Alcohol-Related Problems in Young People: How are Such Problems Linked to Gender, Drinking Levels, and Cannabis Use?

Abstract

This paper focuses on problems related to drinking, including interpersonal aggression, accidents and injuries, trouble with the police, and problems at school or work. The data stem from a representative, longitudinal survey of Norwegian youth aged 19 to 22 years at the first assessment and 25 to 28 at the last. Men reported more problems due to drinking, in both alcohol consumption and general problem proneness, than women. Furthermore, early age at first intoxication seemed to be a male-specific predictor of negative consequences of drinking. Cannabis users reported more alcohol-related problems than others. There was a substantial reduction in problems attributed to drinking between late adolescence and early adulthood, implying that little individual stability in such problems was found. Even so, multivariate analyses showed that alcohol-related problems before ages 19 to 22 were the most powerful predictor of similar problems 6 years later. Registered criminality, cannabis use, and low self-esteem also had a predictive power, but only for men.