One of the personality traits associated with high levels of alcohol and drug use is high sensation seeking (Andrucci, Archer et al. 1989; Conrod, Castellanos et al. 2008; Croissant, Demmel et al. 2008). Sensation seeking is defined as a strong need for varied, novel, and stimulating experiences, and willingness to take risks for the sake of such experiences (Zuckerman 1979). Earleywine and Finn (1991) presented evidence that the association between behavioral disinhibition, alcohol-related problems, and drinking habits may be a product of their inter-relations with sensation seeking. There have been a plethora of studies of adolescents and young adults showing that high sensation seeking is a strong predictor of higher levels of alcohol and drug use, and of the development of later alcohol problems, including alcohol abuse and dependence (Andrucci, Archer et al. 1989; Finn, Earleywine et al. 1992; Hesselbrock and Hesselbrock 1992; Conrod, Castellanos et al. 2008; Croissant, Demmel et al. 2008).
