I
S Harsha Sadgun and MVR Raju
Andhra University, Visakhapatnam
Adolescence, a pivotal phase between childhood and adulthood, witnesses profound
physical and psychological transformations. India, home to the world’s largest adolescent
population, confronts a pressing challenge—alcoholism among its youth. Present study
focuses on late adolescents (16-21 years) from the Southern Andhra Pradesh, aiming
to assess the severity of alcohol dependence using the Severity of Alcohol Dependence
Questionnaire (SADQ-C) developed by T Stockwell et al., (1994). A sample size of 330
(297 males and 33 females), data collection employed a combination of offline and online
modes. The study reveals noteworthy insights into the intricate web of factors influencing
alcohol dependency. Gender-based differences appear inconsequential, but education,
urban residence, family history, and parental income emerge as significant determinants.
Illiterate adolescents exhibit a higher susceptibility to alcohol dependency, while rural
areas report elevated rates compared to their urban counterparts. The presence of a
family history of alcohol dependence significantly amplifies the likelihood of dependency.
Economic factors, particularly lower income, are implicated in higher dependency rates,
emphasizing the intricate interplay of socio-economic forces. The findings urge a holistic
approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of diverse factors, to formulate effective
preventive and intervention strategies tailored to the unique socio-cultural context of
southern Andhra Pradesh.
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