This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Majority of young adults not advised about drinking, drug or smoking risks
Few young adults were counseled about substance abuse issues in a visit with their physician, according to data published in JAMA Pediatrics.
"Most young adults saw a physician in the past year and the majority were asked about substance abuse," Ralph Hingson, ScD, MPH, Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and colleagues wrote. "However, deplorably low proportions were advised about related health risks and encouraged to reduce or stop drinking, drug use, or smoking."
Hingson and colleagues utilized data from the NEXT Generation Health Study on a national sample of 10th graders, to assess the screening and counseling of young adults in regards to substance abuse. They reported data from 2,140 participants who had been surveyed annually up to 1 year past high school.
Ralph Hingson
Results demonstrated that participants in community college or 4-year college were more likely to have seen a physician in the past year than participants not in college. Of the participants in college, less than half were advised about substance abuse–related health risks. Additionally, of the college students who reported that they frequently used drugs, smoked or drank, less than one-third were advised to stop or reduce.
Hingson and colleagues noted various barriers, including time, fear of confidentiality, lack of reimbursement and physician training, exist in the screening and intervention of young adults that abuse substances.
"Efforts are needed to remove these barriers to screening for all substances and particularly for alcohol misuse because it is the most widely used substance by youth and is the leading contributor to injuries, the leading cause of death in that age group," they wrote. – by Chelsea Frajerman Pardes
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.