Levels and Patterns of Alcohol Consumption: a Descriptive Study in Ecuadorian Teenagers

Report levels of alcohol consumption, patterns of alcohol intake, intervention requirements and sex differences in alcohol use within a sample of teenagers from Salcedo city, Ecuador. A descriptive, exploratory and cross-sectional study applying the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) as an assessment tool. A total of 448 teenagers (58.5% men), between 14 and 19 years (mean age= 15.7 years) of four different schools (78.1% public schools) from Salcedo city. A total of 85% of the sample have some contact with alcohol, more frequently in women (p< 0.05). Moreover, 30% of the sample have binge drinking episodes. There is 56% prevalence of hazardous consumption and 3.3% with harmful consumption and probable alcohol dependence, without sex differences, but women have highest vulnerability (t= −2.41; p< .05). Finally, 3.4% of the sample needs specialized attention. There is solid evidence about heavy alcohol use among Salcedo’s teenagers; binge drinking is the most characteristic pattern of alcohol consumption among teenagers of this sample.