Alcohol Intoxication, Drinking and Driving, & Impulsivity

Paulette Chavez University of Missouri-Columbia

2

Drinking and Driving In 2009, alcohol involvement still accounted

for ~1/3 of the total traffic fatalities in the US (NHTSA, 2010).

35% of DD fatalities involved individuals 21 to 24 years of age (NHTSA, 2010).

Individual difference factors have been found to negate the deterring effects of legal sanctions (Piquero & Paternoster, 1998; Yu, Evans, & Clark, 2006).

Perceived Risk of Drinking and Driving

Cognitive variables are important predictors of drinking and driving. Perceived Dangerousness Perceived Consequences Perceptions of Drinking and Driving

Alternatives

The current study examines perceived risk of drinking and driving while intoxicated.

Impulsivity and Drinking and Driving Disinhibited personality

characteristics (Jonah, 1997) Neuroticism/emotionality

domain Impulsivity/disinhibition domain

Impulsive individuals are more likely: To drive while intoxicated (Ames,

Zogg, & Stacy, 2002; Ryb, Dischinger, Kufera, & Read, 2006).

To repeatedly engage in drinking and driving (McMillen et al., 1992).

Impulsivity Impulsivity is a common diagnostic criteria in

the DSM-IV for a variety of disorders. Examples: ADHD, gambling, borderline

personality disorder Impulsivity is strongly associated with the use

of alcohol (Sher, Grekin, & Williams, 2005; Sher, Trull, Bartholow, & Vieth, 1999).

Disaggregating Impulsivity UPPS-P (Whiteside and Lynam, 2001; Cyders et

al., 2007) Sensation seeking

I’ll try anything once. (Lack of) planning

I am one of those people who blurt out things without thinking.

Lack of persistence I tend to give up easily.

Urgency When I am upset, I often act without thinking. I tend to lose control when I am in a great mood

Urgency Urgency reflects an individual’s

tendency to act rashly while experiencing extreme mood.

Both negative and positive moods are related to rash decision making.

Undergraduate college students are more likely to drink on days of celebration than during the week (Del Boca, Darkes, Greenbaum, & Goldman, 2004; Kornefel 2002).

Present Study: Examines perceived risk of drinking and driving while

intoxicated. Test how dangerous individuals perceive driving to be at

different points on the BAC curve.

Examines individual differences in these perceptions. Are positive and negative urgency associated with lower

perceived dangerousness of drinking and driving? Are positive and negative urgency associated with change

in perceived dangerousness across the BAC curve?

Demographics N= 63 Age- range from 21-26, mean 21.98 Sex- 54% male Race- 87.3% Caucasian, 4.8% African American

Procedure Participants partake in 2 sessions, one intoxicated

one sober. .72g/kg of alcohol for men, .65g/kg for women

Peak BAC estimate to be approx .075 to .080 Positive and negative urgency measured in the

sober session. Perceived danger of drinking and driving

measured at baseline, then across ascending and descending limbs of the BAC curve.

Ascending Limb Assessments

“How dangerous do you feel it is for you to drive right now?”

15 30 45 600.0600000000000001

0.0650000000000001

0.0700000000000001

0.0750000000000001

0.0800000000000001

Breath Alcohol Concentration

15 30 45 602.20

2.30

2.40

2.50

2.60

2.70

Ascending Perceived Danger-ousness.06

4.074

.077

.078

Results for Positive & Negative Urgency Both positive and negative urgency were associated

with perceived danger of drinking and driving. Those high in urgency rated drinking and driving as less

dangerous at all assessments on the ascending limb. Neither positive or negative urgency was associated

with perceived danger on the descending limb.

No interactions between time and urgency Positive and negative urgency were not associated with

change in perceived danger across either limb of the BAC curve.

QUESTIONS