Following alcohol consumption, nontreatment-seeking alcoholics report greater stimulation but similar sedation compared with social drinkers.

OBJECTIVE: Drinking behavior, and consequently the risk to develop alcohol problems, is influenced in part by one's subjective response to alcohol. Studies have shown that individuals at risk for alcoholism report greater stimulation, less sedation and/or "low response" to alcohol. Whether this effect exists in early-stage alcoholics has not been examined. The present study was conducted to determine whether alcoholics and social drinkers differ in response following a challenge dose of alcohol in a clinical laboratory procedure.
METHOD: Nontreatment-seeking alcoholics (n = 38) and social drinkers (n = 30) randomized to a placebo in a medication study were given a standard dose of alcohol (0.34 g/kg women; 0.4 g/kg men) in a bar-laboratory setting. Assessments, including blood alcohol concentrations and the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale, were conducted four times (from 10 to 60 minutes following initiation of consumption).
RESULTS: Alcoholics reported greater stimulation, but similar sedation, compared with social drinkers, following alcohol consumption.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first evidence of greater stimulation following alcohol in alcoholics not seeking treatment.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes