Teens who reported that they sometimes drink alcohol to cope with anger or frustration were more likely to exhibit a range of high-risk drinking behaviors, USA Today reported Dec. 25.

Researchers who conducted a national survey of 1,877 high-school seniors found that 36 percent reported drinking just to experiment, while 32 percent said they drank for the thrill of the experience, and 15 percent said they used alcohol to relax.

However, 18 percent of seniors cited multiple reasons for drinking, including to deal with anger or frustration, and these students were more likely to get drunk during the day, get drunk frequently, and to have started drinking by the sixth grade. Zila Sloboda of the International Society for Prevention Research said that such drinkers may not be receptive to prevention messages that focus on the dangers of alcohol use, but could respond to interventions that help them deal with their frustrations.

The study led by Lori Palen of Pennsylvania State University appears in the December 2007 issue of the journal Prevention Science.