PATTERNS OF USE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO DSM-IV ABUSE AND DEPENDENCEOF ALCOHOL AMONG ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG-ADULTS

First use and initiation of regular alcohol use has been frequently fo und to start in adolescence. However, only few studies have also inves tigated how many adolescents proceed during ages 14-24 to harmful drin king or even develop alcohol use disorders, This paper - using the EDS P baseline sample of 3,021 community respondents from the Munich area - examines the prevalence of use, abuse and dependence and investigate s the dose/disorder relationship. Alcohol abuse was reported by 9.7% o f respondents and alcohol dependence by 6.2%. Men were more likely to report an alcohol disorder than women, prevalence also increased in th e older age cohorts, However, even among 14- to 17-year-olds a substan tial proportion of respondents report high and regular consumption rat es, the occurrence of abuse and dependence criteria and even a full de pendence syndrome. There is however only a moderate association betwee n average number of standard drinks consumed with the risk of developi ng abuse and dependence. In light of the substantial rates among adole scents and young adults the validity of DSM-IV alcohol disorder criter ia is discussed.