A study of more than 4,000 sixth-graders in Chicago schools found that 17 percent said that they had used alcohol within the past year, and that those who reported drinking were more likely to get into fights, shoplift, and get into trouble in school, Reuters reported March 11.

Drinking sixth-graders also were more likely than their non-drinking peers to be unsupervised by adults outside of school, according to the study by Keryn Pasch of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and colleagues. Pasch said the research pointed to the need for more parental involvement and prevention programs aimed at younger students.

The research was published in the journal Health Education and Behavior.