Adolescent binge drinking and related disorders are worldwide public health problems.
The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs surveyed 16-year-old adolescents in 35 countries. Defined as the consumption of five or more drinks per episode, binge drinking had occurred in 43% of these adolescents in the prior 30 days.
Eleven countries were noted to have rates of over 50% (e.g., United Kingdom 54%; Portugal 56%) and all but two countries had rates over 30%. In the US, about one-third of high school seniors reported binge drinking in the prior two weeks. Comparable adolescent alcohol involvement has been noted for some Western Pacific countries, including Australia and New Zealand.
For over a decade, governmental and professional organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Surgeon General, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics have called on health care practitioners to become more involved in providing screening, brief intervention, and referral for treatment (SBIRT) for adolescent drinkers.
While often somewhat general, SBIRT guidance has been offered by some organizations ( see also Box 1) and in review articles. Moreover, although there is a consensus that the health care system is an appropriate SBIRT venue, most adolescents visiting health care providers do not receive these services .
This Policy Forum identifies the problems impeding SBIRT for adolescents and proposes some solutions.
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