Early Onset Of Alcohol Use Research Articles

Alcohol Use Among American Youth: Differential Susceptibility to Peer Influence on Substance Use Tied to Genetic Risk

ABSTRACT The behavior of peers is one of the most robust correlates of deviance and arguably the strongest influence on substance use; however, not all youth mirror their peers’ behavior. Understanding how youth may be differentially susceptible to peer influence has implications for both theory and substance use policy. The potential moderation of the peer behavior-youth substance use relationship by genetic risk is explored to determine if differential susceptibility to peer influence is partially tied to biological factors. A subsample of data from the first two waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) is utilized (n = 1,495). Evidence of a gene-environment interaction emerges whereby genetic risk conditions the relationship between peer substance use and early onset of alcohol use in models controlling for several risk and protective factors (e.g. poverty, self-control, victimization, social support, neighborhood dissatisfaction, religiosity). Genotype appears particularly salient when youth report a moderate degree of peer substance use (when peer substance use exceeds the mean but does not reach the extreme). This finding has implications for Burgess and Akers’ Social Learning Theory and other peer-based theories of behavior. It suggests that interventions to insulate youth from substance-using peers will be particularly impactful for those at enhanced genetic risk for early alcohol use. The identified gene-environment interaction partially explains why some youth are differentially susceptible to peer influence.

Age of Onset and DSM-5 Alcohol Use Disorder in Late Adolescence – A Cohort Study From Sweden

PurposeTo examine if the prevalence of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition alcohol use disorder (AUD) differs between two groups with different age of onset of alcohol use and if endorsement of different AUD criteria differs between the two groups. MethodsA two-wave longitudinal prospective cohort survey conducted in Sweden (2017–2019) with a nationwide sample of 3,999 adolescents aged 15/16 years at baseline (T1), and 17/18 years at follow-up (T2); 2,778 current drinkers at T2 were analysed. Participants were categorized into early onset of drinking (drinking already at T1 54.3%) or late onset (not drinking at T1 but at T2, 45.8%). AUD was measured with questions corresponding to the 11 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition criteria for AUD. Potential confounding factors measured at T1 were sex, sensation-seeking, impulsivity, emotional symptoms, peer problems, conduct problems, and hyperactivity. ResultsThe early onset group had a higher prevalence of AUD at T2 compared to the late onset group (36.3% vs. 23.1%, p < .001). The higher risk of AUD remained significant in a linear probability model with control for additional confounding factors (β = 0.080, p < .001). All individual criteria were reported more in the early onset group, and there was no evidence of differential item functioning. DiscussionThe age of onset of alcohol use was a significant predictor of AUD in late adolescence among Swedish adolescents. Those with an earlier onset of alcohol use had a higher prevalence of AUD and of all individual criteria. The items in the scale were similarly predictive of AUD in both groups.

Alcohol consumption and its associated factors among adolescents in a rural community in central Thailand: a mixed-methods study

Early onset of alcohol use was associated with alcohol dependence and other health problems. We aimed to identify the prevalence and factors associated with alcohol consumption among adolescents in a rural community in Thailand. A mixed-methods study was carried out in 2021 using an explanatory sequential design. The study enrolled a total of 413 adolescents. On average, young adolescents initiated alcohol consumption at age 13. The lifetime drinking prevalence among adolescents was 60.5%, while the 1-year drinking prevalence was 53.0%. The prevalence of hazardous drinking among current drinkers was 42.0%. Alcohol consumption was associated with females (adjusted prevalence ratio (APR): 1.19; 95% CI 1.01–1.41), age ≥ 16 years (APR: 1.28; 95% CI 1.09–1.50), having close friends consuming alcohol (APR: 1.75; 95% CI 1.43–2.14), night out (APR: 1.93; 95% CI 1.53–2.45), being a current smoker (APR: 1.39; 95% CI 1.15–1.69), and having relationship (with boyfriend/girlfriend) problems (APR: 1.18; 95% CI 1.01–1.38). Qualitative data demonstrated that individual and environmental factors, including friends, family, social media use, and alcohol accessibility, affect alcohol use in this population. Therefore, effective strategies should be implemented across multiple levels of the socio-ecological model simultaneously to alleviate alcohol consumption and attenuate its complications.

College students mandated to substance use courses: Age-of-onset as a predictor of contemporary polysubstance use

Objective: College campuses report alcohol and other drug policy violations as the most frequent reason students receive disciplinary referrals and, thus, are mandated to programming. This study sought to determine predictors of mandated students’ alcohol use frequency, and the likelihood of early-onset alcohol using college students enrolled in mandated programming engaging in current polysubstance use. Methods and participants: Employing a purposive sampling method, n = 822 participants were recruited from a pool of students who violated their university’s alcohol policy between October 2019 and July 2021. Results: Data analysis revealed early-onset alcohol use (p < .001), gender ID (p < .01), Greek Affiliation (p < .001), ethnicity (p < .05), and perceived norms (p < .001) significantly predicted alcohol frequency. Analysis also revealed engaging in early-onset alcohol use significantly predicted current participation in polysubstance use (p < 0.01), outside of controls. Conclusions: University programs should consider exploring polysubstance use targeted interventions to mitigate these harmful behaviors and associated negative consequences.

Caffeine consumption and onset of alcohol use among early adolescents

Preventing or delaying the onset of alcohol use among children and youth is an important public health goal. One possible factor in alcohol use onset among early adolescents is caffeine. The aim of this study was to assess the possible contribution of caffeine to the onset of alcohol use during early adolescence. We used data from the Young Mountaineer Health Study Cohort. Survey data were collected from 1349 (response rate: 80.7%) 6th grade students (mean age at baseline 11.5 years) in 20 middle schools in West Virginia during the fall of 2020, and again approximately 6 months later in spring of 2021. We limited our analyses to students reporting never having used any form of alcohol at baseline. Logistic regression was employed in multivariable analyses and both Odds Ratios and Relative Risks reported. At follow-up, almost 14% of participants reported having consumed alcohol at least once and 57% used caffeine of 100 mg + daily. In multivariable analyses we controlled for social and behavioral variables known to impact tobacco use. Caffeine use was operationalized as a three-level factor: no use, <100 mg per day, and 100 + mg per day, with the latter being the approximate equivalent of the minimum of a typical cup of coffee or can of energy drink. Caffeine use of 100 mg + per day was significantly related to alcohol use at 6-months follow-up (OR: 1.79, RR: 1.56, p = .037). We conclude that caffeine consumption among 11–12-year-old adolescents may be a factor in early onset of alcohol use.

Risk and Resilience Pathways, Community Adversity, Decision-making, and Alcohol Use Among Appalachian Adolescents: Protocol for the Longitudinal Young Mountaineer Health Study Cohort.

BackgroundAlcohol use impairs psychosocial and neurocognitive development and increases the vulnerability of youth to academic failure, substance use disorders, and other mental health problems. The early onset of alcohol use in adolescents is of particular concern, forecasting substance abuse in later adolescence and adulthood. To date, evidence suggests that youth in rural areas are especially vulnerable to contextual and community factors that contribute to the early onset of alcohol use.ObjectiveThe objective of the Young Mountaineer Health Study is to investigate the influence of contextual and health behavior variables on the early onset of alcohol use among middle school–aged youth in resource-poor Appalachian rural communities.MethodsThis is a program of prospective cohort studies of approximately 2200 middle school youth from a range of 20 rural, small town, and small city (population <30,000) public schools in West Virginia. Students are participating in 6 waves of data collection (2 per year) over the course of middle school (sixth to eighth grades; fall and spring) from 2020 to 2023. On the basis of an organizational arrangement, which includes a team of local data collection leaders, supervising contact agents in schools, and an honest broker system to deidentify data linked via school IDs, we are able to collect novel forms of data (self-reported data, teacher-reported data, census-linked area data, and archival school records) while ensuring high rates of participation by a large majority of youth in each participating school.ResultsIn the spring of 2021, 3 waves of student survey data, 2 waves of data from teachers, and a selection of archival school records were collected. Student survey wave 1 comprised 1349 (response rate 80.7%) participants, wave 2 comprised 1649 (response rate 87%) participants, and wave 3 comprised 1909 (response rate 83.1%) participants. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the sampling frame size, resulting in a reduced number of eligible students, particularly during the fall of 2020. Nevertheless, our team structure and incentive system have proven vitally important in mitigating the potentially far greater negative impact of the pandemic on our data collection processes.ConclusionsThe Young Mountaineer Health Study will use a large data set to test pathways linking rural community disadvantage to alcohol misuse among early adolescents. Furthermore, the program will test hypotheses regarding contextual factors (eg, parenting practices and neighborhood collective efficacy) that protect youth from community disadvantage and explore alcohol antecedents in the onset of nicotine, marijuana, and other drug use. Data collection efforts have been successful despite interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/40451

P50. Prediction of Alcohol Use Initiation in Pre-Adolescents Using the Generalized Kernel Machine Approach on Multi-View Data From the ABCD Study

The multifaceted nature of psychosocial risk factors (e.g., impulsivity, psychopathology, and emotion reactivity) for early onset of alcohol use makes the examination of specific at-risk phenotypes difficult. The goal of the current study is to use a novel machine learning method to characterize variables from each facet of risk factors that are most predictive of alcohol initiation in pre-adolescents.

Influence of Age and Genetic Background on Ethanol Intake and Behavioral Response Following Ethanol Consumption and During Abstinence in a Model of Alcohol Abuse.

Genetic background and age at first exposure have been identified as critical variables that contribute to individual vulnerability to drug addiction. Evidence shows that genetic factors may account for 40–70% of the variance in liability to addiction. Alcohol consumption by young people, especially in the form of binge-drinking, is becoming an alarming phenomenon predictive of future problems with drinking. Thus, the literature indicates the need to better understand the influence of age and genetic background on the development of alcohol dependence. To this aim, the inbred rat strains Lewis (LEW, addiction prone) and Fischer 344 (F344, addiction resistant) were used as a model of genetic vulnerability to addiction and compared with the outbred strain Sprague-Dawley (SD) in a two-bottle choice paradigm as a model of alcohol abuse. During a 9-week period, adolescent and adult male rats of the three strains were intermittently exposed to ethanol (20%) and water during three 24-h sessions/week. Adult and adolescent SD and LEW rats escalated their alcohol intake over time reaching at stable levels, while F344 rats did not escalate their intake, regardless of age at drinking onset. Among adolescents, only F344 rats consumed a higher total amount of ethanol than adults, although only SD and LEW rats escalated their intake. Adult LEW rats, albeit having a lower ethanol consumption as compared to SD rats but greater than F344, showed a more compulsive intake, consuming higher amounts of ethanol during the first hour of exposure, reaching a higher degree of ethanol preference when start drinking as adolescents. Behavioral analysis during the first hour of ethanol consumption revealed significant strain differences, among which noticeable the lack of sedative effect in the LEW strain, at variance with F344 and SD strains, and highest indices of withdrawal (most notable jumping) in LEW rats during the first hour of abstinence days. The present results underscore the importance of individual genetic background and early onset of alcohol use in the progression toward abuse and development of alcohol addiction.

Are you listening? Parental protective factors and early onset drinking among students with disabilities in Delaware

BackgroundLittle is known about substance use disorder risk among youth with disabilities. The Delaware YRBS collects data on substance use and disability indicators. Data suggest that students with disabilities have a younger average age of onset for alcohol use, and therefore may be more at risk for developing an alcohol use disorder later in life. ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between parental listening and the age of substance use initiation among students with disabilities. MethodsUsing the 2017 Delaware High School YRBS, we conducted a logistic regression analysis to test whether there was a relationship between parental listening and early onset alcohol use among students with disabilities. Early onset drinking was operationalized as first drink at age 14 or younger, and sex, race, mother's highest level of education, and LGBTQ status were included in the model as demographic control variables. ResultsBoth disability status and parental listening were statistically significant predictors of early onset alcohol use. Having an emotional or learning disability was positively associated with self-reported alcohol use before the age of 15, while reporting that parents always or almost always listened to them was negatively associated with student alcohol use prior to 15. ConclusionsFindings suggested a relationship between parental listening and early onset alcohol use among high school students with and without disabilities. This did not fully explain the disparity in rates of early onset use among students with disabilities. The authors suggest additional analysis of other potential protective factors and emphasize the need for robust national data collection on disabilities.

Effects of genetic risk for alcohol dependence and onset of regular drinking on the progression to alcohol dependence: A polygenic risk score approach

BackgroundPrior studies have established the importance of genetic contributions to the etiology of alcohol dependence (AD), and suggested an early onset of alcohol use represents an initial marker of this genetic risk, which is associated with a more rapid progression to AD and increased risk for AD itself. Building on prior work, the current study examined whether the additive effects of AD risk variants predicted the rate of progression to AD from the onset of regular drinking, a drinking milestone with high clinical relevance to AD prevention. MethodsData from 1501 European-ancestry adults from the University of California – San Francisco Family Alcoholism Study were used to examine whether polygenic risk scores for AD (PRSAD) and age-at-onset of regular drinking contributed uniquely to the likelihood of having a lifetime AD diagnosis and the rate of progression from regular drinking to AD. Mixed effects logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were employed. ResultsIncreases in PRSAD were associated with a faster progression from regular drinking to AD independent of age-at-onset of regular drinking. An independent effect of age-at-onset of regular drinking was also observed indicating that a one-year delay in regular drinking was associated with a 7% decrease in the hazard of progression to AD among drinkers with an early onset (≤ 18), but a 3% increase among drinkers with a late onset (> 18) of regular drinking. ConclusionsThese results broaden our understanding of the contributions of measured genotypes underlying AD-risk on the etiology and clinical course of AD.

Alcohol Consumption among Freshman College Students in Spain: Individual and Pooled Analyses of Three Cross-Sectional Surveys (2005, 2012 and 2016).

Objective: We aimed to evaluate changes in the prevalence of Heavy Episodic Drinking (HED) and Risky Consumption (RC) in freshman college students between 2005, 2012 and 2016; and to identify the explanatory variables of these patterns of consumption using individual and pooled analyses. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 5260 students was carried out in Spain in 2005, 2012 and 2016. HED and RC were determined using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Another questionnaire was used to measure parental education level and alcohol use, alcohol-related problems, age of onset of alcohol use and alcohol-related expectancies. Adjusted Odds Ratios (ORs) of RC and HED and their 95% Confidence Intervals were estimated using logistic regression. Results: An increase in the prevalence rates of HED and RC was observed among women during the three-study periods, nonetheless there was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence rates among men. High maternal educational level, living away from parental home, initiating drinking before the age of 15 and having positive expectancies about drinking are associated with higher prevalence of RC in both genders. High positive expectancies and early onset of alcohol use are associated with higher rates of HED among men and women. Students recruited in 2012 and 2016 are protected against RC in comparison to those recruited in 2005. Conclusions: The age of alcohol consumption onset is the most influencing factor on HED and RC for both genders in the three-study periods. Alcohol prevention campaigns targeting youth at early ages can reduce risky drinking behaviors.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled proof-of-concept study of ondansetron for bipolar and related disorders and alcohol use disorder

Bipolar disorder is associated with high rates of alcohol use disorder. However, little is known about the treatment of this dual diagnosis population. Previous studies suggest that ondansetron decreases alcohol use, particularly in people with specific single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) alleles. A 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of ondansetron was conducted in 70 outpatients with bipolar spectrum disorders and early onset alcohol use disorder. Outcome measures included alcohol use, assessed with the Timeline Followback method, Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology–Self-report, and Young Mania Rating Scale. SNPs rs1042173, rs1176713 and rs1150226 were explored as predictors of response. Participants had a mean age of 44.9 ± 9.4 years, were mostly men (60.0%), and African American (51.4%). Mean ondansetron exit dose was 3.23 ± 2.64 mg. No significant between-group differences in alcohol use measures were observed. However, a significant reduction in HRSD scores was observed (p = 0.045). Inclusion of SNPs increased effect sizes for some alcohol-related outcomes and the HRSD. Ondansetron was well tolerated. This proof-of-concept study is the first report on ondansetron in bipolar people with bipolar disorders and alcohol use disorder. Alcohol use did not demonstrate a significant between-group difference. However, the findings suggest that ondansetron may be associated with reduction in depressive symptom severity in persons with bipolar illnesses and alcohol use disorder. A larger trial is needed to examine the effects of ondansetron on bipolar depression.

38.4 IMPULSIVE DECISION REDUCTION TRAINING FOR YOUNG ADULT AND ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE USE

Risky, impulsive decision making in young people is reliably implicated in problematic alcohol and other substance use, but few interventions directly target decision-making processes to reduce substance use. Impulsive decision reduction training (IDRT) was designed as a stand-alone, CBT treatment to foster deliberation and problem solving, target decision-making biases, reduce impulsive alcohol use decisions, and reduce risky binge drinking in young adults. The purpose of this presentation is to: 1) summarize preliminary IDRT efficacy findings in young adults with early-onset alcohol use disorder (AUD); and 2) describe ongoing efforts to test the feasibility and acceptability of an adapted IDRT for at-risk adolescents (IDRT-A).

Editorial: Is Early Onset of Alcohol Use Associated With Later Alcohol Use?

Fil: Pautassi, Ricardo Marcos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Cordoba. Instituto de Investigacion Medica Mercedes y Martin Ferreyra. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Instituto de Investigacion Medica Mercedes y Martin Ferreyra; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba; Argentina

A Cross-sectional Study of Psychiatric Comorbidity and Severity of Addiction in Patients with Early- and Late-Onset Alcohol Dependence.

Background:Alcohol use disorder is a serious health problem with high comorbidities. Early-onset alcohol use has been associated with greater impulsivity, increased severity of dependence, frequent alcohol withdrawal complications, externalizing symptoms, and antisocial behaviors. We aimed to evaluate the psychiatric comorbidities and severity of addiction in early- and late-onset alcohol dependence.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. All patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of alcohol dependence as per International Classification of Diseases (10th edition) were included in it. Semi-Structured Assessment for Genetics of Alcoholism IV was applied to find the age of onset of dependence as per the lifetime frame and also to find comorbidities. Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0. was used to find other comorbidities. The severity of addiction was evaluated with Addiction Severity Index, 5th edition. All the sociodemographic and clinical parameters were compared between patients with the early- and late-onset alcohol dependence. Results:Out of the 112 patients screened, 57 met the selection criteria, 26 were with early-onset and 31 with late-onset alcohol dependence. The patients were all males. The patients with early-onset alcohol dependence had a higher family history (P = 0.006) and were nonearning (P = 0.002) in comparison to the group with late-onset dependence. The comorbidity among all patients was 59.6% and 84.2% in current and lifetime frames, respectively. It was significantly higher in the early-onset group, both for current (P = 0.015) and lifetime (P = 0.031) frames. On the domains of Addiction Severity Index 5th edition, the early-onset group had a more severe profile of addiction in all domains except the medical domain. Conclusion:Comorbidity is high among patients with alcohol dependence and is even higher for the early-onset group. The family history was higher in the early-onset group and they have more severe profile of substance use.

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure as a Case of Involuntary Early Onset of Alcohol Use: Consequences and Proposed Mechanisms From Animal Studies.

Prenatal alcohol exposure has been found to be an important factor determining later consumption of this drug. In humans, despite the considerable diversity of variables that might influence alcohol consumption, longitudinal studies show that maternal alcohol intake during gestation is one of the best predictors of later alcohol use from adolescence to young adulthood. Experimental studies with animals also provide abundant evidence of the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on later alcohol intake. In addition to increased consumption, other effects include enhanced palatability and attractiveness of alcohol flavor as well as sensitization to its sensory and reinforcing effects. Most of these outcomes have been obtained after exposing rats to binge-like administrations of moderate alcohol doses during the last gestational period when the fetus is already capable of detecting flavors in the amniotic fluid and learning associations with aversive or appetitive consequences. On this basis, it has been proposed that one of the mechanisms underlying the increased acceptance of alcohol after its prenatal exposure is the acquisition (by the fetus) of appetitive learning via an association between the sensory properties of alcohol and its reinforcing pharmacological effects. It also appears that this prenatal appetitive learning is mediated by the activation of the opioid system, with fetal brain acetaldehyde playing an important role, possibly as the main chemical responsible for its activation. Here, we review and analyze together the results of all animal studies testing these hypotheses through experimental manipulation of the behavioral and neurochemical elements of the assumed prenatal association. Understanding the mechanisms by which prenatal alcohol exposure favors the early initiation of alcohol consumption, along with its role in the causal pathway to alcohol disorders, may allow us to find strategies to mitigate the behavioral effects of this early experience with the drug. We propose that prenatal alcohol exposure is regarded as a case of involuntary early onset of alcohol use when designing prevention policies. This is particularly important, given the notion that the sooner alcohol intake begins, the greater the possibility of a continued history of alcohol consumption that may lead to the development of alcohol use disorders.

Population Attributable Fraction of Early Age of Onset of Alcohol Use in Alcohol Abuse and Dependence: A 3-Year Follow-Up Study in University Students.

Background: we aimed to determine the risk factors and associated population attributable fractions (PAFs) for the age of onset of alcohol use and also to identify protective factors. Methods: we analyzed follow-up data collected between autumn 2011 and spring 2016 (n = 5170) from the first two cohorts (2011, 2012) of the Spit for ScienceTM project. The dependent variables were alcohol abuse and dependence, and the independent variables were age of drinking onset, residence, ethnicity, religiosity, sexual orientation and work status. We determined the odds ratios (OR) using multilevel logistic regression for repeated measures in SPSSv.20. Results: the early onset of alcohol use was associated with an increased risk of alcohol abuse and dependence among females (OR = 14.98; OR = 11.83) and males (OR = 7.41; OR = 6.24). The PAFs for the early onset of alcohol use in alcohol abuse and dependence were respectively 80.9% and 71.7% in females and 71.0% and 63.5% in males. Among females, being white (OR = 1.58; OR = 1.51), living off-campus (OR = 1.73; OR = 2.76) and working full-time (OR = 1.69; OR = 1.78) were also risk factors. Strong religious beliefs were found to protect males from alcohol abuse (OR = 0.58), while same-gender sexual orientation increased the risk among females (OR = 2.09). Conclusion: delaying the age of onset by one year would reduce alcohol abuse among young adults.

Is Early-Onset Alcohol Use an Indicator of Problematic Alcohol Use Later in Life? Lessons Belgium can Learn From the Netherlands.

Is Early-Onset Alcohol Use an Indicator of Problematic Alcohol Use Later in Life? Lessons Belgium can Learn From the Netherlands.

Sex Differences in the Effect of Nucleus Accumbens Volume on Adolescent Drinking: The Mediating Role of Sensation Seeking in the NCANDA Sample

In adolescence, sensation seeking is associated with earlier onset of alcohol use, which is a risk factor for a variety of negative consequences later in life. Individual differences in sensation seeking are related to brain function in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), a brain region that undergoes considerable structural development during adolescence. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine whether NAcc volume in alcohol-naive adolescents was associated with future sensation seeking and alcohol use and whether these associations differed by sex. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure NAcc volume at baseline in 514 alcohol-naive adolescents (50.2% female) from the National Consortium on Alcohol & Neurodevelopment in Adolescence study. Direct effects of NAcc volume on adolescent drinking 2 years after baseline, and indirect effects mediated through sensation seeking 1 year after baseline, were assessed. An indirect effect of NAcc volume on subsequent drinking through sensation seeking was significant for males, but not females. This effect was driven by a positive association between NAcc volume and sensation seeking observed in male, but not female, participants. A direct effect of NAcc volume on subsequent alcohol use was detected in females, but not males. In females, no association between NAcc volume and sensation seeking was detected, but NAcc volume was positively associated with future alcohol use. These findings suggest that delayed structural maturation of the NAcc may be a risk factor for alcohol use in adolescence; however, the mechanism by which the structure of the NAcc confers risk differs by sex.

Risk Factors and Impact of Alcohol Use Among School-Age Adolescents

Risk factors and impact of underage drinking have been favourite topics of discussion among parents, teachers and educationalists for decades. Many claimed that alcohol use among school-age adolescents has created social and disciplinary problems in school, family and community. Nonetheless, the current study aims to examine explicitly the risk factors for the early onset of alcohol use among school-age adolescents between 14-18 years old and the impact from the tendency to the development of juvenile and negative learning behaviour and academic performance perspective. A total of 35 participants were involved in this qualitative descriptive case study which comprised of 15 school-going adolescents, five drop-outs, ten juveniles and five counsellors. A qualitative descriptive case study methodology was adopted to provide more substantive and comprehensive findings. In-depth interviews were administered and semi-structured questions were used for the collection of data and concurrently thematic analysis was deployed to analyze the data collected. In the findings, negative curiosity, bad modelling, peer pressure and alcohol ignorance were among the risk factors attributed to the early onset of alcohol use. However, the noticeable impacts of underage drinking among school-age adolescents were lack of motivation in studies, inattentive and sleepiness in class, truancy, poor grades, emotional and involved in fighting and youth violence, and dropout from school.