Adolescent Repeated Alcohol Intoxication as a Predictor of Young Adulthood Alcohol Abuse: The Role of Socioeconomic Context.

AIMS: Trajectories of alcohol abuse from adolescence onwards are not well known. We examined the relationship between repeated alcohol intoxication in adolescence and later alcohol abuse, testing whether this association varies depending on individuals' socioeconomic context.

METHODS: Study participants (n = 674, age 22-35 years in 2009) belong to the French TEMPO cohort study; their parents also participate in an epidemiological study-the GAZEL cohort. Repeated alcohol intoxication was assessed by questionnaire in adolescence (1999) (defined by ≥3 episodes of alcohol intoxication in the preceding 12 months). In young adulthood (2009), alcohol abuse was assessed by the WHO AUDIT questionnaire. Socioeconomic characteristic studied was childhood family income. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models controlling for age, sex, childhood temperament, parental history of alcohol use, and the quality of family relations.

RESULTS: Among adolescents who reported repeated alcohol intoxication, 30.8% reported alcohol abuse in young adulthood (adjusted OR=4.27, 95%CI 2.21-8.27). This association appeared stronger in participants who grew up in families with low income (adjusted OR=11.86, 95%CI 3.35-41.94 vs. 2.49, 95%CI 1.09-5.68 for youths from families with intermediate or high income).

CONCLUSIONS: In most adolescents (69.2%), alcohol abuse is a time-limited behavior. Nonetheless, in participants from low income families, the likelihood of persistent alcohol abuse beyond adolescence may be increased. Although some limitations are noted, a preliminary conclusion is that alcohol abuse trajectories over time need to be monitored, particularly in certain subgroups.