Pressure to Change Drinking Behavior

Abstract

General population studies have shown that pressure from others to change drinking can come from different sources. Receipt of informal pressure (IP) and formal pressure (FP) is known to vary by quantity and consequences of drinking, but less is known about how pressure varies among subgroups of the population. This exploratory study utilizes data from the National Alcohol Surveys from 1995 to 2010 ( N = 26,311) and examines associations between receipt of pressure and subgroups of drinkers. Increased relative risk of receiving IP and FP were observed for individuals reporting an arrest for driving after drinking and illicit drug use while poverty and lack of private health insurance increased risk of receipt of FPs. Regular marijuana use increased IP. The subgroups that were studied received increased pressures to change drinking behavior, though disentangling the societal role of pressure and how it may assist with interventions, help seeking, and natural recovery is needed.