Experimental use of alcohol in early adolescence: the 11-year follow-up of the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort study

Alcohol use and alcohol-related problems among adolescents in China: A large-scale cross-sectional study

Alcohol misuse among adolescents is a common issue worldwide and is an emerging problem in China. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of alcohol drinking and alcohol-related problems among Chinese adolescents and to explore their risk factors and connections.A cross-sectional study using an anonymous questionnaire was conducted among junior and senior high school students between 2010 and 2012. Data on self-reported alcohol use, alcohol-related problems, school factors, family factors, and psychosocial factors were collected. Descriptive analyses were made of the proportions of sociodemographics, family, school, and psychosocial factors. Multilevel logistic regression models were conducted to analyze the risk factors for alcohol drinking and alcohol-related problems.Of the 105,752 students who ranged in age from 9 to 21 years, the prevalence of current drinking among students was 7.3%, and 13.2% students reported having alcohol-related problems. Male students were 1.78 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.69-1.87) times more likely to be involved in current drinking and 1.86 (95% CI = 1.79-1.93) times more likely to have alcohol-related problems. Higher grade level students were at a higher risk of current drinking (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.05-1.13) and having alcohol-related problems (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.42-1.58). Older students were more likely to report current drinking (AOR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.04-1.17) and having alcohol-related problems (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.82-1.85). Having poor classmate relations (AOR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.03-1.37), having poor relationships with teachers (AOR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.00-1.16), and below average academic achievement (AOR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.41-1.59) were positively associated with current drinking. Moreover, students with suicidal ideation were at a higher risk of current drinking (AOR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.61-1.81) and having alcohol-related problems (AOR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.98-2.16). Having higher Center for Epidemiology Scale for Depression scores was positively associated with current drinking (AOR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.05-1.11) and having alcohol-related problems (AOR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.06-1.18).Alcohol drinking and alcohol-related problems among Chinese adolescents are major public health problems, and effective preventive programs will require full consideration of the individual, social, and environmental factors that facilitate and prevent alcohol use.

Alcohol consumption among adolescents: attitudes, behaviors and associated factors

The scope of this paper is to assess the attitudes and behaviors regarding alcohol use and analyze associated factors among schoolchildren in public schools of Campina Grande in the state of Paraíba. A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 574 adolescents, with the application of a semi-structured questionnaire. The chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used (5% level of significance). Among the adolescents 54.5% had drunk alcohol and 6.7% of them were heavy drinkers. The majority of them drank alcohol between 11 and 14 years of age (42.8%); 26.3% of the adolescents purchased alcoholic beverages; and beer was the most drink most consumed (43.8%). The risk of alcohol drinking was higher between 16 and 19 years of age (OR = 4.44; p < 0.001), among those without religious affiliation (OR = 4.36; p = 0.002), among those who worked (OR = 2.13; p = 0.012) and among those who had a fair to poor relationship with their father (OR = 2.18; p = 0.010). The results of this study underscore the complexity of this issue and the need to pay particular attention to the adolescent population. Public policies alone are not sufficient. Support from family, school and society is essential to curtail early alcohol use and its consequences.

Pharmacological characterization of the nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor on ethanol-mediated motivational effects in infant and adolescent rats

Activation of nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOP) receptors attenuates ethanol drinking and prevents relapse in adult rodents. In younger rodents (i.e., infant rats), activation of NOP receptors blocks ethanol-induced locomotor activation but does not attenuate ethanol intake. The aim of the present study was to extend the analysis of NOP modulation of ethanol's effects during early ontogeny. Aversive and anxiolytic effects of ethanol were measured in infant and adolescent rats via conditioned taste aversion and the light-dark box test; whereas ethanol-induced locomotor activity and ethanol intake was measured in adolescents only. Before these tests, infant rats were treated with the natural ligand of NOP receptors, nociceptin (0.0, 0.5 or 1.0 μg) and adolescent rats were treated with the specific agonist Ro 64-6198 (0.0, 0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg). The activation of NOP receptors attenuated ethanol-induced anxiolysis in adolescents only, and had no effect on ethanol's aversive effects. Administration of Ro 64-6198 blocked ethanol-induced locomotor activation but did not modify ethanol intake patterns. The attenuation of ethanol stimulating and anxiolytic effect by activation of NOP receptors indicates a modulatory role of this receptor on ethanol effects, which is expressed early in ontogeny.

[Prevalence and associated factors of alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction]

The scope of this study is to estimate the prevalence of alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction and the respective associated factors in the urban population of a city of northeastern Brazil. It is a population-based cross-sectional study that investigated the consumption of alcohol of 270 people living in the urban area of Jequié, State of Bahia. Alcohol abuse, defined by a score of > 8 from responses to the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Alcohol addiction was identified by a score > 2 obtained in the application of the Cut down, Annoyed by criticism, Guilty and Eye-opener (CAGE). The analysis used the logistic regression model. The prevalence of alcohol abuse was 18.5%. For alcohol addiction it was 10.4%. After adjusted analysis, the groups with greater alcohol abuse were men (OR = 5.56) and young (OR = 5.41). Professing evangelical belief was inversely associated with alcohol abuse (OR = 0.04). An association between alcohol abuse was established in the young, males, and smoking, whereas the inverse association was observed with those professing evangelical religious beliefs.

Relação entre violência física, consumo de álcool e outras drogas e bullying entre adolescentes escolares brasileiros

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar a associação entre o consumo de álcool e outras drogas e o bullying com o envolvimento em situações de violência física entre adolescentes de 13 a 15 anos, em escolas públicas e privadas das capitais brasileiras e do Distrito Federal. Foram analisados os dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar (PeNSE) de 2009. Para análise dos dados foi utilizada a regressão logística. A prevalência de envolvimento em situações de violência física foi 12,9% maior no sexo masculino. Em ambos os sexos, foram observadas associações entre violência física e ser vítima de bullying com o uso de drogas ilícitas e efeito potencializado do consumo de álcool e drogas. Para o sexo masculino, o uso de álcool mostrou associação significante com violência física. Morar o pai ou ambos os genitores na residência apresentou associação inversa para violência física no sexo feminino. O conhecimento de fatores associados à violência física entre adolescentes é importante para auxiliar estratégias de promoção da saúde e da cultura de paz, rompendo com a ideia de que a violência entre adolescentes é algo banal e esperado.

Associação entre comportamentos de risco à saúde de pais e adolescentes em escolares de zona rural de um município do Sul do Brasil

Objetivou-se avaliar a associação entre comportamentos de risco à saúde dos pais e adolescentes escolares de zona rural. Participaram 377 escolares entre 10 e 18 anos e 338 pais. Foram analisados: nível de atividade física no lazer e deslocamento, hábitos de alimentação inadequados, excesso de peso, uso de cigarros e consumo de bebidas alcoólicas. A prevalência de relato de uso de cigarro e álcool nos últimos 30 dias entre os jovens foi de 6,7% e 27%, respectivamente. Quarenta e cinco por cento dos adolescentes não atingiram o escore de atividade física. A adesão aos passos para uma alimentação saudável foi baixa. A atividade física dos adolescentes esteve relacionada de forma positiva com a dos pais, e o consumo de álcool da mãe se associou de forma positiva com o consumo do adolescente. Para os outros comportamentos, não houve associação significativa. Na análise estratificada por sexo, o nível de atividade física do pai se associou ao nível de atividade física das meninas. O comportamento de risco à saúde dos pais associa-se ao mesmo comportamento dos adolescentes de zona rural.