Trends in adolescent alcohol and other risky health‐ and school‐related behaviours and outcomes in Australia

Abstract

Introduction Adolescent drinking has been declining in Australia over the past two decades, but this trend may be part of a broader shift towards healthier lifestyles for adolescents. We examined trends in the prevalence of multiple risky health‐ and school‐related behaviours and outcomes to test whether this was the case. Methods Data on multiple behaviours and outcomes were collated from Australian government agencies and other relevant sources for 10–19‐year‐olds from the year 2000 onward. Trends were examined descriptively. Results Rates of substance use, youth offending and injuries due to underage driving declined over the study period. Some health‐related behaviours (physical activity and diet) worsened between 2001 and 2017; however, obesity rates remained stable. Risky sexual behaviours increased in terms of early initiation of lifetime sexual intercourse and decreased condom use. However, sexual health outcomes improved with a reduction in teenage pregnancies and there was a recent decline in sexually transmitted infection rates from 2011 onward. Suicide rates and rates of major depressive disorders increased. School attendance and engagement in full‐time work or study remained stable. Discussion and Conclusions The decline in adolescent drinking does not appear to correspond with increased engagement in healthier behaviours; however, it may be related to a more risk‐averse way of living. Future work could be directed towards identifying which social, economic, policy and environmental factors have impacted positive changes in risky behaviours. Public health efforts can then be directed towards behaviours or outcomes, which have not yet improved.

Risk factors on testicular function in adolescents

“…Specifically, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a hot topic, especially in adolescents who deal with the first sexual experiences, often in the absence of an adequate information on the possible risks of unprotected coital relationships. An increase in STIs had been reported until 2012, with a following decline [ 160 ]. It is now established that the age of the first coital experience is steadily lowering; in Italy it settles around 15.6 years [ 161 ].…”

Do Australian adolescents with permission to drink at home engage in different alcohol use behaviours and experience more harms than those without such permission?

“…The 2017 Australian Secondary Student's Alcohol and Drug Survey estimated that around 49% of students aged 16-17 years had drunk any alcohol in the past month, and 11% were drinking at 'risky' levels, defined for this study as consumption of five or more drinks on one occasion in the past week [2] (given that current federal guidelines indicate there is no safe alcohol consumption for those aged less than 18 [3], this figure could be considered an underestimation; i.e., all adolescent alcohol consumption measured could be considered 'risky'). While rates of adolescent alcohol consumption have declined over the past decade [4][5][6], many young people continue to initiate alcohol use and engage in harmful drinking patterns.…”

Young people with prior health service contacts have increased risk of repeated alcohol‐related harm hospitalisations

“…In Australia, those aged 13–17 years with mental health issues were four times more likely to have been drinking at harmful levels in the last 30 days [11]. Despite recent collective declines in adolescent drinking trends in Australia [12], it does not appear to have corresponded in a shift towards healthier behaviours [13]. In addition, the number of young people aged 15–24 years abstaining from alcohol has increased (26.1% in 2013 to 32.5% in 2019), while little has changed in the proportion of risky drinking.…”