Early alcohol intoxication linked to other psychiatric disorders

Abstract

It is known that young people who use alcohol have an increased risk of substance use disorders (SUDs), but few studies have looked at the rates of other psychiatric disorders in this population. A Finnish study found there are significant associations between early alcohol use and any psychiatric disorder, specifically psychosis, SUDs and mood disorders. The study supports the need for prevention of first instances of alcohol intoxications, the researchers wrote. They found, however, that cigarette smoking and the use of cannabis and other illicit substances was common, especially among those with early alcohol intoxication, suggesting that these young drinkers “may be more likely to have emotional and behavioral problems and use multiple substances,” the researchers wrote in “Age of first alcohol intoxication and psychiatric disorders in young adulthood—A prospective birth cohort study,” published online in Addictive Behaviors March 11.