Adult outcomes of binge drinking in adolescence: findings from a UK national birth cohortJ Epidemiol Community Health 2007;61:902–907.
The aim of the study was to determine outcomes in adult life of binge drinking in adolescence in a national birth cohort.
17.7% of participants reported binge drinking in the previous 2 weeks at the age of 16 years. Adolescent binge drinking predicted an increased risk of adult alcohol dependence, excessive regular consumption , illicit drug use , psychiatric morbidity , homelessness , convictions , school exclusion , lack of qualifications , accidents and lower adult social class, after adjustment for adolescent socioeconomic status and adolescent baseline status of the outcome under study. These findings were largely unchanged in models including both adolescent binge drinking and habitual frequent drinking as main effects.
Adolescent binge drinking is a risk behaviour associated with significant later adversity and social exclusion. These associations appear to be distinct from those associated with habitual frequent alcohol use. Binge drinking may contribute to the development of health and social inequalities during the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
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Contributor: Don Phillips
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