Addictive behaviors
-
Addictive behaviors · Apr 2011
Characterizing binge drinking among U.S. military Veterans receiving a brief alcohol intervention.
Brief web-based alcohol interventions (BAIs) are effective for reducing binge drinking in college students and civilian adults, and are increasingly being applied to U.S. military populations. However, little is known about factors associated with binge drinking in Veteran populations and therefore some concern remains on the generalizability of studies supporting BAIs for addressing binge drinking in this population. This study sought to better understand the characteristics (e.g., demographic, coping related mental health factors, prior exposure to traumatic events, and factors assessing motivation to change alcohol use) of a predominantly male sample of binge drinking Veterans receiving a BAI from a VA provider. ⋯ BAIs may be a promising approach for addressing binge drinking in Veterans. However, binge drinking among a sample of mostly male Veterans receiving a BAI may be associated with a complex set of factors that are less prevalent in the college student population and thus studies demonstrating the efficacy of BAIs with Veterans are needed.