Alcohol Use Problem Severity and Problem Behavior Engagement Among School-Based Youths in Minnesota

• NCJ Number: 231375
• Journal: Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 19 Issue: 3 Dated: July-August 2010 Pages: 210-222
• Author(s): Brent E. Mancha; Vanessa C. Rojas-Neese; William W. Latimer
• Date Published: July 2010
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): DA00254; DA007292; MH19545; MH14592
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the level of alcohol use and alcohol problems among youth in Minnesota and their association to problem behavior.

Abstract

This study created an alcohol use problem severity taxonomy and examined its association to engagement in other problem behaviors. Minnesota youths were categorized based on their frequency of alcohol use and DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence criteria. Greater alcohol use problem severity was generally associated with higher prevalence of lifetime and regular marijuana use and higher odds of lifetime sexual intercourse and past-year arrest/law trouble. Knowing about variations in adolescent alcohol use and problems may be instrumental in gauging the degree to which youths may also be engaging in a range of other problem behaviors. Tables and references (Published Abstract)