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Alcohol and Nicotine Use among Adolescents: An Observational Study in a Sicilian Cohort of High School Students

Author

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  • Emanuele Cannizzaro

    (Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “Giuseppe D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Gianluca Lavanco

    (Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “Giuseppe D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Valentina Castelli

    (Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy
    These authors shared second authorship.)

  • Luigi Cirrincione

    (Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “Giuseppe D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy
    These authors shared second authorship.)

  • Danila Di Majo

    (Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

  • Francesco Martines

    (Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

  • Antonina Argo

    (Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “Giuseppe D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

  • Fulvio Plescia

    (Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “Giuseppe D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

Abstract

In recent years, the mode of alcoholic intake known as binge drinking (BD) has become a common practice, especially among adolescents who, due to socio-environmental motives, tend to reach a rapid state of drunkenness. This drunkeness leads to alterations in brain areas responsible for executive functions and cognitive processes, as well as to the genesis of factors that predispose to lasting addiction. Likewise, nicotine leads to a comparable degree of addiction. On this basis, the aim of this research was to evaluate, on a cohort of 349 high school students (15–17 years old) in the province of Palermo, the following: (I) the drinking model of alcoholic beverages; (II) the use of nicotine and the degree of dependence; (III) the correlation between the consumption of alcoholic beverages and the use of nicotine. We employed the AUDIT-C test and the Fagerström test, two valid and standard instruments, in order to assess alcohol and nicotine use, respectively. Statistical analysis of the data showed that male and female students consumed alcohol prominently in a BD mode (77.2%, audit score (AS) 3.497, confidence interval (CI) 3.206–3.788; 69.6%, AS 2.793, CI 2.412–3.274) and nicotine (41.5%, Fagerström score (FS) 3.882, CI 3.519–4.245; 28%, FS 3.286, CI 2.547–4.024). Furthermore, a positive correlation between alcohol consumption and nicotine use was found for male (r = 0.6798, p < 0.0001) and female (r = 0.6572, p < 0.0001) students. This study provided further insights into the use of legal substances of abuse in adolescents, evidencing the obvious need for the promotion of specific school educational programs aimed at the wellbeing of youth populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Emanuele Cannizzaro & Gianluca Lavanco & Valentina Castelli & Luigi Cirrincione & Danila Di Majo & Francesco Martines & Antonina Argo & Fulvio Plescia, 2022. "Alcohol and Nicotine Use among Adolescents: An Observational Study in a Sicilian Cohort of High School Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:10:p:6152-:d:818681
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Emanuele Cannizzaro & Luigi Cirrincione & Walter Mazzucco & Alessandro Scorciapino & Cesare Catalano & Tiziana Ramaci & Caterina Ledda & Fulvio Plescia, 2020. "Night-Time Shift Work and Related Stress Responses: A Study on Security Guards," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-9, January.
    2. Fulvio Plescia & Luigi Cirrincione & Daniela Martorana & Caterina Ledda & Venerando Rapisarda & Valentina Castelli & Francesco Martines & Denis Vinnikov & Emanuele Cannizzaro, 2021. "Alcohol Abuse and Insomnia Disorder: Focus on a Group of Night and Day Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Luigi Cirrincione & Venerando Rapisarda & Walter Mazzucco & Rosanna Provenzano & Emanuele Cannizzaro, 2021. "SARS-CoV-2 and the Risk Assessment Document in Italian Work; Specific or Generic Risk Even If Aggravated?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-10, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Emanuele Cannizzaro & Luigi Cirrincione & Ginevra Malta & Santo Fruscione & Nicola Mucci & Francesco Martines & Fulvio Plescia, 2023. "The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency on Alcohol Use: A Focus on a Cohort of Sicilian Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-13, March.

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