Latest news with #alcoholuse
Medscape
01-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Fewer Teens Drinking, Unless They've Considered Suicide
TOPLINE: The prevalence of alcohol use and binge drinking declined among adolescents, but those with a recent history of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) showed more modest declines. METHODOLOGY: Researchers analyzed national survey data from 1991 to 2023 involving adolescents in grades 9 through 12 (n = 254,675) to examine temporal trends in use of alcohol and cannabis among those with and without a recent history of STB. Teens were asked if they had suicidal thoughts over the past year or if they had made any attempts at suicide, on the basis of which researchers defined two groups. Current alcohol use was defined as consumption of at least one drink on one or more days in the past 30 days; binge drinking was defined as the consumption of five or more drinks within a couple of hours on one or more days in the past 30 days. Current cannabis use was defined as use over the past 30 days. The trends in the prevalence rates of substance use were studied, as well as biennial percent change (BPC). TAKEAWAY: The prevalence of current alcohol use declined significantly from 2009 to 2023 among those with no STB (BPC, -5.41; P < .001) and 2007 onward among those with a history of suicidal ideation only (BPC, -3.51; P < .001) and suicide attempts (BPC, -2.82; P < .001). Teens without a recent history of STBs showed steeper declines in the prevalence of binge drinking than those with recent suicidal ideation or suicide attempts. Since 1995, the prevalence of cannabis use decreased significantly among adolescents without a recent history of STBs, but no significant change was observed for the other groups of teens. Among girls with a recent history of suicidal thoughts or attempts, the decline in alcohol use occurred at a more modest rate compared with the faster decline observed in girls without a recent history of STBs; and the rates of cannabis use plateaued since the 1990s for both. IN PRACTICE: '[These] findings suggest the need for continued screening and assessment of substance misuse among adolescents presenting with STBs, as well as the importance of developing targeted treatments to address these co-occurring concerns,' the authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Shayna M. Cheek, PhD, of the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. It was published online on June 21 in the Journal of Adolescent Health. LIMITATIONS: The true prevalence rates of substance use may have been underestimated because the survey was conducted in schools, and STBs and substance use are linked to absenteeism. The timing of survey administration in 2021 was inconsistent because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Demographic factors such as gender identity or poverty were not assessed. DISCLOSURES: This study did not receive any specific funding. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
The Independent
14-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Weight loss drugs could give you more control over your drinking, say experts
Could taking popular GLP-1 weight loss drugs help curb alcohol use? Well, researchers say they already are. Taking semaglutide and liraglutide — a lesser-known active ingredient — medications for weight loss cut their consumption by nearly two-thirds in just four months. The findings are good news in the fight against alcohol use disorder. Excessive drinking can harm the liver and other organs, in addition to increasing the risk of several types of cancer. In the U.S., approximately 178,000 people die from excessive alcohol use each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 20,000 people die from alcohol-related cancers. 'GLP-1 analogues have been shown treat obesity and reduce the risk of multiple obesity-related complications. Now, the beneficial effects beyond obesity, such as on alcohol intake, are being actively studied, with some promising results,' Carel le Roux, a professor at University College Dublin, said in a statement. Le Roux is one of the co-author of the work, alongside colleagues in Ireland and Saudi Arabia. The research was published this month in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. To reach these conclusions, they examined more than 260 patients who were being treated for obesity at an Irish clinic. Of those, nearly 80 percent were women, 179 of whom drank alcohol regularly. Their average weight was over 200 pounds. However, just 188 of patients were tracked for an average of four months. None of them increased their alcohol intake and their average alcohol decreased from 11.3 units a week to just 4.3 units. A bottle of wine contains 10 units. Regular drinkers saw a reduction of 68 percent, which is comparable to a drug used to treat alcohol use disorder, the authors said. But, just how does it work? Well, more research needs to be done, but Le Roux said 'it is thought to involve curbing cravings for alcohol that arise in subcortical areas of the brain that are not under conscious control. Thus, patients report the effects are 'effortless.'' The semaglutide drugs mimic a hormone that targets appetite regulating areas of the brain. Millions of Americans use the drugs, which other researchers have found may come with surprising health benefits. One recent study has found semaglutide treats liver disease in two-thirds of patients. A study released on Tuesday found oral treatments can mimic the metabolic effects of gastric bypass surgery. 'GLP-1 analogues have been shown treat obesity and reduce the risk of multiple obesity-related complications. Now, the beneficial effects beyond obesity, such as on alcohol intake, are being actively studied, with some promising results,' Le Roux said.
