Powdered alcohol: Awareness and likelihood of use among a sample of college students

• Published in: The American journal on addictions Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 31 - 36
• Main Authors: Vail-Smith, Karen, Chaney, Beth H., Martin, Ryan J., Don Chaney, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.01.2016
• Subjects: Adolescent; Alcohol Drinking in College - psychology; Ethanol - adverse effects; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; United States; Young Adult; United States
• ISSN: 1055-0496; 1521-0391
• DOI: 10.1111/ajad.12321

Background and Objectives In March 2015, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved the sale of Palcohol, the first powdered alcohol product to be marketed and sold in the U.S. Powdered alcohol is freeze‐dried, and one individual‐serving size packet added to 6 ounces of liquid is equivalent to a standard drink. This study assessed awareness of powered alcohol and likelihood to use and/or misuse powdered alcohol among college students. Methods Surveys were administered to a convenience sample of 1,841 undergraduate students. Results Only 16.4% of respondents had heard of powdered alcohol. After being provided a brief description of powdered alcohol, 23% indicated that they would use the product if available, and of those, 62.1% also indicated likelihood of misusing the product (eg, snorting it, mixing it with alcohol). Caucasian students (OR = 1.5) and hazardous drinkers (based on AUDIT‐C scores; OR = 4.7) were significantly more likely to indicate likelihood of use. Hazardous drinkers were also six times more likely to indicate likelihood to misuse the product. Discussion and Conclusions These findings can inform upstream prevention efforts in states debating bans on powdered alcohol. In states where powdered alcohol will soon be available, alcohol education initiatives should be updated to include information on the potential risks of use and be targeted to those populations most likely to misuse. Scientific Significance This is the first peer‐reviewed study to assess the awareness of and likelihood to use and/or misuse powdered alcohol, a potentially emerging form of alcohol. (Am J Addict 2016;25:31–36)