Early Initiation Of Use Research Articles

Examining associations between brain morphology in late childhood and early alcohol or tobacco use initiation in adolescence: findings from a large prospective cohort

A prominent challenge in understanding neural consequences of substance use involves disentangling predispositional risk factors from resulting consequences of substance use. Existing literature has identified pre-existing brain variations as vulnerability markers for substance use throughout adolescence. As early initiation of use is an important predictor for later substance use problems, we examined whether pre-existing brain variations are associated with early initiation of use.In the Generation R Study, a prospective population-based cohort, brain morphology (gray matter volume, cortical thickness and surface area) was assessed at ages 10 and 14 using neuroimaging. In the second wave, participants reported on alcohol and tobacco use initiation. From a base study population (N = 3019), we examined the longitudinal (N = 2218) and cross-sectional (N = 1817) association between brain morphology of frontolimbic regions of interest known to be associated with substance use risk, and very early (age < 13) alcohol/tobacco use initiation. Additionally, longitudinal and cross-sectional associations were examined with a brain surface-based approach. Models were adjusted for age at neuroimaging, sex and relevant sociodemographic factors.No associations were found between brain morphology (ages 10 and 14) and early alcohol/tobacco use initiation (<13 years). Sex-specific analyses suggested a cross-sectional association between smaller brain volume and early initiated tobacco use in girls. Our findings are important for interpreting studies examining neural consequences of substance use in the general population. Future longitudinal studies are needed to specify whether these findings can be extended to initiation and continuation of alcohol/tobacco use in later stages of adolescence.

Cannabis use in adolescents : Narrative Review and Position paper of the "Addiction Disorders in Adolescents" task force of the Austrian Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy (ÖGKJP)

Cannabis is the illegal drug most frequently used by Minors in Austria. Due to the gradual decriminalization and legalization that has taken place in many European countries in recent years, the ÖGKJP would like to take abalanced and scientifically based stand on the complex issue of cannabis use and abuse among young people. The authors searched the medline for current studies using searches tailored to each specific subtopic. Furthermore, recognized compendiums were quoted. While occasional recreational use of cannabis in adults with completed brain maturation and no risk profile for mental disorders is likely to be relatively harmless, early initiation of use with regular use and the increasingly available, highly potent cannabis varieties can lead to explicit and sometimes irreversible neurocognitive brain dysfunction. Legalisation of cannabis consumption for minors needs to be objected to due to the risks of the expected damage in the area of brain development. At the same time, however, it is important to establish sensible legal regulations in order to be able to adequately counteract the fact that over 30% of all European young people occasionally consume cannabis. We are also clearly recommending to not criminalize cannabis users and provide necessary support to vulnerable and addicted cannabis users.

\u201cI feel good when I drink\u201d\u2014detecting childhood-onset alcohol abuse and dependence in a Ugandan community trial cohort

BackgroundAlcohol, substance use, and mental health disorders constitute major public health issues worldwide, including in low income and lower middle-income countries, and early initiation of use is an important predictor for developing substance use disorders in later life. This study reports on the existence of childhood alcohol abuse and dependence in a sub-study of a trial cohort in Eastern Uganda.MethodsThe project SeeTheChild—Mental Child Health in Uganda (STC) included a sub-study of the Ugandan site of the study PROMISE SB: Saving Brains in Uganda and Burkina Faso. PROMISE SB was a follow-up study of a trial birth cohort (PROMISE EBF) that estimated the effect that peer counselling for exclusive breast-feeding had on the children’s cognitive functioning and mental health once they reached 5–8 years of age. The STC sub-study (N = 148) used the diagnostic tool MINI-KID to assess mental health conditions in children who scored medium and high (≥ 14) on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in the PROMISE SB cohort N = (119/148; 80.4%). Another 29/148 (19.6%) were recruited from the PROMISE SB cohort as a comparator with low SDQ scores (< 14). Additionally, the open-ended questions in the diagnostic history were analysed. The MINI-KID comprised diagnostic questions on alcohol abuse and dependence, and descriptive data from the sub-study are presented in this paper.ResultsA total of 11/148 (7.4%) children scored positive for alcohol abuse and dependence in this study, 10 of whom had high SDQ scores (≥ 14). The 10 children with SDQ-scores ≥ 14 had a variety of mental health comorbidities of which suicidality 3/10 (30.0%) and separation anxiety disorder 5/10 (50.0%) were the most common. The one child with an SDQ score below 14 did not have any comorbidities. Access to homemade brew, carer’s knowledge of the drinking, and difficult household circumstances were issues expressed in the children’s diagnostic histories.ConclusionsThe discovery of alcohol abuse and dependence among 5–8 year olds in clinical interviews from a community based trial cohort was unexpected, and we recommend continued research and increased awareness of these conditions in this age group.Trial registration Trial registration for PROMISE SB: Saving Brains in Uganda and Burkina Faso: Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01882335), 20 June 2013. Regrettably, there was a 1 month delay in the registration compared to the commenced re-inclusion in the follow-up study: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01882335?term=saving+brains&draw=2&rank=1

Tobacco Consumption Pattern of Selected Districts of Gujarat

Background: Globally, among the leading preventable causes of premature deaths tobacco stands on the top. The consumption patterns of tobacco in various forms of chewing and smoking vary across different regions and socioeconomic levels.&#x0D; Objectives: To study tobacco consumption pattern in two districts of Gujarat and compare among them.&#x0D; Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out on 504 participants during January 2015 to September 2016 among 15-64 years age group. A pre designed and pre tested Questionnaire was used to collect data on tobacco consumption pattern. Descriptive and analytical statistical methods were used for the data analysis.&#x0D; Results: Smoking was reported among 11.51% and 18.25% in Gandhinagar and Mehsana district respectively. Out of which around 90% of them in both district were smoking daily. 34.52% of the studied population in Mehsana district was using smokeless tobacco as compared to Gandhinagar district (26.19%). Initiation of smoking was in later age as compared to smokeless tobacco.&#x0D; Conclusion: Present study concludes that large number of people including younger population was using smokeless tobacco in both districts. Early initiation of use of smokeless tobacco suggests an urgent need for action.

A Co-Twin Control Study of the Relationship Between Adolescent Drinking and Adult Outcomes

The effect of drinking during adolescence on adult functioning is a public health concern. A variety of mechanisms have been proposed where drinking in adolescence has an adverse impact on later outcomes; unfortunately, few studies have included methodologies that account for confounding influences that might link adolescent drinking with subsequent problems. To address this limitation, the current study used a co-twin control design, which uses members of twin pairs that differ from each other on their adolescent drinking. We used a prospective longitudinal sample drawn from the Minnesota Twin Family Study, consisting of 2,764 twins (1,434 female) assessed at regular follow-ups from age 17 to age 29. Adolescent drinking was defined by measures of early initiation of use and a measure of overall consumption at age 17. Adult outcomes included indicators of substance use, antisocial behavior, personality, socioeconomic status, and social functioning. The co-twin control analyses suggested that many of the associations between adolescent drinking and later outcomes were largely influenced by genetic confounding. However, for the measure of adolescent alcohol consumption, results were consistent with a small causal impact of drinking on multiple domains of adult functioning. This pattern was less consistently observed for the measures of early initiation. These results provide empirical justification for policies designed to alleviate long-term consequences associated with adolescent drinking by reducing the level of alcohol consumption in adolescence. In contrast, the evidence did not suggest that delaying drinking would have a broad impact on later-life adjustment.

Intergenerational patterns of contraception use during extended postpartum period among women in Haryana, India

Background and Objectives: Present study is an attempt to examine the generational patterns of adoption of family planning during extended postpartum period before and after adjusting for individual, household and contextual factors. The study was further extended by analysing timing and type of contraceptive methods used by generations. Methods : Primary survey data from Rohtak district of Haryana, India, was used, in which two successive generations were interviewed regarding family planning and contraception use. Results: Findings demonstrated the different patterns of family planning use across the generations after adjusting for other potential covariates.The early initiation of use of family planning and use of modern methods during postpartum period was higher among younger women. Conclusions: Though, by time and generations there has been a significant change in the extent and patterns of contraceptive adoption among postpartum women, still in few segments, younger generation women reported low use of family planning which calls for urgent policy attention.

Differences in alcohol use patterns between adolescent Asian American ethnic groups: Representative estimates from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2002–2013

ObjectiveStudies have suggested that alcohol use prevalence is increasing among Asian American adolescents and there may be significant differences between specific adolescent Asian American ethnicities. MethodData from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2002–2013) were used to estimate prevalence of alcohol use (lifetime, past-month, past-year) and problem (binge drinking, alcohol use disorder [AUD], and early initiation of use) outcomes among adolescent Asian American ethnicities. ResultsFilipino Americans had the highest prevalence of lifetime (29.3%) and past-month (10.3%) use; Korean Americans had the highest prevalence of past-year use (22.7%). Asian Indian Americans had the lowest prevalence of all three use indicators: 14.6%, 11.9%, and 4.9% for lifetime, past-year, and past-month, respectively. Korean Americans had the highest prevalence of binge drinking (5.4%), Filipino Americans had the highest prevalence of AUD (3.5%), and Vietnamese Americans had the highest prevalence of early initiation of use (13.5%). Asian Indian Americans had the lowest prevalence for all three alcohol problem indicators: 2.6%, 1.0%, and 4.9% for binge drinking, AUD, and early initiation of use, respectively. ConclusionsPrevalence estimates of alcohol outcomes among Korean, Japanese, and Filipino American adolescents were high and similar to other racial groups that are often considered higher risk racial groups. Estimates among large subgroups with low alcohol use prevalence, Chinese and Asian Indian Americans, may mask high rates among other Asian ethnicities when alcohol use estimates are presented among Asians overall. When feasible, researchers should present alcohol use estimates disaggregated by specific Asian American ethnicities and investigate differences in risk factors across groups.

Early initiation of alcohol or marijuana use and nonmedical use of prescription drugs

Early initiation of alcohol or marijuana use and nonmedical use of prescription drugs

Early Childhood Predictors of Early Substance use and Substance use Disorders: Prospective Study

The purpose of the present study was to examine the longitudinal association between early childhood factors and early initiation of use of substances and substance use disorders in a large prospective study. Data were from the Mater Hospital University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy, a prospective birth cohort study in Brisbane, Australia. Use of nicotine, alcohol and cannabis and age of initiation of such use were reported at the 21 year follow up. DSM-IV diagnosis of nicotine, alcohol and cannabis use disorders was assessed at 21 years using a computerized version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-Auto). Early childhood factors were measured between mother's pregnancy and child age 5 years. Of the 3647 respondents with complete data, 15.4% had started to smoke cigarettes before 15 years. Another 17.4% and 12.2% reported having started to consume alcohol or use cannabis in early adolescence, respectively. Some 16.2%, 27.8% and 21.9% had ever had nicotine, alcohol or cannabis abuse or dependence (disorder) by 21 years, respectively. In multivariate models early initiation of use of substances, and substance use disorders were associated with disrupted families or drug-using parents, childhood problem behaviours, and poor parental monitoring and supervision in childhood. There are four independent factors in early or middle childhood that predict early initiation of use of substances and subsequent substance use disorders by early adulthood. There is a need to consider whether what is known about the risk factors that predict young age of substance use, and substance use disorders, may be incorporated into treatment and/or prevention initiatives.

Childhood Predictors of Adolescent Substance Abuse

Abstract This article reviews the etiology of chemical use and abuse among children and adolescents as well as states the etiological pathways of youth drug behavior between initial, occasional and regular use. The authors also discuss determinants of the onset of chemical use such as the family; peers; early antisocial behavior; school; attitudes, beliefs and personality traits; and early initiation of use. They develop a theoretical premise based on the most current etiological research and offer a social development model that serves as a basis for prevention intervention.