The Relationship Between Mental Health and Substance Abuse Among Adolescents

3.9 Psychological Factors and Alcohol Use

Tables 3.4-3.4c present information concerning alcohol use among adolescents classified according to the severity of emotional and behavioral problems.

3.9.1 Emotional Problems and Alcohol Use

The severity of emotional problems is associated with increased likelihood of adolescent alcohol use. Adolescents with high levels of emotional problems were nearly twice as likely as those with low problem scores to have used alcohol in the past month. Past-month alcohol use was reported by approximately 17 percent of adolescents with low emotional problem scores, by 22 percent of those with intermediate problem scores, and by 31 percent of those with serious emotional problems. This pattern was observed among both males and females for very young adolescents aged 12 to 13, for adolescents aged 14 to 15, and for older adolescents aged 16 to 17. Among those with serious emotional problems, alcohol use was highest for older adolescents aged 16 to 17 (43 to 44 percent). A corresponding figure of 14 percent was indicated for very young adolescents aged 12 to 13 with serious emotional problems.

Examination of other alcohol use indicators suggests a consistent pattern of findings. The severity of emotional problems is associated with significantly greater likelihood of binge drinking in the past month (Table 3.4a) and of drunken episodes in the past year (Table 3.4b). Across the various combinations of gender and age, adolescents with high scores for emotional problems tended to report more binge drinking and drunken episodes than those with low scores.

3.9.2 Emotional Problems and Alcohol Dependence

The severity of emotional problems is significantly associated with increased likelihood of alcohol dependence among adolescents (Table 3.4c). Alcohol dependence was reported by 2 percent of adolescents with low levels of emotional problems, by 5 percent of those with intermediate problem scores, and by 10 percent of those with significant emotional problems. Adolescents with more serious emotional problems were four times more likely to report alcohol dependence than those with low levels of emotional problems. Within specific age groups, adolescents with high scores for emotional problems had significantly higher rates of alcohol dependence than those with low scores.

3.9.3 Behavioral Problems and Alcohol Use

The severity of behavioral problems in adolescents is significantly associated with increased likelihood of adolescent alcohol use (Table 3.4). Past-month alcohol use was reported by approximately 14 percent of adolescents with low levels of behavioral problems, by 23 percent of those with intermediate problem scores, and by 38 percent of those with significant behavioral problems. Adolescents with serious behavioral problems were nearly three times more likely to use alcohol than those with low levels of behavioral problems.

Adolescents with serious behavioral problems were significantly more likely to use alcohol than those with less serious behavioral problems. This pattern was observed among both males and females for very young adolescents aged 12 to 13, for adolescents aged 14 to 15, and for older adolescents aged 16 to 17. Alcohol use was highest among older adolescents aged 16 to 17 with serious behavioral problems: 56 percent for males and 50 percent for females. More than 20 percent of very young adolescents with serious behavioral problems reported alcohol use.

The likelihood of past-month binge drinking (Table 3.4a) and drunken episodes in the past year (Table 3.4b) increases with the severity of behavioral problems. This pattern was observed among both males and females for very young adolescents aged 12 to 13, for adolescents aged 14 to 15, and for older adolescents aged 16 to 17.

3.9.4 Behavioral Problems and Alcohol Dependence

The severity of behavioral problems is significantly associated with increased likelihood of alcohol dependence among adolescents (Table 3.4c). Alcohol dependence was reported by approximately 2 percent of adolescents with low scores for behavioral problems, by 4 percent of those with intermediate problem scores, and by 13 percent of those with significant behavioral problems. Adolescents with serious behavioral problems were nearly eight times more likely to report alcohol dependence than those with low levels of behavioral problems. Adolescents with high scores for behavioral problems had significantly higher rates of alcohol dependence than those with low scores, across all the combinations of gender and age. The findings support the conclusion that behavioral problems are highly associated with the likelihood of alcohol use among adolescents. For every alcohol measure, the severity of behavioral problems is associated with increased risk of use.

This page was last updated on June 16, 2008.

SAMHSA, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's lead agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States.