Depressed young adults more likely to abuse alcohol Information

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Depressed young adults more likely to abuse alcohol

A new study has suggested that young adults who have recently suffered from depression are more likely to exhibit behaviours associated with tobacco, drug and alcohol abuse.

Research by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) suggests that 9.4 per cent of people between the ages of 18 and 25 experienced one or more major depressive episodes in the previous 12 months in the US.

A major depressive episode is defined as a period of two weeks or longer during which the person feels depressed and has lost interest in at least four of a range of symptoms, including sleep, eating, energy, concentration and self-image.

The report found that young adults experiencing recent depressive episodes were approximately 35 per cent more likely to have started using alcohol than young adults who had not recently suffered from depression.

They were also 60 per cent more likely to have started smoking and twice as likely to have begun taking drugs.

Dr Terry Cline, administrator of SAMHSA, said: "This study clearly reveals that too often people turn to cigarettes or other substances to try to deal with depression, creating a double jeopardy for their health and wellbeing."

The report is based on data from nearly 135,000 interviews with young people over the age of 12, including nearly 45,000 young adults.

Article published on 20/11/2020 by PCUG Addiction Treatment