Alcohol Use Among NEET Youth (Not in Employment, Education or Training): Systematic Review

Abstract Introduction In 2022, 13% of the individuals aged 15-29 were NEETs (Not in Employment, Education or Training). Previous studies have shown that NEETs are at a higher risk of alcohol consumption, but data on their specific consumption patterns remain limited. Moreover, these patterns may vary depending on the different profiles within the NEET population. This study aimed to analyse alcohol use among NEETs, considering their diverse drinking patterns and group heterogeneity compared to their peers. Methods A systematic review and a meta-analysis, following the PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines, were conducted. The included articles were observational studies examining the association between different NEET subgroups and alcohol consumption patterns (Alcohol use disorder (AUD), heavy drinking and binge drinking).Twenty-three studies were analysed, including a total of 518,533 individuals.Three alcohol consumption patterns were studied: AUD, heavy drinking and binge drinking. Results The prevalence of each consumption pattern was higher for young NEETs compared to peers of the same age. NEET status was significantly associated with AUD (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.16-1.56) but neither with heavy drinking (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 0.74-2.22) nor binge drinking (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 0.94-1.48). The most represented NEET profile and the one with the highest level of AUD was the group of unemployed youth. Conclusions This study highlighted an increased risk of AUD among NEETs. However, few studies examine consumption patterns across different NEET profiles, thus the conclusion focuses primarily on unemployed youth. Furthermore, despite the absence of statistical significance, the high prevalence rates of heavy and binge drinking raise important clinical concerns when considering the distinct social contexts of NEET versus non-NEET youth, as NEET populations experience reduced social control from peers or workplace and educational supervisors and have less frequent contact with health systems. Key messages • NEET face higher risk of alcohol use disorders compared to their peers in education or employment. • Further research on consumption contexts is needed for developing effective, targeted prevention.