NCJ Number
201181
Journal
Substance Use & Misuse Volume: 38 Issue: 7 Dated: 2003 Pages: 905-932
Editor(s)
Stanley Einstein Ph.D.
Date Published
2003
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This study analyzed data gathered in a survey in the Sao Paulo City of Brazil which attempted to detect possible differences between young episodic heavy drinkers and other young drinkers and investigated the association of their drinking patterns with other health-compromising behaviors.
Abstract
The data available on alcohol use among young people in Brazil are mainly concentrated on elementary and high school students, suggesting that the first contact with alcohol starts around the age of 10 in Brazilian society. Although the first contact with drinking starts relatively early in life among Brazilians, intoxication or regular drinking is rarely found before late adolescence, and is more prevalent among boys. Two recent studies in Brazil assessed the prevalence of health-related behavior among secondary students from the cities of Sao Paulo and Santos. The Sao Paulo survey was the first study contrasting health behavior patterns between students from private and public schools. None of the analyses performed were designed to associate drinking patterns with other health-related behaviors measured in the survey nor explore differences between drinking habits of the adolescents who drank heavily compared to those who drank moderately. This study attempted to detect possible demographic and behavioral differences among young episodic heavy drinkers and other young drinkers and investigated the association of youth drinking patterns with other health-compromising behaviors through an analysis of data gathered in the Sao Paulo City survey. Seventeen schools were selected with 4 classrooms randomly chosen from 7th to 11th grade. The result was 993 students from the public system and 815 students from the private system participating in the study. Data presented are part of a health behavior survey. The data suggest that a considerable proportion of secondary students from public and private schools in Sao Paulo City do engage in episodic heavy drinking (EHD) and that it is more prevalent among older males. The episodic heavy drinking or binge drinking also indicated adverse consequences from drinking such as physical fights, accidents, and school absenteeism after drinking. The analyses showed that EHD adolescents from both school systems in Sao Paulo are at increased risk for a range of health-compromising behaviors. The most significant concern was the intense association found in the Brazilian sample between EHD and violent behaviors, such as carrying weapons, fighting, and attempting suicide. Future research is recommended in investigating the potential underlying causes and nature of the association found in this study. References