Research
Peers influence adolescent drinking in unsuspected ways
This new research confirms that teens are indeed influenced by the alcohol norms of their peers, particularly of popular peers. However, researchers were surprised to find that the anti-alcohol norms of popular peers were more influential than pro-alcohol norms. Exposing adolescent drinkers to anti-alcohol norms might thus be a very effective prevention strategy.
Links:
- Peers Influence Adolescent Drinking in Unsuspected Ways -ATTC Network
News
Presentation to UN stresses prevention and role of NGOs
As part of World Drugs Day, Michel Perron, Chair of the Vienna Non-Governmental Organization Committee addressed the UN General Assembly. Three key VNGOC recommendations are that programmes should be evidence based and evaluated, health promotion and prevention is as important as enforcement and that governments should establish clear partnerships with NGOs.
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Research
Adolescent drinking influenced by background internet content
This small study sheds further light on the way the internet can shape adolescent attitudes towards alcohol. Researchers studied online content accessed by young people, finding that the majority of items featured alcohol. Alcohol is often only present in the background, but in attractive, positive situations likely to encourage current and future drinking.
Links:
Internet influences on adolescent attitudes to alcohol (Summary) - EUCAM
Internet Influences on Adolescent Attitudes to Alcohol
- Institute of Alcohol Studies
Statistics
2011 ESPAD Report: illicit drug use among European youth is stable
The fifth ESPAD Report reveals that illicit drug use among students aged 15-16 is relatively stable in Europe with some positive signs that there has been a decrease in 'heavy episodic drinking' (five drinks or more per occasion). Cigarette smoking in the last 30 days remained unchanged, despite decreasing previously. The proportion of students who had ever tried cannabis increased significantly in 11 countries and decreased in only five over the last four years. The report always contains unexpected little details and this time Swedish girls reported that they consumed alcohol more than boys within the last 30 days - the only country showing this in Europe.
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Research
Teenagers listening to high-volume music more prone to substance abuse
A study based on survey results collected from 944 low-income Dutch students aged 15-25, highlights a correlation between traditional health-risk behaviours such as substance use and risky music-listening behaviours. For example, young people who listen to loud music with earphones are almost twice as likely to smoke marijuana. The findings could help in designing simple practical prevention interventions such as printing messages about alcohol abuse on concert tickets.
Links:
Risky Music-Listening Behaviors and Associated Health-Risk Behaviors - Pediatrics. Official Journal of The American Academy of Pediatrics
Potential health risks of exposure to noise from personal music players and mobile phones including a music playing function - Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR)
News
Vivid picture of substance issues for youth in India
This article describes a worrying picture of growing substance use by Indian adolescents. Young people make up 40% of Bangalore's 9·6 million population and appear to have easy access to alcohol, opiotic pharmaceuticals, tobacco, solvents and other substances. 'Pub culture' has taken off and teenage stress has grown, but prevention and suitable treatment programmes are lacking, despite moves to introduce life-skills classes in schools.
Links:
- Battling drug addiction in Bangalore -The Lancet
Policy
Regulation can halve risky teen drink-driving behaviour
Although only 5% of US licensed drivers are teenage they are responsible for around 20% of vehicle crashes. Propensity of the adolescent brain for risky behaviour is well documented, but this large-scale study found that carefully targeted regulation, such as restricting late night driving, can moderate drink driving and riding with drink drivers. States with the toughest graduated regulations reduced this risky behaviour by half.
Links:
- Graduated driving laws reduce teen drunk driving -Washington University
Research
Strong link found between early drink/drug use and not finishing college
A study of over 6,000 male twins who served in the US military during the Vietnam era found that those who began drinking or using drugs as young teens or who became dependent on alcohol, nicotine or marijuana, were less likely to finish college than those who didn’t use alcohol or drugs until later in life and never became dependent. The study was able to control many genetic and environmental variables. Lead author Julia D. Grant said, 'this study provides further evidence that as a society, we need to continue our public-health efforts to reduce underage drinking, smoking and use of drugs.'
Links:
Early substance use linked to lower educational achievement -Washington University Newsroom
Associations of Alcohol, Nicotine, Cannabis, and Drug Use/Dependence with Educational Attainment: Evidence from Cotwin-Control Analyses -Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research