Binge drinking and frequent or heavy drinking among adolescents: prevalence and associated factors

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the sociodemographic, school, and family factors associated with the patterns of binge drinking and frequent or heavy drinking among adolescents. Methods: This was a cross‐sectional study, nested in a randomized controlled trial, of 6285 seventh and eighth grade adolescent students from Brazilian public schools. The associations between binge drinking (consumption of five or more doses of alcohol on a single occasion) in the last 12 months and frequent or heavy drinking (alcohol consumption on six or more days) in the last month and the several factors were analyzed through weighted logistic regression. Results: 16.5% of the students reported binge drinking in the year before the interview and 2.2% reported frequent/heavy drinking in the previous month. The factors associated with binge drinking were cigarette smoking (OR = 6.7, 95% CI = 3.96; 11.23), use of marijuana (OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.17; 4.31), use of inhalant drugs (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.98; 4.43), exposure to a drunk relative (OR = 2.1, 95% C = 1.67; 2.53), practice of bullying (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.47; 2.17), verbal aggression (OR = 1.7, 95%CI = 1.40; 2.14), and intermediate/low school grades (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.35; 2.20). The factors associated with frequent/heavy drinking were cigarette smoking (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.16; 5.22), use of marijuana (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.32; 7.72), and physical aggression (OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.36; 3.50). Conclusions: The analyzed outcomes showed an association between the risk consumption of alcohol in early adolescence and low academic performance, involvement with other drugs, aggressiveness, and witnessing episodes of a family member's drunkenness. Considering the impact on public health of the damages caused by alcohol consumption during adolescence, these factors that showed such association should be considered in the development of preventive interventions. Resumo: Objetivo: Analisar os fatores sociodemográficos, escolares e familiares associados aos padrões binge drinking, beber frequente ou beber pesado em adolescentes. Métodos: Estudo transversal aninhado em ensaio controlado randomizado entre 6.387 estudantes do 7° e 8° anos de escolas públicas brasileiras. Associações entre o binge drinking (consumo de cinco ou mais doses de álcool em uma única ocasião) nos últimos 12 meses e o beber frequente/beber pesado (consumo de álcool em seis ou mais dias) no último mês e os diversos fatores foram analisados por meio de regressão logística ponderada. Resultados: Dos estudantes, 16,5% reportaram ter praticado binge drinking no ano anterior à entrevista e 2,2% praticaram beber frequente/beber pesado no último mês. Os fatores associados ao binge drinking foram consumo de cigarro (OR = 6,7, IC95% = 3,96; 11,23), maconha (OR = 2,2, IC95% = 1,17; 4,31), uso de inalantes (OR = 3,0, IC95% = 1,98; 4,43), exposição a algum familiar embriagado (OR = 2,1, IC95% = 1,67; 2,53), prática de bullying (OR = 1,8, IC95% = 1,47; 2,17), agressão verbal (OR = 1,7, IC95% = 1,40; 2,14), notas médias e baixas (OR = 1,7, IC95% = 1,35; 2,20). Os fatores associados ao beber frequente/beber pesado foram o consumo de cigarro (OR = 2,5, IC95% = 1,16; 5,22), maconha (OR = 3,2, IC95% = 1,32; 7,72), agressão física (OR = 2,2, IC95% = 1,36; 3,50). Conclusões: Os desfechos analisados evidenciaram associação do consumo de risco de álcool no início da adolescência com o baixo desempenho escolar, envolvimento com outras drogas, agressividade e vivência de episódios de embriaguez dos familiares. Considerando o impacto na saúde pública dos prejuízos decorrentes do consumo de risco de álcool na adolescência, estes fatores que evidenciaram associação devem ser considerados na construção de intervenções preventivas. Keywords: Adolescents, Alcohol, Students, Binge drinking, Palavras‐chave: Adolescentes, Álcool, Estudantes, Binge drinking