Relationship between adolescent binge drinking and childhood alcohol use

Abstract

In this issue of The Journal, Sanchez et al from the Universidade Federal de São Paulo have evaluated the hypothesis that childhood alcohol use may predict adolescent binge drinking in more than 17 000 high school students in Brazil. Logistic regression testing was used to evaluate the relationship between the first alcohol use and adolescent binge drinking. Adolescents who first used alcohol during childhood, as compared with those who only used alcohol at later stages, were more likely to engage in binge-drinking behaviors. They also had a pattern of heavy alcohol use and recent use of illegal drugs. The authors conclude that childhood alcohol use is a risk factor for the most dangerous patterns of alcohol use in adolescence, also noting an association with parental alcohol use. Article page 363▶ Childhood Alcohol Use May Predict Adolescent Binge Drinking: A Multivariate Analysis among Adolescents in BrazilThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 163Issue 2PreviewTo test the hypothesis that first alcohol use during childhood is associated with heavy drinking patterns during adolescence and with parental drinking patterns and parental rules about alcohol consumption. Full-Text PDF