Consumption by Transdermal Dosimetry

      • Michael Phillips

      Pages 183-187

   7. Assessment of Ethanol Consumption with a Wearable, Electronic Ethanol Sensor/Recorder

      • Robert M. Swift, Larry Swette

      Pages 189-202

4. Summary

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 203-203

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   2. Measures of Alcohol Consumption in Perspective

      • John P. Allen, Raye Z. Litten, Raymond Anton

      Pages 205-226

5. Back Matter

   Pages 227-228

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The Importance of Measuring Alcohol Consumption To date, alcohol studies have attended far more to issues of alco­ hol dependence and the harmful consequences of drinking than to the level of alcohol consumption itself. This is, perhaps, not surprising since dependence on alcohol is believed to constitute a meaningful and distinct medical syndrome, regardless of the level of alcohol consumption associated with it (Edwards and Gross, 1976). Also, of society is generally more concerned with the adverse consequences drinking (e. g. , traffic fatalities, homelessness, health care and legal expenses, and academiclbehavioral problems in young drinkers), than with the quantity of alcohol actually consumed. Nevertheless, accurate assessment of alcohol usage is important in its own right in at least four contexts: 1. Evaluating the effectiveness of alcoholism and alcohol abuse treatment and prevention efforts. Such efforts include both applied evaluations of existing programs and formal, well-controlled efficacy studies on experimental interventions. These investigations require rigorous methodologies to assess outcomes precisely and contrast what may be quite subtle differences between programs and between pre­ treatment and posttreatment outcomes. Although these studies are usually characterized by the employment of multiple measures of success-including general improvements in social and physical functioning, reduction in degree of dependence, and resolution of problems directly resultant from drinking-it is by their assessment of changes in drinking behavior that they are potentially able to achieve the highest level of objectivity and exactitude.

• alcohol
• alcoholism
• diagnosis
• prevention
• protein
• screening

Measuring Alcohol Consumption ...is an excellent resource for all those interested, at either a research or clinical level, in alcohol use and misuse ...highly organized, cohesive, integrated and practical...This superbly organized, thorough, and readable book is highly recommended for all those who need to assess alcohol intake. -The Journal of Clinical Pathology

• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, USA

  Raye Z. Litten, John P. Allen

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