New Study On Adolescents And Alcohol Use

KYW Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A disturbing study from Florida Atlantic University. Adolescent girls who reach puberty early and have inadequate parental supervision tend to begin drinking alcohol earlier and binge drinking earlier sooner than their peers.

This is a major issue because we know that early use of alcohol is associated with teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. This certainly does not mean that a teenager who develops early will face these issues but it is important because parents need to know statistics and how that can be used to counsel children.

If you notice one of the key factors was parental supervision. This is the most important aspect and cannot be underestimated. A prior study of teenage girls independent of early puberty found an association between poor supervision and alcohol use.