Alcohol use and physical health in adolescence: a general population survey of 8,983 young people in North-Trøndelag, Norway (the Young-HUNT study).
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between adolescents' alcohol use and physical health.


METHODS
A total population, cross-sectional survey of adolescents, aged 13-19 years, attending secondary or high school in Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway. 8,983 youths (91%) answered the Young-Hunt questionnaire in the 1995-1997 HUNT-survey.


METHODS
Self-reported data mainly analyzed by logistic regression models. Findings 80% of the respondents had tried alcohol, and 29% reported more than 10 intoxications. Ill health perception was associated with frequent alcohol intoxications. Tension symptoms had the closest relationship to frequency of intoxications in both genders. Girls that frequently used health services had frequent alcohol intoxications.


BACKGROUND
Central Norway Regional Health and the County Council of Nord-Trøndelag.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a close association of physical health complaints and alcohol intoxication frequency in Norwegian teenagers. The study's limitations were noted.
Strandheim
Arve
A
Department of Public Health and General Practice, The Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway. arve.strandheim@ntnu.no
Holmen
Turid Lingaas
TL
Coombes
Lindsey
L
Bentzen
Niels
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult