Prevalence and correlates of alcohol use among adolescents attending school in Kerala, India
Abstract
Introduction and Aims: Concern around potentially increasing alcohol use among young people has been growing in public discourse in India. However, there are few published studies on this issue. We studied the prevalence, patterns and correlates of alcohol use among adolescents in Ernakulam, Kerala State, India. Design and Methods: A total of 7560 students in the age group 12–19 years from 73 schools completed a self‐administered questionnaire incorporating standardised instruments to assess alcohol use. Results: The overall prevalence of lifetime alcohol among adolescents use was 15% (23.2% among boys and 6.5% among girls) with prevalence increasing with age, and 25.3% of drinkers reported hazardous alcohol use. The mean age at onset of alcohol use was 13.6 years. Initiation of alcohol use typically preceded use of tobacco and illicit drugs. Most students reported initiation into alcohol use by family members in the context of family celebrations. The prevalence of alcohol use was higher among students from urban areas and those with a part‐time job. Lower use was seen among Muslims. Lifetime alcohol use was associated with significantly higher tobacco and illicit drug use, suicidal thoughts, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptom‐scores, history of non‐contact sexual abuse and with poor academic performance. Discussion and Conclusions: Alcohol use among adolescents in India deserves greater attention than it has previously received, marked as it is by an early onset and associated with a range of negative mental health problems. [ Jaisoorya T S, Beena K V, Beena M, Ellangovan K, Jose D C, Thennarasu K, Benegal V. Prevalence and correlates of alcohol use among adolescents attending school in Kerala, India. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:523–529]
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Psychiatric issues, illicit substance use, and general psychological distress of young people often go unnoticed and are underdiagnosed and undertreated.
“Psychiatric issues, illicit substance use, and general psychological distress of young people often go unnoticed and are underdiagnosed and undertreated, as mental health issues add to their distress, while stigma and other environmental factors prevent them from seeking help.9–11”
From Mental Health, Suicidality, Health, and Social Indicators Among College Students Across Nine States in India (2025) · cites this paper as [11]
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- Authors
- Jaisoorya, T. S., Beena, K. V., Beena, M., Ellangovan, K., Jose, D. C., Thennarasu, K., & Benegal, V.
- Affiliations
- National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IN)
- National Rural Health Mission (Kerala) India
- Department of Health and Family Welfare (Kerala) India
- Corresponding author
- Jaisoorya, T.S.
- Venue
- Drug and Alcohol Review
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2015-12-29
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 523-529
- ISSN
- 0959-5236 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-3362
- OpenAlex
- W2209811914
- Cited by
- 42
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 2.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Drug and Alcohol Review (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Rural Health Mission
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Demography › Youth, Drugs, and Violence
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Health and Behaviors
- Keywords
- adolescent alcohol use, alcohol use prevalence, hazardous drinking, age at onset of drinking, family celebrations, tobacco use, illicit drug use, suicidal ideation, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, sexual abuse, academic performance, gender differences, Kerala
- MeSH terms
- Underage Drinking, Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Age Factors, Alcohol Drinking, Child, Female, Humans, India, Male, Prevalence, Age of Onset, Young Adult
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