16 - Alcohol Misuse in Adolescents: Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Abstract

This chapter discusses the epidemiology of alcohol involvement and Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) in adolescents. Alcohol involvement is typical during adolescence, and AUD has a substantial prevalence in late adolescence. Etiological factors including: genetic and environmental influences, and predictive phenotypes— such as childhood Conduct Disorder (CD) are described. It also reviews the common clinical characteristics, including other substance use and psychiatric comorbidity. The differences between adolescents and adults with AUD are highlighted. The chapter reviews current research on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of AUD in adolescents. The clinical and research recommendations for adolescents with AUD are also presented. The adolescent developmental period is the peak time for initiation of alcohol consumption. Among those who progress to AUD, problems often begin in adolescence. Hence, consideration of adolescent alcohol involvement is critical to a thorough understanding of the etiology of AUD. The study of alcohol involvement in adolescence provides valuable insights into the development of serious alcohol-related pathology including abuse and dependence, because adolescence has been identified as a pivotal period in the history of AUD.