Alcohol Use Disorders in Adolescents

Abstract

1. Hoover Adger Jr, MD, MPH, MBA* 2. Shonali Saha, MD† 1. *Professor of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. 2. †Fellow, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. * AUDIT: : Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test COAs: : children of alcoholics Alcohol is the drug of choice among youth, with 12% of 8th-graders, 22% of 10th-graders, and 29% of 12th-graders reporting heavy episodic drinking. Although prevalence rates are at historic lows, alcohol use continues to be widespread among adolescents, and pediatricians must screen for underage and family alcohol use in health assessment visits. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Discuss the epidemiology of alcohol use in youth and identify problems associated with underage use. 2. Identify the biological and developmental impact of alcohol use in youth. 3. Discuss the health effects of alcohol use and describe the hallmarks of problem drinking. 4. Discuss approaches to screening and assessment for alcohol use disorders and alcohol-related problems. National surveys make it clear that the use of alcohol among adolescents is both widespread and harmful. By the 12th grade, close to three-quarters of adolescents in high school report ever having an alcoholic drink, and more than one-quarter report having their first drink before age 13 years. Data from Monitoring the Future, an annual survey of youth in the United States, show that 71% of high school seniors reported some experience with alcohol in the past; 41% reported use in the last 30 days and, of great concern, 3% reported daily use. More than one-half (58%) of 10th-graders and more than one-third (36%) of 8th-graders report having consumed alcohol at some point in their lives, and more than one-third of 10th-graders (37%) and one of six 8th-graders (16%) report having been drunk in the past. (1) The good news is that the use of alcohol by teens, as well as the use of many of …