A. Holly et al., PREVALENCE OF ALCOHOL-USE, ABUSE AND DEPE NDENCE IN ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG-ADULTS, Zeitschrift fur klinische Psychologie, 26(3), 1997, pp. 171-178
Alcohol use frequently begins in adolescence. However, only few studie
s have reported the prevalence of alcohol use disorders in adolescents
. This paper reports results from a representative study in a sample o
f 3021 adolescents, aged 14-24 years. The Prevalence of alcohol abuse
and dependence according to DSM-TV criteria, as well as the prevalence
, frequency and quantity of alcohol use and a description of the first
occurring symptoms, are presented here. Alcohol abuse was reported by
9.7 % of respondents and alcohol dependence by 6.2 %. Males were more
likely to report an alcohol disorder than females, and the prevalence
also increased in the older age cohorts. The most frequent initial sy
mptoms were ''hazardous use'' (91.9 %) for abuse and ''tolerance'' (34
.3 %) for dependence. First symptoms have been shown to occur long bef
ore the age of 18. These results show that even in adolescents and you
ng adults alcohol abuse and dependence are frequent disorders.