OBJECTIVE: To investigate reasons for seeking or not seeking help for alcohol problems in young adults and to report outcomes in those with problems who thought they did not need help. METHODS: A total of 1003 members of a birth cohort were interviewed at age 25 about the period since the previous interview at age 21. DSM-IV diagnoses were made from reports of alcohol problems over the previous 4 years. Treatment contact for drinking or problems associated with drinking and reasons for seeking or not seeking help were reported. Alcohol consumption was reported for the year before interview. RESULTS: Alcohol-specific treatment contact was uncommon: 26 of 351 with any alcohol problems made contact (7%). Even in the subgroup with alcohol dependence, only 24% made contact (13/55). Most (19/26) sought treatment because they felt they needed it. Of those with problems who did not seek help or advice, nearly all (96%) thought they did not need help. Approximately one-quarter thought the problem would get better by itself (29%) or did not think to seek help (25%). No more than 5% reported any other attitudinal or practical reason. Outcomes in the year before interview for those who thought they did not need help showed that 75% continued to experience problems and almost all drank well above guidelines at least on their heaviest drinking occasion. Only 43% had attempted to quit or cut down on their drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol-related problems were experienced by approximately one-third of these young adults but treatment contact for these problems was uncommon. Belief in ability to handle problems oneself was often not matched by action.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate reasons for seeking or not seeking help for alcohol problems in young adults and to report outcomes in those with problems who thought they did not need help. METHODS: A total of 1003 members of a birth cohort were interviewed at age 25 about the period since the previous interview at age 21. DSM-IV diagnoses were made from reports of alcohol problems over the previous 4 years. Treatment contact for drinking or problems associated with drinking and reasons for seeking or not seeking help were reported. Alcohol consumption was reported for the year before interview. RESULTS:Alcohol-specific treatment contact was uncommon: 26 of 351 with any alcohol problems made contact (7%). Even in the subgroup with alcohol dependence, only 24% made contact (13/55). Most (19/26) sought treatment because they felt they needed it. Of those with problems who did not seek help or advice, nearly all (96%) thought they did not need help. Approximately one-quarter thought the problem would get better by itself (29%) or did not think to seek help (25%). No more than 5% reported any other attitudinal or practical reason. Outcomes in the year before interview for those who thought they did not need help showed that 75% continued to experience problems and almost all drank well above guidelines at least on their heaviest drinking occasion. Only 43% had attempted to quit or cut down on their drinking. CONCLUSIONS:Alcohol-related problems were experienced by approximately one-third of these young adults but treatment contact for these problems was uncommon. Belief in ability to handle problems oneself was often not matched by action.
Authors: Veena A Satyanarayana; Krishna Vaddiparti; Prabha S Chandra; Catina C O'Leary; Vivek Benegal; Linda B Cottler Journal: Drug Alcohol Rev Date: 2010-09
Authors: Mary Beth Miller; Chelsea B Deroche; Lindsey K Freeman; Chan Jeong Park; Nicole A Hall; Pradeep K Sahota; Christina S McCrae Journal: Sleep Date: 2021-02-12 Impact factor: 6.313