Telescoping of Drinking-Related Behaviors: Gender, Racial/Ethnic, and Age Comparisons

Abstract

Objective. To examine demographic differences in alcohol telescoping—the rate of self-reported movement from regular alcohol consumption to the onset of regular heavy drinking—as well as differences in ages of initiation of regular alcohol use and alcohol use to intoxication. Method. The present study compared the retrospective reports of 2037 clients (1252 males, 785 females) enrolled in substance user treatment facilities around the country in 1998 and 1999. Results. Overall, the findings support previous research, indicating that women generally move more rapidly than men from initiation of regular alcohol use to problem use (telescoping). The findings also indicate that African-Americans generally begin regular alcohol use later than their Anglo counterparts and move more rapidly from initiation of regular alcohol use to problem use (telescoping). Examining the sample by older vs. younger age groups demonstrates that gender and racial/ethnic differences in the age of initiation of regular alcohol use and in telescoping may be limited by age group, as these patterns appear in the older but not the younger cohort. Conclusions. These findings suggest that self-reported regular alcohol use, alcohol abuse, and telescoping differences vary dramatically by gender, race/ethnicity, and age cohort. Furthermore, the pattern of findings suggests that these differences are more likely the result of sociocultural than biological differences between the groups under study.

Keywords:

• alcohol
• racial
• ethnic
• gender
• telescoping

Notes

*The original intent of this question was to have respondents calculate the actual number of years they had consumed alcohol regularly, subtracting out the number of subsequent years of abstinence. However, it is unlikely that most individuals do more in responding to the question than to identify their earliest point of “regular use” and employ this as a simple marker to calculate the years of regular use. We even possess some anecdotal evidence to support this position. In the event, however, that some respondents do subtract years of abstinence, it would increase the measure's error variance and likely would be spread equally across the various age, racial/ethnic, and gender subgroups.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Patrick B. Johnson

Dr. Patrick Johnson is Professor of Human Development and Learning at Dowling College. Dr. Johnson's research has focused on the mediating and moderating roles of gender and race/ethnicity on alcohol and drug use and misuse.

Linda Richter

Dr. Linda Richter is a Senior Research Manager in the Policy Research and Analysis division at The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. Dr. Richter is a social psychologist whose work focuses on youth substance use.

Herbert D. Kleber

Dr. Herbert Kleber is currently Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Division on Substance Abuse at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Before coming to Columbia University in 1991, Dr. Kleber served for 2½ years as the Deputy Director for Demand Reduction at the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the White House. Prior to assuming the government position, Dr. Kleber was Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine, and founder and Director of both the Substance Abuse Treatment Unit at the Connecticut Mental Health Center, and Chief Executive Officer of APT Foundation.

A. Thomas McLellan

Dr. A. Thomas McLellan is best known for his work on the Addiction Severity Index and his extensive work in treatment outcome evaluations. Dr. McLellan is the Executive Director of the Treatment Research Institute and Professor Psychology in Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania.

Deni Carise

Dr. Deni Carise is Director of the Treatment Division at the Treatment Research Institute. After completing a research fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania Center for Studies of Addiction, Dr. Carise began conducting national, policy-relevant studies for the Office on National Drug Control Policy.