TABLE 3. Alcohol Use Trajectory Groups Identified in Longitudinal Research on Adolescents.

Trajectory Group	Alcohol Use Pattern	Approximate Representation, %
Abstainers/light drinkers	Stable low use or nonuse of alcohol	~20-65
Stable moderate drinkers	Stable moderate use, limited heavy use	~30
Fling drinkers	Time-limited periods of heavy use	<10
Decreasers	Early onset but declining course of alcohol use	<10
Chronic heavy drinkers	Early onset and stable course of heavy drinking	~10
Late-onset heavy drinkers	Late onset with rapid escalation to heavy drinking	~10