NCJ Number
141560
Journal
Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education Volume: 38 Issue: 2 Dated: (Winter 1993) Pages: 92-99
Date Published
1993
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A random sample of 300 undergraduate students living in dormitories at the University of Maine completed questionnaires regarding their patterns of alcohol and drug use. In particular, the surveys were designed to examine the relationship between an early first intoxication experience and the onset of alcohol- or drug-related problems later in college life.
Abstract
The results showed a linear relationship between college- age alcohol use and abuse-related problems and age of first intoxication. The findings suggest that age of onset of alcohol use behavior may predict a number of problems later in life. Substance abuse professionals must recognize that coping skills training should be initiated early, particularly for young people at risk. Clinicians could use age of first intoxication as part of a comprehensive substance abuse assessment and as a means of discussing precipitants to drinking, environmental concerns, expectation sets, and other factors that may influence an individual drinking response. Future research must focus on the impact of other factors which may drive both age of first intoxication and college-age related problems including gender, year in school, and family history of alcohol problems. 1 table and 13 references