THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DECLINES IN DRINKING AND ALCOHOL-PROBLEMS AMONG ONTARIO STUDENTS - 1979-1991

This article reports data from a 12-year cross-sectional study of drin king and drinking problems among students in grades 7-13 in Ontario sc hools. It was expected that rates of drinking and levels of drinking p roblems would be related. Large declines in drinking levels were found . however declines were found for only about half of the drinking-prob lem items. No declines were found in rates of the most serious problem s and this indicates there is an unchanging proportion of students wit h drinking problems who will likely need interventions such as treatme nt and counseling.