According to Dr. Paul Rohde and colleagues at the Oregon Research Institute in Eugene, adolescents with drinking problems are more likely to have alcohol abuse and other psychological problems in early adulthood.

Their conclusions were based on a long-term study of more than 900 Oregon high-school students who were interviewed between the ages of 14 and 18, and again at age 24. Of the original group, 82 students were diagnosed with alcohol-use disorder, which means they either abused alcohol or were dependent on it. Another 141 were called problem drinkers, defined as having some symptoms of alcohol dependence.

According to the research, students who had been diagnosed with alcohol-use disorder were more likely to have drinking problems and personality disorders at age 24 than those who had no drinking problem in high school. Students defined as problem drinkers also were more likely than other non-drinking students to have problems later on in life.

The researchers recommended screening teens for alcohol problems to lessen psychological difficulties and addiction in later life.

The study is published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

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