Parental Factors Influence Teen Alcohol Use After an Emergency Department Visit

OBJECTIVES:To determine if parental factors are significant predictors of short-term adolescent drinking after an alcohol-related emergency department (ED) visit. METHODS:Adolescents, 13 to 17 years, who either had evidence or reported usage of alcohol in the 6 hours before an ED visit, were eligible for this study. Alcohol use was assessed at baseline and at 3-month follow-up. Data on parental variables and parenting practices were collected at baseline. Linear regression models were created to determine the relationship between parental factors and follow-up drinking. RESULTS:Parental alcohol use, socioeconomic status, and monitoring practices were significant predictors of adolescent alcohol use at 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS:Parental factors may significantly influence subsequent adolescent drinking after an ED visit. These factors should be assessed when treating alcohol-positive teens, and parents should be advised to closely monitor their teens.