The present study included both alcohol and drug use and followed a sample of 15-19 year-old adolescents through their 20s. Results indicated that individuals with an early onset of regular drinking had relatively higher MAST scores through their early 20s and drank more frequently to get high and to get drunk throughout their 20s. Importantly, results from this study indicate that the effects of early onset of regular drinking persist beyond the transition to early adulthood. These findings are in concert with prior research that has shown higher rates of alcohol dependence in individuals who begin drinking at an early age.33
