Adolescent Alcohol Use and Binge Drinking: An 18-Year Trend Study of Prevalence and Correlates

• DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agu091
• Publication Date: 2015-01-04T01:12:18Z
• Authors: Willy Pedersen; Tilmann von Soest
• Keywords: Binge drinking; Norwegian

Several studies suggest a rapid decrease of alcohol use among adolescents after the turn century. With decreasing prevalence rates smokers, so-called hardening may have taken place, implying that remaining smokers are characterized by more psychosocial problems. Are similar processes witnessed adolescent users as well?In 1992, 2002 and 2010 we used identical procedures to collect data from three population-based samples 16- 17-year-old Norwegians (n = 9207). We collected on consumption, binge drinking, parental factors, other substances, conduct problems, depressive symptoms, social integration, sexual behaviour loneliness.There was steep increase in all measures consumption 1992 2002, followed decline until 2010. Most correlates remained stable over time span.Alcohol consistently related problems; hand, reported higher levels acceptance integration than did non-users. There were no signs 'hardening' seen for tobacco use.