Alcohol Use and Delinquent Behaviors among Youths. The NSDUH Report

摘要

Alcohol use by youths has been linked to delinquent behaviors, such as stealing, illicit drug use, and problems in school.1,2 Research also indicates that early drinkers are more likely than nondrinkers to engage in delinquent behaviors.2 The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) asks persons aged 12 or older to report their alcohol use in their lifetime, the past year, and the past 30 days, as well as binge drinking in the past 30 days. NSDUH defines binge alcohol use as drinking five or more drinks on the same occasion (i.e., at the same time or within a couple of hours of each other) on at least 1 day in the past 30 days. Heavy alcohol use is defined as drinking five or more drinks on the same occasion on each of 5 or more days in the past 30 days; all heavy alcohol users are also binge alcohol users.