Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W M Harding

Publications and source records attributed to W M Harding.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Do drivers drink more when they use a safe ride?

PURPOSE: Offering drinkers free safe rides (SRs) home can prevent DWI, but some suggest that it may also promote excessive drinking. METHODS: Forty-two respondents to surveys completed by 472 drinkers in barrooms reported that they used a SR during the first 9 months they were offered. RESULTS: Their usual estimated blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was significantly greater when they used a SR than on all occasions when they drank outside their homes. However, only 24% of respondents increased their usual BAC from a " low risk" category (BAC <0.10) when drinking outside the home, to a "high risk" category (BAC > or = 0.10) when using a SR. The majority (72%) of respondents did not change their BAC categories. One decreased his/her BAC from > or = 0.10 when drinking outside the home to <0.10 when using a SR. IMPLICATIONS: These findings, coupled with data showing that respondents tended to use SRs infrequently (3.69 times per year), reduce concerns about the mean increase in their BACs when using SRs. Findings do not, however, resolve the issue of whether respondents whose drinking increased when they used a SR did so because a SR was available, or decided not to drive because they drank more. Recommendations for improving SR programs are discussed.

Alcoholic Intoxication↗
PubMed2001

Do companions of designated drivers drink excessively?

PURPOSE: A common criticism of designated driver programs (DDPs) is that they promote excessive drinking among companions of the designated driver (DD). METHODS: Data were collected from two representative samples of drinkers using computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATIs), and questionnaires administered to customers in barrooms. RESULTS: Most respondents drank moderately--had usual estimated blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of less than 0.10 when they used DDs. Differences between respondents' estimated BACs when they used a DD and when they drank outside their homes were very small: 0.017 in both samples. Additional analyses examined shifts between lower and higher categories of risk defined as a BAC of less than 0.10 and a BAC of 0.10 or greater. A minority, 15% of CATI and 30% of barroom respondents, switched to the higher risk category when using a DD. These CATI and barroom respondents increased their BACs by an average of 0.089 and 0.11, respectively. Risk associated with this increase was mitigated, however, by respondents' infrequent use of DDs. IMPLICATIONS: Use of DDs was not generally associated with excessive alcohol consumption. Since a minority of respondents did drink heavily when using a DD, programs promoting DD use should caution drinkers that the availability of a DD is not an excuse for excessive consumption, and remind hosts and servers that they should not overserve their guests or customers even when they have a DD.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

At-risk drinkers use safe ride services to avoid drinking and driving.

PURPOSE: A central question pertinent to the efficacy of safe rides (SRs) in preventing driving while intoxicated (DWI) is whether individuals at high risk for DWI use them. METHODS: Barroom surveys (N = 472) and in situ breath tests (N = 51) were conducted as part of an assessment of an alternative transportation intervention in a Maryland community. Bivariate analyses and stepwise logistic regression were performed comparing 42 barroom respondents who reported using a SR in the last 12 months to non-users. RESULTS: Bivariate analyses showed that SR users drank more frequently outside the home and achieved higher estimated blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) when they did. Also, they were more likely to be heavy drinkers, to have driven when feeling intoxicated, and to have been arrested for DWI. Although SR users were more likely to ride with an intoxicated driver, they were also more likely to use a designated driver (DD). Stepwise logistic regression showed SR users were more likely to be heavy drinkers and to use DDs. In situ breath test data showed SR users' BACs ranged from 0.031 to 0.248, with a mean of 0.146. IMPLICATIONS: SR programs attract drinkers at high risk for DWI. DWI prevention efforts would benefit from future research exploring how at-risk drinkers make drinking and driving decisions.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2000

DWI prevention: profiles of drinkers who serve as designated drivers.

This study was designed to profile drinkers who serve as designated drivers (DDs) and to determine if drinkers who are at risk for driving while intoxicated (DWI) serve as DDs. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses on data from 1,393 computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATIs) and 913 bar-room surveys showed that DDs, relative to non-DDs, tend to be at-risk, heavier drinkers. Logistic regression using CATI data showed that DDs were more often heavy drinkers and reported higher levels of driving after drinking and riding with intoxicated drivers (RID). Logistic regression using bar-room data showed that DDs reported more driving after drinking, in spite of drinking less often outside the home. DDs were also much more likely to have used a DD. These findings are consistent with those from several related studies that showed that drinkers who used DDs or free safe (taxi) rides tended to be heavier drinkers who reported more DWI and RID (B. D. Caudill, W. M. Harding, & B. Moore, in press-a, in press-b). Future research may benefit from examining why at-risk drinkers take steps to avoid DWI on some occasions but not others.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Formerly-addicted-now-controlled opiate users.

Preliminary data are reported on 10 former heroin addicts who have maintained long-term occasional patterns of heroin use. Emphasis is placed on the degree of their past addiction and present control. The implication of the existence of such users for etiological theories, treatment, and further research are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Social sanctions and rituals as a basis for drug abuse prevention.

This paper will report on preliminary findings of an on-going study of "controlled" use of marihuana, psychedelics, and opiates which point to the possibility of minimizing the social costs of illicit drug use via social control. This study, sponsored by The Drug Abuse Council, Inc., a non-profit private foundation, shows that despite the lack of larger cultural support for controlled illicit drug use and other obstacles, users are able to develop and maintain moderate, long-term, nonabusive, i.e., controlled, drug-using patterns. We will show that these patterns are primarily supported by the development of social drug-using situations in which sanctions and rituals permit use while condemning abuse. In the discussion, we will compare the management of controlled use in our sample to the larger culture's handling of alcohol.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

DWI prevention: profiles of drinkers who use designated drivers.

The effectiveness of designated driver (DD) use in preventing driving while intoxicated (DWI) depends on whether drinkers at risk for DWI use DDs. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses conducted on data from 1,391 Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATIs) and from 902 barroom patron surveys showed that DD users, compared to nonusers, tended to be at-risk, heavier drinkers. For example, logistic regression using the CATI sample indicated that DD users were more likely to drink more often outside the home, to achieve higher blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) when drinking outside the home, to ride with intoxicated drivers (RID), and to be heavy drinkers on D. Cahalan et al.'s (1969) Quantity-Frequency-Variability (QFV) index. Similarly, logistic regression using the barroom sample showed that DD users tended to be heavy drinkers on the QFV index, and were more likely to drive after drinking and to ride with intoxicated drivers. Additional analyses showed that DD users also were more likely than nonusers to engage in other behavior to avoid DWI, such as drinking less, waiting to drive until the effects of alcohol diminish, walking home, and staying overnight. These results are consistent with other findings from a related study by the current authors which showed that at-risk drinkers also used free safe (taxi) rides to avoid DWI, however were still more likely to report DWI and RID behavior (B. D. Caudill, W. M. Harding, & B. Moore, in press). Consequently, DWI prevention efforts may be improved by future research aimed at learning why such at-risk drinkers sometimes take steps to avoid DWI and sometimes do not.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Controlled opiate use: fact or artifact?

This paper is intended to counter the prevailing tendency to disregard or dismiss nonaddictive patterns of opiate use. Studies conducted during the 1970s pointed out the existence of large numbers of occasional opiate users, but left unresolved questions about how well controlled such use might be. Findings from research on long-term, moderate opiate users show that controlled use is possible and should be distinguished from compulsive/addictive opiate use. Several hypotheses which suggest that controlled use is an "artifact" are contradicted by the study findings. Some of the implications for future research on opiate use are discussed.

Adolescent↗