Problem alcohol use in young Australian adults.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the extent to which excessive drinking in young adults is associated with alcohol abuse and dependence.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analyses were conducted using data from the eighth wave of the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study, which comprised 1943 Victorians currently aged 24-25 years drawn from 44 secondary schools across the state in 1992. The main outcome measures of interest were short-term risk drinking status (based on daily alcohol consumption) and long-term risk drinking status (based on total weekly alcohol consumption).


RESULTS
Two out of 5 participants drank at moderate to high risk levels for short-term harm. Yet, because young people tend to drink on only 1-2 days a week, fewer (22%) were at moderate to high risk for long-term harm. Although 20% of the participants met criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence, most of those in the moderate- to high-risk drinking categories were not diagnosed with either alcohol disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
Excessive alcohol use in one or two sessions a week appears to be common in young Australian adults. While short- and long-term risky drinking is more common in those with an alcohol use disorder, the majority of moderate- and high-risk drinking is done by those who do not meet criteria for an alcohol use disorder.
Reid
Sophie C
SC
Centre for Adolescent Health, 2 Gatehouse Street, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia. sophie.reid@mcri.edu.au
Ukoumunne
Obioha C
OC
Coffey
Carolyn
C
Teesson
Maree
M
Carlin
John B
JB
Patton
George C
GC
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014739:Victoria