Medical

Alcohol Dependency In Teens Raises Risk Of Depression Later In Life: Study

June 2, 2023

Excessive alcohol consumption is known to lead to several serious health problems in adolescents. Alcohol dependence in adolescence increases the odds of depression in young people, a new study finds.

Alcohol use disorder makes people dependent Alcohol, which they find difficult to stop or limit their intake. They may also be less interested in social and work activities and experience withdrawal symptoms. Even if the habit begins to affect health, life and work, it is difficult for people who are dependent on alcohol to stop drinking.

Newest study Adolescents who show signs of alcohol dependence are more likely to develop depression in their 20s, according to a team of researchers from UCL (University College London) and the University of Bristol.

“By using a large longitudinal data set, we found evidence that problematic drinking patterns in late adolescence may increase the risk of depression many years later,” said co-lead author Dr Gemma Lewis. explain“Problem drinking patterns can be a warning sign of future mental health problems, so helping young people avoid problematic drinking may have long-term benefits for their mental health.”

The study examined the association between signs of problem drinking or alcohol dependence at age 18 and depression six years later.

Researchers found that those who were alcohol dependent between the ages of 17 and 22 were more likely to be depressed at age 24 than their non-alcohol dependent peers. The study also showed that alcoholic teens with no signs of dependence were not at increased risk of depression.

Participants were measured on the Alcohol Dependence Scale, in which an increase from zero to one indicates a 28 percent increase in the likelihood of being unable to stop drinking. Those with an alcohol dependence score of zero at age 18 had an 11 percent chance of developing depression, compared with 15 percent for those with a score of 1.

“While we found that drinking alcohol alone does not appear to increase the likelihood of depression, heavy drinking may be a precursor to dependence and can also have detrimental effects on physical health in the long run. Therefore, high frequency and heavy drinking, as a preventive measure in puberty Or reduced targets are still important,” said co-lead author Gemma Hammerton.