NCJ Number
214683
Journal
Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2006 Pages: 139-149
Date Published
April 2006
Length
11 pages
Annotation
In an effort to prevent the high mortality rate of young people from the use of alcohol, this French study set out to determine whether it was possible to detect behaviors which increased the risk of alcohol use in youth in preventive health centers and whether the characteristics of those screened individuals were similar to those treated for alcohol abuse.
Abstract
It is clear that young adults, under the age of 25 present significant earlier use of substances compared to older age groups, whether they have been identified as alcohol abusers or as requiring medical care. Those under age 25 prefer spirits and beer, drink weekly and more often in a bar or in different places. They are much more likely to consume cannabis, to take psychotropic medicine, and to have been drunk. However, they are less likely to take prescribed medicine. It is recommended that detection and reduction of risks should be part of a prevention policy that would be targeted towards life contexts and the management of risky situations. In spite of prevention strategies, the mortality resulting from alcohol abuse in young French people is too high. Identifying alcohol abuse among young people in preventive medicine or alcohol centers in 2001-2002, this French study analyzed data from patients under 25 and compared them to the same age group of young adults who were consulting in preventive medicine centers. Tables and references