Does binge drinking between the age of 18 and 25 years predict alcohol dependence in adulthood? A retrospective case–control study in France
Résumé
Objective A retrospective case–control study was
conducted to evaluate whether frequent binge drinking
between the age of 18 and 25 years was a risk factor for
alcohol dependence in adulthood.
Setting The Department of Addictive Medicine and the
Clinical Investigation Center of a university hospital in
France.
Participants Cases were alcohol-dependent
patients between 25 and 45 years and diagnosed
by a psychiatrist. Consecutive patients referred to
the Department of Addictive Medicine of a university
hospital between 1 January 2017 and 31 December
2017 for alcohol dependence were included in the study.
Controls were non-alcohol-dependent adults, defined
according to an Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
score of less than 8, and were matched on age and sex
with cases. Data on sociodemographics, behaviour and
alcohol consumption were retrospectively collected for
three life periods: before the age of 18 years; between
the age of 18 and 25 years; and between the age of 25
and 45 years. Frequency of binge drinking between 18
and 25 years was categorised as frequent if more than
twice a month, occasional if once a month and never if
no binge drinking.
Results 166 adults between 25 and 45 years were
included: 83 were alcohol-dependent and 83 were
non-alcohol-dependent. The mean age was 34.6 years
(SD: 5.1). Frequent binge drinking between 18 and 25
years occurred in 75.9% of cases and 41.0% of controls
(p<0.0001). After multivariate analysis, frequent binge
drinking between 18 and 25 years was a risk factor for
alcohol dependence between 25 and 45 years: adjusted
OR=2.83,95% CI 1.10 to 7.25.
Conclusions Frequent binge drinking between 18
and 25 years appears to be a risk factor for alcohol
dependence in adulthood. Prevention measures for
binge drinking during preadulthood, especially frequent
binge drinking, should be implemented to prevent
acute consequences as injury and death and long-term
consequences as alcohol dependence