Alcohol for Social Behavior Study

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Catharine E Fairbairn, Ph.D.

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Must not be taking: Alcohol-interacting drugs

Disqualifiers: Alcohol problems, Skull fractures, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 2 weeks

200 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how alcohol affects social and individual behaviors. Participants will attend two sessions: one with an alcoholic beverage and another with a non-alcoholic drink, to observe changes in behavior and brain activity. The study aims to understand how alcohol influences social bonding and mood, which could aid in developing strategies to prevent or treat alcohol use problems. Ideal participants are aged 21-30 and regularly consume alcohol without major issues. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to important research on alcohol's effects, potentially benefiting future prevention and treatment strategies.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you do not take medications that could negatively interact with alcohol. If you are on such medications, you may need to stop them to participate.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that alcohol can affect the body in various ways, both positively and negatively. Although alcohol is legal and widely used, it can be harmful if not consumed responsibly. Studies have found that alcohol is linked to about 3.3 million deaths worldwide each year, accounting for approximately 6% of all global deaths.

Young people may experience more negative effects from alcohol, with about 13% of alcohol-related problems occurring in young adults. Alcohol can also contribute to mental health issues. Around 70% of adults with substance use problems, including alcohol, are employed, highlighting the widespread nature of these issues.

Despite these risks, many people consume alcohol safely and responsibly. Most health problems arise from excessive drinking or lack of caution. In this study, researchers test the effects of alcohol in a controlled setting, which helps manage these risks. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Alcohol for Social Behavior Study because it explores how alcohol consumption might influence social interactions. Unlike traditional methods that focus on medications or therapies to improve social behavior, this study uses alcohol as the active component to potentially alter social dynamics. While alcohol is commonly associated with social settings, this research aims to scientifically understand its impact on social behavior, offering insights that could lead to new approaches in managing social anxiety or enhancing social engagement.

What evidence suggests that alcohol consumption affects social behavior?

This trial will compare the effects of alcohol consumption with a non-alcoholic beverage on social behavior. Research has shown that alcohol can alter behavior and emotions. Studies have found that alcohol can improve mood and reduce negative feelings by the end of the day. It can also increase feelings of sociability and connection. Social factors play a role as well; if friends drink less, a person might also drink less. Overall, alcohol influences how people act and feel around others, which is why researchers are studying its effects on social interactions. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals aged 21-30 who are interested in how alcohol affects social behavior. Participants will be part of a pair and must attend two sessions, one with alcohol and one without. They can't join if they have a history of alcohol abuse or medical conditions that make drinking unsafe.

Inclusion Criteria

Regularly consumes alcohol

I am between 21 and 30 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

I am pregnant or trying to become pregnant.

History of adverse reaction to the amount of beverage employed in the study

History of major problems associated with alcohol

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants attend two laboratory sessions approximately one week apart, consuming either an alcoholic or control beverage in a randomized order, while engaging in structured and unstructured tasks.

2 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for drinking behavior and alcohol-related outcomes outside the laboratory using ambulatory assessment.

14 days

Longitudinal Follow-up

Drinking behavior and problems are assessed at a longitudinal follow-up to evaluate long-term outcomes.

Up to 24 months post-baseline

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Alcohol
• Control - non alcoholic beverage

Trial Overview The study tests the effects of alcohol on social interactions by comparing behaviors when participants consume an alcoholic beverage versus a non-alcoholic control drink. EEG technology tracks brain activity during these sessions to understand the impact on mood and bonding.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Control condition - non alcoholic beverage Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Alcohol beverage administration Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Lead Sponsor

Trials

203

Recruited

40,600+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3316719/

Association Between Social Influences and Drinking ... For example, a large, prospective, social network study found that less drinking among a person's close social ties led to reduced subsequent alcohol use ( ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306460318307561

Does it work and does it last? Effects of social and drinking ... Drinking and being social were associated with higher end-of-day positive mood and significantly lower end-of-day negative mood.

3. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-024-54155-0

Alcohol consumption as a socially contagious ... We use longitudinal social network data from the Framingham Heart Study to examine the extent to which alcohol consumption is influenced by the network ...

4. ourworldindata.org ourworldindata.org/alcohol-consumption

Alcohol Consumption This topic page looks at the data on global patterns of alcohol consumption, patterns of drinking, beverage types, the prevalence of alcoholism, and ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4872611/

Social and Cultural Contexts of Alcohol Use - PubMed Central Specifically, the article describes how social and cultural contexts influence alcohol use/misuse and then explores future directions for alcohol research.

6. who.int who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/alcohol

Alcohol Younger people are disproportionately negatively affected by alcohol consumption, with the highest proportion (13%) of alcohol-attributable ...

7. blogs.cdc.gov blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2023/10/10/mental-health-substance-use/

Mental Health, Alcohol Use, and Substance ... National U.S. data show that 70% of all adults with a substance use disorder (including alcohol or illicit drug use disorders) are employed.

8. thelancet.com thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-26672030052-9/fulltext

The role of alcohol use and drinking patterns in ... Overall, the findings indicate that more detrimental effects of alcohol consumption in individuals with low SES could contribute to the alcohol-harm paradox.

9. news.gallup.com news.gallup.com/poll/693362/drinking-rate-new-low-alcohol-concerns-surge.aspx

U.S. Drinking Rate at New Low as Alcohol Concerns Surge A record-low 54% of Americans say they drink alcohol, as a majority now believe moderate drinking is unhealthy.