US teens abused drugs and drink by adulthood
Source: Agencies |
April 4, 2012, Wednesday
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A survey of American teenagers found that most have used alcohol and drugs by the time they reach adulthood, and researchers said this could be setting many of those kids up for a lifetime of substance abuse.
The survey of more than 10,000 teens, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, found that almost four out of five teens had tried alcohol and over 15 percent were abusing it by the time they turned 18. Some 16 percent were abusing drugs by the age of 18.
"It's in adolescence that the onset of substance abuse disorders occurs for most individuals," said lead author Joel Swendsen, director of research at the National Center of Scientific Research in Bordeaux, France. "That's where the roots take place."
Some 18 percent of adults meet standards for "lifetime abuse" of alcohol, and 11 percent meet the criteria for drug abuse, the study said.
The study is based on interviews with 10,123 US teens between the ages of 13 and 18 years. They were surveyed between February 2001 and January 2004.
About 10 percent of around 3,700 teens between the ages of 13 and 14 were drinking alcohol regularly, defined as 12 drinks within a year. That number jumped to about half on around 2,300 people 17- to 18-year-olds surveyed.
According to Swendsen's team, almost one in three of the regular users in the oldest age group met the criteria for lifetime alcohol abuse. The median age of onset for alcohol abuse, with or without "dependence," was 14.
As for drugs, about 60 percent of the teens said they had the opportunity to use illicit drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, tranquilizers, stimulants and painkillers.
About one in ten of the 13- and 14-year olds said they used at least one such drug, and that increased to about 40 percent in the oldest age group. Marijuana was the most common type of drug used, followed by prescription drugs.
The survey of more than 10,000 teens, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, found that almost four out of five teens had tried alcohol and over 15 percent were abusing it by the time they turned 18. Some 16 percent were abusing drugs by the age of 18.
"It's in adolescence that the onset of substance abuse disorders occurs for most individuals," said lead author Joel Swendsen, director of research at the National Center of Scientific Research in Bordeaux, France. "That's where the roots take place."
Some 18 percent of adults meet standards for "lifetime abuse" of alcohol, and 11 percent meet the criteria for drug abuse, the study said.
The study is based on interviews with 10,123 US teens between the ages of 13 and 18 years. They were surveyed between February 2001 and January 2004.
About 10 percent of around 3,700 teens between the ages of 13 and 14 were drinking alcohol regularly, defined as 12 drinks within a year. That number jumped to about half on around 2,300 people 17- to 18-year-olds surveyed.
According to Swendsen's team, almost one in three of the regular users in the oldest age group met the criteria for lifetime alcohol abuse. The median age of onset for alcohol abuse, with or without "dependence," was 14.
As for drugs, about 60 percent of the teens said they had the opportunity to use illicit drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, tranquilizers, stimulants and painkillers.
About one in ten of the 13- and 14-year olds said they used at least one such drug, and that increased to about 40 percent in the oldest age group. Marijuana was the most common type of drug used, followed by prescription drugs.
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