Drinking During Adolescence

摘要: For many people, experience with drinking alcohol begins in adolescence. Yet for some youth, such early experimentation can spiral into problematic patterns. Research has associated a variety of serious health risks adolescent drinking, including the three leading causes death among this age group (i.e., unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide) as well unsafe sexual behavior. Although abuse dependence are not often clinically diagnosed youth high school younger, it is possible that applying adult diagnostic criteria does fully capture extent problem drinking. Risk factors encompass sociocultural factors, regulation availability; parental behavior patterns; influence habits siblings peers; personality traits, particularly those indicating low self-regulation; positive beliefs about alcohol's effects. More research necessary, however, to distinguish predict from consumption general. KEY WORDS: adolescent; adolescence; AOD consumption; consequences; risk factors; AODC (causes use, abuse, dependence); family an AODC; peer relations; trait; use initiation Researchers typically consider adolescence be developmental period during which most at initiating use. Many theorists view occurring approximately 10 beginning pubertal development) through 25 when roles established) (Feldman Elliott 1990). This article, applies more restrictive definition primarily considers years ages 18). Prevalence data suggest adolescents report exposure increases (Johnston et al. 1995). In terms current consumption, recent national student survey (see figure I ) show percent 8th graders 50 12th consuming within past month Moreover, substantial proportion drinkers consume heavily:' 15 28 having five or drinks row 2 weeks, just under 3 daily National surveys have found gradual declines since peaks 1980's, but trends, small statistically significant) 1995), less clear. The prevalence also varies demographically. Boys heavy than do girls, seniors, white Hispanic African-American adolescents. example, 1994 2) 32 non-Hispanic Caucasians, 24 Hispanics, 14 African-Americans reported weeks However, because these ethnic differences apparent earlier grades, they could caused partially by dropout rates (School-based collect on students only; thus, cannot determine patterns same-age dropouts. To degree vary ethnicity, results will skewed.) Inconsistent definitions, inter- intracultural diversity, complicate comparisons groups. general, compared other groups, Native American highest rates, Asian-American lowest (Johnstone 1994). …