Chunk #6 — Basic methodology of genetic epidemiology: an overview of twin studies — Principle 1: Genetic influences change in importance across adolescence
of binge drinking (having 5+ drinks at least once in the past two weeks) increases substantially from 8th grade to 12th grade (Johnston et al., 2016). Notably, frequency of binge drinking also increases across this developmental period. Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) showed that the mean number of binge drinking days in the past 30 days increased continuously for both male and female adolescents from ages 12 to 20, but this rise was more dramatic for males than for females (Chen et al., 2015). Adolescence also represents an important developmental period for the development of alcohol problems. National data from NSDUH suggest that prevalence of past-year alcohol use disorder increases between ages 12 and 17 and peaks in young adulthood, between ages 18 and 25 (SAMHSA, 2014).
