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PEDIATRICS Vol. 108 No. 1 July 2001, pp. 185-189
Alcohol use and abuse by children and adolescents
continue to be a major problem. Pediatricians should interview their
patients regularly about alcohol use within the family, by friends, and by themselves. A comprehensive substance abuse curriculum should be
integrated into every pediatrician's training. Advertising of alcohol
in the media, on the Internet, and during sporting events is a powerful
force that must be addressed. Availability of alcohol to minors must be
controlled, and interventions for the child and adolescent drinker and
punitive action for the purveyor are encouraged.
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ABSTRACT
Top
Abstract
Introduction
References
Since the beginning of recorded history, people have
consumed alcoholic beverages for purposes of religious ceremony,
celebration, medicinal therapy, pleasure, and recreation. Problem
drinking in all age groups has also been recognized and reported for
thousands of years.1 Research continues to evaluate the
wide range of alcohol effects, from its hazardous use during pregnancy
to its possible beneficial use for adult health. Although there has been some difference of opinion as to whether adolescents should postpone the use of alcohol until the legal drinking age or should be
encouraged to develop safe, responsible drinking patterns through progressive, controlled exposure in family or religious settings, it is
clear that the minimum legal drinking age is 21 years in the United
States.2
Use of alcohol or other drugs at an early age is an indicator of future
alcohol or drug problems.3 People who begin drinking
before age 15 are 4 times more likely to develop alcoholism than those
who begin at age 21.4 Furthermore, children of alcoholic
parents are at even greater risk of becoming problem drinkers.
Although the minimum legal drinking age is 21 years in all 50 states,5 the annual Monitoring The Future Study
of alcohol and drug use by American students has shown consistently that alcohol is the drug most often used and abused by children and
adolescents.6 In fact, nearly 90% of 10th graders and
75% of 8th graders think alcohol is very easy to get.6 The average age when 12- to 17-year-olds say they first used alcohol is
13.1,7 but use is increasingly seen in children as young
as 9 years old.8 In 1999, 52% of 8th graders and 80% of
high school seniors reported using alcohol, with 31% of 12th graders
reporting heavy drinking (5 or more drinks in a row at least once
during the previous 2 weeks). Nearly twice that many report having been
drunk at least once.6 Alcohol use by school dropouts or
chronically truant students is suspected to be significantly higher.
More than one third of high school seniors see no great risk in
consuming 4 to 5 drinks daily, yet 1 in 6 have had "blackouts," defined as amnesia of the previous night's events, during the preceding 30 days (which is termed "episodic heavy drinking"). Nearly 4 in 10 reported that they were "binge" drinkers (defined as
having consumed 5 or more drinks of alcohol [4 or more for females]
on any 1 occasion).9
Approximately 9.5 million Americans between 12 and 20 years old
reported having at least 1 drink during the last month, with about half
reporting binge drinking and 20% being heavy drinkers (consuming 5 or
more drinks on the same occasion on at least 5 different
days).9 Among adolescents who binge drink, 39% say they
drink alone; 58% drink when they are upset; 30% drink when they are
bored; and 37% drink to feel high.10
There is a clear relationship between alcohol use and academic
performance among college students. Students with grades of D or F
drink 3 times as much as those who earn As.11 The effects
on less mature individuals may be even more significant.
The negative consequences of alcohol use include impaired
relationships with family, peers, or teachers; problems with school performance; problems with persons in authority; and high-risk behaviors, such as alcohol use in association with driving, boating, diving, or swimming. Use of alcohol and other drugs is associated with
the leading causes of death and injury (ie, motor-vehicle crashes,
homicides, and suicides) among adolescents and young adults.6 In addition, thousands of seriously and often permanently injured passengers and drivers survive. After the legal
drinking age was changed in all states, the number of motor-vehicle fatalities in the under 21 age group significantly
decreased.12
Some data suggest that alcohol use or abuse is associated with other
risk-taking behaviors, such as unsafe or increased sexual activity,
which may lead to unintended pregnancy or acquisition of a sexually
transmitted disease.13 Fourteen- and 15-year-olds who use
alcohol are 4 and 7 times as likely, respectively, to have sexual
intercourse as their peers who do not consume alcohol, and these
15-year-olds have as many as 4 sexual partners.14 Alcohol
use is also associated with an increased risk of physical or sexual
abuse often by an acquaintance of the same age. Researchers estimate
that alcohol use is implicated in one third to two thirds of sexual
assault and acquaintance or date rape cases among adolescents and
college students.15
Adolescents who use alcohol while pregnant increase their risk of
having complications during pregnancy as well as giving birth to an
infant with fetal alcohol syndrome.16,17 Some adolescents
may be unaware they are pregnant or deny the possibility that they are
pregnant, delaying prenatal care and continuing to drink. Seventeen
percent of pregnant adolescents in 1 comprehensive adolescent pregnancy
program tested positive for alcohol or other drug use.18
In another program, there was continued but decreased alcohol and drug
use after pregnancy was confirmed.19
ATTITUDES, PERCEPTIONS, AND INFLUENCE
The use of alcohol commonly begins before the use of other mood
altering substances. Most adolescents drink beer or wine before they
begin drinking distilled spirits yet are unaware that a 12-oz can of
beer or 5-oz glass of wine has the same amount of alcohol as a 1.5-oz
shot of distilled spirits.10 Alcohol is often used in
combination with other drugs, which may potentiate their effects.
Addiction to alcohol is underdiagnosed in adolescents. By definition,
alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial,
and environmental factors influencing its development and
manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is
characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the
drug alcohol, use of alcohol with adverse consequences, and distortion
in thinking, most notably denial.20
Alcoholism should be suspected in young people who are often
intoxicated or experience withdrawal symptoms from chronic or recurrent
alcohol use; those who tolerate large quantities of alcohol; those who
attempt unsuccessfully to cut down or stop alcohol use; those who
experience blackouts attributable to drinking; or those who continue
drinking despite adverse social, educational, occupational, physical,
or psychological consequences or alcohol-related injuries.21 In the adolescent substance use and abuse continuum, alcohol abuse may progress from experimentation to more
regular use.22,23 Regular users are those individuals who
continue a pattern of alcohol use throughout a period of 1 month or
longer despite persistent or recurrent negative consequences or in
situations in which such use is physically dangerous.21
Genetic and Family Factors
A family history of alcoholism predisposes children to problem
drinking, especially if 1 or both parents are heavy
drinkers.24 Sons of alcoholic men have a 1 in 4 risk of
becoming alcoholics.25,26 Daughters of alcoholics are also
at increased risk for alcoholism and are more likely to marry alcoholic
men, thereby continuing the cycle of family problems with
alcohol.27
In the United States, 7 million children younger than 18 years have
alcoholic parents. Adult alcohol abuse contributes to 50% of reported
instances of marital violence and 35% to 70% of child abuse cases.
Children of alcohol abusers are at increased risk for delinquent
behavior, learning disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder,
psychosomatic complaints, and problem drinking or alcoholism as
adults.28 Additional research is required to validate the
clinical impression that describes interpersonal problems encountered
by children of alcoholics.28
Parental attitudes and behavior regarding alcohol use play important
roles in how children and adolescents view its use and whether they
will drink. A family history of antisocial behavior and poor parenting
skills increases the risk of having children who use alcohol and other
drugs.28 The home is the primary source of alcohol for
adolescents; however, drinking customs and patterns differ among ethnic
groups. In some families, children are introduced to alcohol as a
beverage at an early age, but these families do not drink excessively,
do not tolerate or condone excessive drinking in others, and experience
low levels of problem drinking. Other families, however, may accept and
encourage excessive drinking, especially among males of any age,
reinforcing the image of alcohol use as an indicator of maturity,
bravado, and masculinity. Older siblings often influence their younger
brothers or sisters to initiate using alcohol or other
drugs.29
Adolescent Development
Drinking by adolescents is often perceived as normal behavior.
Some adolescents report that they drink for enjoyment, for peer
acceptance, to forget problems, or to reduce stress and anxiety in
their lives. Not all drinking by adolescents results in observable negative consequences, and a significant number of individuals do not
continue to use alcohol after their initial experience. Because of
their limited experience with alcohol and smaller body size, however,
adolescents may become intoxicated with less alcohol intake than
adults. In addition, in susceptible adolescents, the time frame of
progression to alcohol dependence is much shorter, compared with that
for adults.23 They are less able to recognize
and compensate for the neuropsychiatric effects of alcohol use because
of biological, cognitive, and psychological immaturity and may
experience psychological arrest of development with continued
abuse.30 Those with early antisocial behavior, poor
self-esteem, school failure, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder,
learning disabilities, or drug-using friends and those who are
alienated from their peers or families are at increased risk. Depressed
adolescents or those who have been physically or sexually abused may
use alcohol to attempt to cope with their psychological distress and
have a higher incidence of alcohol or other drug
addiction.31,32
Peer Influence
Thirty percent of children in grades 4 through 6 report that they
have received a lot of pressure from their classmates to drink
beer.33 During adolescence, drinking behavior, which often
begins in a family setting, may continue with and be reinforced by
peers. Because vulnerable adolescents generally seek out peer groups
with similar attitudes and behaviors, pressure from this group can
encourage alcohol and other drug use and other high-risk activities.
Excessive drinking is more likely to occur outside the home with peers
than within the family setting. Adolescents, like adults, may use
alcohol to reduce social inhibitions and to accompany sexual
activity.34
Media Influence
Alcohol use permeates western society. Alcohol is advertised
widely and is often seen by adolescents on television and in movies.
Content analyses of alcohol advertisements on television show that the
ads link drinking with highly valued personal attributes, such as
sociability, elegance, and physical attractiveness, and with desirable
outcomes, such as success, relaxation, romance, and
adventure.35 Fifty-six percent of students in grades 5 through 12 say that alcohol advertising encourages them to
drink.36 Studies show that with greater exposure to beer
advertising, children have higher recall of brands or brand characters,
are more likely to expect to drink as adults, and hold more positive
beliefs about the social and ritual uses of beer.35
Econometric studies to date suggest that new restrictions on alcohol
advertising or more counteradvertising could help reduce levels of
alcohol abuse.37
A recent study of more than 300 Web sites found that 25 major alcoholic
beverage companies are using the Internet to advertise, promote, and
sell their products through a variety of marketing techniques that
capitalize on the Internet's strong attraction of young people. Such
techniques include sponsorship of musical and sporting events,
interactive games and contests, and chat and message boards. Overall,
there are now hundreds of Web sites that promote alcohol, drinking, and
specific products.38
Community Attitudes
Alcoholic beverages are repeatedly seen as a reward at the end of
a normal day's work or a sports victory or for any relaxing moment.39,40 A conflicting message about the hazards of
drinking and driving is clearly present with the emergence of the
mini-market, where beer, recreational items, and gasoline are sold at
the same site. The risk of excessive alcohol use is never stated or
even implied.
To properly cope with this serious problem, pediatricians must
have comprehensive and integrated substance abuse training. They will
then be able to properly screen, identify, evaluate, manage, and refer
these patients to competent and qualified health professionals for
further assessment and treatment as indicated. A 1995 periodic survey
of fellows of the American Academy of Pediatrics showed that only 45%
routinely screen their patients for alcohol use and that many
pediatricians feel inadequately trained in this area.41
Respondents felt a need for further information and skills in the area
of pediatric substance abuse. Most pediatricians (84%) do not use
written questionnaires to inquire about adolescent patients' substance
use. Brief screens for adolescent substance abuse are available. One
such screening tool, CRAFFT, has been proposed to identify patients
with alcohol abuse problems (Table
1).42
TABLE 1
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INTRODUCTION
Top
Abstract
Introduction
References
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ALCOHOL USE AND ABUSE AMONG YOUTH
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HAZARDS OF ALCOHOL USE
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FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO ALCOHOL USE AND ABUSE
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THE ROLE OF THE PEDIATRICIAN
CRAFFT
Questions to Identify Adolescents With Alcohol Abuse
Problems*42
When health care providers for children and adolescents assess their patients' use of alcohol as a routine part of risk behavior assessment and discuss alcohol refusal skills with their patients, they may reinforce nonuse behaviors, especially when risk factors for problem drinking, such as a family history of alcoholism, are present. This assessment is most effective when done in a nonjudgmental manner. As parents and communities work together to develop alcohol-free activities, pediatricians have an opportunity to use their unique knowledge, perspective, and training by supporting and participating in such activities and educational programs.
Specific recommendations as to the best management tools and techniques, such as contracts and designated driver programs, are not being made, because the data for such management options, although often used, are not yet conclusive. However, specific information on management and treatment considerations can be found in the recent American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement "Indications for Management and Referral of Patients Involved in Substance Abuse"43 and manual Substance Abuse: A Guide for Health Professionals44 and the "Adolescent Crosswalk" developed by the American Society of Addiction Medicine.45
RECOMMENDATIONS
Committee on Substance Abuse, 2000-2001
Edward A. Jacobs, MD, Chairperson
Alain Joffe, MD, MPH
John R. Knight, MD
John Kulig, MD, MPH
Peter D. Rogers, MD, MPH
Liaisons
Gayle M. Boyd, PhD
National Institute of Alcohol Abuse
and Alcoholism
Dorynne Czechowicz, MD
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Deborah Simkin, MD
American Academy of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry
Staff
Karen Smith
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FOOTNOTES |
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The recommendations in this statement do not indicate an exclusive course of treatment or serve as a standard of medical care. Variations, taking into account individual circumstances, may be appropriate.
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REFERENCES |
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United States, 1982-1989.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1991;40:178-179,
185-187| |
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