title: Adolescent predictors and environmental correlates of young adult alcohol use problems.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the rates of young adult alcohol and drug use and alcohol problems, adolescent predictors of young adult alcohol problems and correlations with young adult social, work and recreational environments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescents were followed longitudinally into young adulthood. Predictors were measured in grade 9 (average age 15), and environmental correlates and outcomes in young adulthood (average age 21).
  
  
  METHODS
  Students recruited in Victoria, Australia in 2002, were resurveyed in 2010/11.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analytical n=2309, 80% retention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescent self-report predictors included past-month alcohol use. Young adults completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) together with reports of environmental influences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparisons to United States national school graduate samples revealed higher rates of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use (other than cannabis) in Victoria. For example, rates of past month use at age 21-22 were: alcohol 69.3% US versus 84.9%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 81.3-88.6% Victoria; illicit drugs (other than cannabis) 8.8 versus 12.7%, CI 9.7-15.7%. AUDIT alcohol problems (scored 8+) were identified for 41.2%, CI 38.8-43.6% of young adults in Victoria. The likelihood of young adult alcohol problems was higher for frequent adolescent alcohol users and those exposed to environments characterized by high alcohol use and problems in young adulthood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High rates of alcohol problems are evident in more than two in five Australian young adults, and these problems appear to be influenced both by earlier patterns of adolescent alcohol use and by young adult social, work and recreational environments.
authors: Prevention Sciences, School of Psychology and Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing Research, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic., Australia.
authors: John W
authors: JW
authors: Toumbourou
authors: Tracy J
authors: TJ
authors: Evans-Whipp
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Smith
authors: Sheryl A
authors: SA
authors: Hemphill
authors: Todd I
authors: TI
authors: Herrenkohl
authors: Richard F
authors: RF
authors: Catalano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs
keywords: Adolescence; alcohol abuse; alcohol use; environmental influences; longitudinal research; risk factors; young adulthood