Does binge drinking at the age of 18 and 25 years predict alcohol ependence in adulthood?

In France, a retrospective case–control study was conducted to evaluate whether frequent binge drinking between the age of 18 and 25 years was a risk factor for alcohol dependence in adulthood.
Alcohol-dependent patients between 25 and 45 years and referred to the Department of Addictive Medicine of a university hospital between
1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017 for alcohol dependence were included in the study. Controls were non-alcohol-dependent adults, defined according to an Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score of less than 8, and were matched on age and sex with cases. Data on sociodemographics, behaviour and alcohol consumption were retrospectively collected for three life periods: before the age of 18 years; between the age of 18 and 25 years; and between the age of 25 and 45 years. Frequency of binge drinking between 18 and 25 years was categorised as frequent if more than twice a month, occasional if once a month and never if no binge drinking.
Frequent binge drinking between 18 and 25 years occurred in 75.9% of cases and 41.0% of controls. After multivariate analysis, frequent binge drinking between 18 and 25 years was a risk factor for alcohol dependence between 25 and 45 years: adjusted OR=2.83, 95% CI 1.10 to 7.25.
The authors conclude that frequent binge drinking between 18 and 25 years appears to be a risk factor for alcohol dependence in adulthood. Prevention measures for binge drinking during pre adulthood, especially frequent binge drinking, should be implemented to prevent acute consequences as injury and death and long-term consequences as alcohol dependence, they suggest.
Source: Does binge drinking between the age of 18 and 25 years predict alcohol dependence in adulthood? A retrospective case–control study in France. Marie- Pierre Tavolacci, Quentin Berthon, Damiano Cerasuolo, Pierre Dechelotte, Joel Ladner, Alexandre Baguet. BMJ Open.