Prevalence of alcohol misuse among adolescents and young adults evaluated in a primary care setting.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of alcohol misuse among older adolescents and young adults evaluated in a primary care setting using the CAGE questionnaire.


METHODS
In this crossover descriptive study, a general practitioner, using the CAGE questionnaire, interviewed consecutive primary care patients aged 18-30 years.


RESULTS
29.5% of adolescents and young adults answered "yes" to at least one question of the CAGE questionnaire. However, only 7.4% of study participants gave an affirmative answer to at least two CAGE questions. There were more males than females among subjects who answered "yes" to at least one question. Furthermore, males more commonly gave an affirmative answer to at least two CAGE questions.


CONCLUSIONS
A substantial number of older adolescents and young adults evaluated at a primary care center may have alcohol misuse. Instruments with higher sensitivity may be preferable in screening procedures for alcohol misuse. Responses suggestive of problematic drinking should be confirmed during the second post-screening stage with a more detailed discussion about patterns of use, problems related to drinking, and symptoms of alcohol use disorder. Further studies of prevention interventions in adolescents and young adults are needed.
Carballo
Juan J
JJ
Puerta de Hierro Hospital, Universidad Autonoma, Madrid, Spain. carballj@childpsych.columbia.edu
Oquendo
Maria A
MA
Giner
Lucas
L
Garcia-Parajua
Pedro
P
Iglesias
Jorge J
JJ
Goldberg
Pablo H
PH
Zalsman
Gil
G
Chaudhury
Sadia R
SR
Sher
Leo
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires