Solitary drinking among youth appears to be an early warning sign for the escalation of drinking and a risk factor for the development of an alcohol abuse. Research suggests that youth engage in solitary drinking primarily to self-medicate to avoid or escape negative emotion.
Although drinking alone does not necessarily mean that someone has a drinking problem, solitary drinking by youth is alarming for several reasons: it may lead to heavier drinking, numerous psychosocial problems, and long-term alcohol problems....