There has been some interesting media attention to various alcohol related issues of late. First, there is a report that people who become dependent on alcohol early in life have more severe battles with the substance and are less likely to ever seek treatment. This makes the fact that alcohol companies persist in marketing toward adolescents all the more troubling.

“Early onset of drinking predicts early onset of dependence, which in turn is associated with chronic, relapsing dependence,” says Dr. Hingson. “Screening and brief motivational counseling can reduce alcohol-related problems among adolescents and college students who are heavy drinkers and needs to be expanded.”

A more optimistic conclusion was made in a study that found that alcohol related loss of cognitive/motor functions may actually be recoverable. For those unaware, years of alcohol abuse can essentially lead to brain damage and debilitation of various cognitive skills. Most previous research concluded that once this process began, recovery was unlikely. Unfortunately, those who are alcoholics that have children may have a profound negative impact on their lives psychologically, often due to domestic violence and abuse.

Finally, a story appeared about adolescents in rural areas having high rates of alcohol abuse due to boredom. In the current era, applied psychology fields are very concerned with issues of diversity and culture, yet one facet of this that is often overlooked is area of upbringing, since there can be stark differences in the experiences people have in urban, suburban, and rural areas. This is another example of a difference that has important implications for mental health of rural residents.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 6 Sep 2006
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.