Peril, chance, adventure: concepts of risk, alcohol use and risky behavior in young adults

Journal/Book: Addiction. 1999; 94: PO Box 25, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England Ox14 3Ue. Carfax Publ Co. 371-383.

Abstract: This paper discusses issues in applying concepts of ''risk'' to alcohol use. There is a wide variety of definitions of ''risk, '' including dimensions of positive vs. Negative aspects of risk-taking, short-term vs. Long-term harm, generality vs. Specificity of risk behaviors, knowledge of probability of harm, and objective vs. Subjective risk. Alcohol can play a role in risky behavior on multiple levels. The paper describes the methods used to examine a link between alcohol and risk-taking (population-based, person-based, event-based and experimental methods) and illustrates these methods from research findings on the association of alcohol to risky driving, crime and violent behavior, and sexual risk-taking. Theoretical models of the association of alcohol and risk-taking are outlined, and the implications of these models for alcohol policy and prevention are discussed.

Note: Article Leigh BC, Univ Washington, Inst Alcohol & Drug Abuse, 3937 15th Ave NE, Seattle,WA 98105 USA

Keyword(s): UNSAFE SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR; UNREALISTIC OPTIMISM; GENERAL-POPULATION; SENSATION-SEEKING; NATIONAL SURVEY; HEALTH-PROBLEMS; ACCIDENT RISK; RELATIVE RISK; SUBSTANCE USE; DRUG-USE

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