Do Teenage Drinking Problems Become Adult Ones?

Teenage drinking problems often turn into adult ones. Kids who drink during their teenage years often become problems drinkers as adults according to a new study published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. One more reason for parents to take a hard line against teen drinking.

Teenage Drinkers: Will They Become Problem Drinkers as Adults?

Researchers used a special index called the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index to check for alcohol problems in 597 Finnish twins at age 18. At age 25, they again tested them using a different assessment tool - to find out if they had alcohol dependence problems or other signs of problem drinking.

The results were disturbing. They discovered that teens who had drinking problems at age 18 were more likely to be problem drinkers at age 25. Contrary to the idea that teenage drinking is a phase and teens are likely to "outgrow" their drinking habits. In fact, teenage drinking problems should raise a red flag about the potential for future adult drinking problems and alcoholism. In this study, the risk was greater for teenage girls than it was for guys.

Researchers used pairs of twins in this study to control for parental and household drinking influences. But even when twins grew up in the same household, the twin who drank heavier as a teen was more likely to be alcohol dependent or a problem drinker at age 25.

What Does This Mean?

Teens who drink heavily have a high risk of becoming problem drinkers or alcoholics during adulthood. This means parents need to take teen drinking seriously and get help for a teen with an alcohol problem. It's unlikely the problem will "go away" as many parents hope.

To keep a teen from becoming a problem drinker, set boundaries. Let them know drinking isn't acceptable and won't be tolerated. Educate them about the health risks of drinking alcohol - and lead by example. Alcohol may be particularly harmful to the brains of adolescents and teens since they're still developing.

Don't keep alcohol within easy reach of teens or drink alcohol when they're around. Teens take cues from their parents as to what's acceptable. Take a hard line against teenage drinking. You'll be lowering the risk that your teen will become an adult alcoholic.

References:

Eurekalert.org. "Why problem drinking during adolescence is never a phase"