NCJ Number
217557
Journal
Substance Use & Misuse Volume: 42 Issue: 1 Dated: 2007 Pages: 89-111
Date Published
2007
Length
23 pages
Annotation
A self-reported alcohol-use inventory measured the prevalence and frequency of lifetime, recent, and current alcohol use among an opportunity sample of 3,226 youth (ages 11-18) in Welsh secondary schools in 2005; findings were compared with youth alcohol use in the United Kingdom and Europe.
Abstract
Forty-one percent of the youth reported lifetime drunkenness (ever been drunk); 55 percent indicated recent use (in the last month); and 34 percent reported current use (in the last week). The percentage reporting recent alcohol use was lower than the 76 percent of 15- to 16-year-olds reporting recent alcohol use across Europe. Alcopops and beer were the most common alcoholic drinks consumed over the past month. Boys were significantly more likely than girls to report lifetime drunkenness, recent alcohol use, and current alcohol use. Lifetime drunkenness increased each year between the ages of 11 to 12 and 17 to 18. Recent and current alcohol use increased each year between the ages of 11 to 12 and 15 to 16, and then declined between the ages of 15 to 16 and 16 to 17. The following composite risk factors were identified as statistically linked with some form of alcohol use: antisocial behavior/attitudes, inadequate relationships and activities in school, negative experiences in school, lack of commitment to school, impulsivity, drug-related behavior and attitudes, lack of parental communication and affection, and psychological problems. The questionnaire was divided into five main sections: measure of perceived levels of access to entitlements; perceptions of exposure to risk and protective factors; and self-reports that measured offending, drug use, and alcohol use. 6 tables, 3 figures, and 55 references