Is early onset of alcohol use associated with greater alcohol intake later in life?

PAUTASSI R.M.

Cordoba

Congreso; Determinants of Alcoholism: bridging the gap between epidemiological and basic research; 2019

Latin American Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (LASBRA)

Clinical and pre-clinical data were discussed in terms of the so called early debur effect. It has been shown that an early alcohol onset is associated with greater likelihood of subsequent alcohol use or alcohol use disorders (AUD), a finding that prompted educational and public policy efforts to impede or at least delay the age of first use of alcohol. Yet, it is not clear if these two events (i.e., first alcohol use and increased probability of later alcohol use) are linked in a causal chain. Some claim that both are manifestations of a third factor (e.g., pre-existing psychopathology) whereas others suggest that an early onset of alcohol use only heightens risk of AUD in those already at risk for these disorders, for instance due to chronic stress exposure or because of exhibiting a positive family history of alcohol problem.