Early Onset of Alcohol Consumption Related to Other Drug Use
July 15, 2008
According to analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiological Survey (NLAES), the earlier persons began drinking alcohol, the more likely they were to have used other drugs illicitly. According to the survey, approximately half the persons who began drinking at age 14 or younger had also used other drugs illicitly, compared to about 10 percent of those who started drinking when 20 years old or older.
An analogous relationship was found between early drinking initiation and drug dependency. Persons who began drinking before age 14 were nearly three times more likely to have been drug dependent than those who began after age 20.
Resources:
For additional information about these NLAES findings, visit http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/cesarfax/vol17/17-26.pdf.
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