Citation

Geels LM, Vink JM, van Beek JH, Willemsen G, Bartels M, Boomsma DI. Tijdschr. Psychiatr. 2013; 55(8): 585-597.

Vernacular Title

Vroege alcoholinitiatie en verhoogde alcoholconsumptie op volwassen leeftijd; oorzaak of indicator?

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Uitgeverij de Tijdstroom)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

23964004

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Early alcohol initiation is strongly associated with increased alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse/dependence in adulthood. The mechanisms that underlie this association are unclear. AIM: To examine whether there is a causal link between early alcohol initiation and later alcohol consumption. METHOD: Survey data were collected from twin pairs (age range 18-80) included in the Netherlands Twin Register (ntr). A discordant twin design was used to examine the origin of the link between early alcohol initiation and adult alcohol consumption. Within monozygotic pairs (82-143 pairs), twins who started drinking early were compared to their brother/sister who started drinking later, on frequency of alcohol use, weekly alcohol consumption, number of alcohol intoxications, excessive drinking, alcohol abuse/-dependence, and hazardous drinking. By drawing comparisons within monozygotic pairs, we were able to control for the effects of genes/shared environment. Additional analyses examined the effects of age, sex, and in-/exclusion of lifelong abstainers. RESULTS: Within monozygotic twin pairs, the twin who had started drinking early did not differ significantly from his/her brother/sister with respect to future alcohol consumption. Results were independent of age, sex, and in-/exclusion of lifelong abstainers. CONCLUSION: Early alcohol initiation did not have significant causal effects on subsequent alcohol consumption in adulthood and may be an indicator of a predisposition for alcohol consumption. Campaigns aimed at raising the minimum age for alcohol initiation will possibly have only a limited effect on adult alcohol consumption.

Language: nl