A Developmental Perspective On Underage Alcohol Use

Underage alcohol use can be viewed as a developmental phenomenon because many kinds of developmental changes and expectations appear to influence this behavior and also because it has consequences for development. Data on alcohol use, abuse, and dependence show clear age-related patterns. Moreover, many of the effects that alcohol use has on the drinker, in both the short and long term, depend on the developmental timing of alcohol use or exposure. Finally, many developmental connections have...

Transitions Into Underage and Problem Drinking: Summary of Developmental Processes and Mechanisms: Ages 10-15

Adolescents ages 10-15 experience dramatic changes in their biological, cognitive, emotional, and social development as well as in their physical and social environments. These include the physiological and psychological changes associated with puberty; further development of the brain; changes in family, peer, and romantic relationships; and exposure to new societal and cultural influences. During this period, many adolescents also begin to use alcohol. Alcohol use during adolescence has adv...

Overview of Preventive Interventions Addressing Underage Drinking: State of the Evidence and Steps Toward Public Health Impact

Because underage drinking is a serious public health concern and associated with numerous detrimental consequences, many interventions to prevent underage drinking have been developed. However, the effectiveness of all these interventions has not been proven. A recent review of the relevant literature that used stringent criteria for the types of studies and interventions included, as well as for the evaluation and classification of the studies, found that out of more than 400 studies screene...

Developmental Processes and Mechanisms: Ages 0-10

Little information is available on alcohol use in children up to age 10, although rates appear to be low. This age-group is not without risk, however. In fact, numerous nonspecific and specific risk factors for subsequent alcohol use are prevalent in childhood. Alcohol-nonspecific risk factors include externalizing and internalizing behaviors, as well as environmental and social factors (e.g., stress, physical abuse, or other aspects of social interaction). Nonspecific childhood factors (i.e....

Improving Treatment Through Research: Directing Attention to the Role of Development in Adolescent Treatment Success

Treatment of adolescents with alcohol use problems can be as successful as in adults, but the success often is short-lived, with most treated adolescents relapsing within a few months. Developmental differences among adolescents may contribute to this high rate of relapse, and treatment approaches that pay direct attention to the patients' developmental status may improve outcomes. To date, studies assessing adolescent alcohol treatment rarely have investigated the association between develop...

Current State of Treatment for Alcohol and Other Drug Use Disorders in Adolescents

Over the past decade, treatment programs have been developed specifically for adolescents with alcohol and other drug (AOD) use disorders. The vast majority of these programs use psychosocial approaches, which can be further classified into family-based interventions and multisystemic therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, behavioral therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Outcome studies have evaluated the effectiveness of the different approaches. The results indicate that all of the...

Underage Alcohol Use: Summary of Developmental Processes and Mechanisms: Ages 16-20

Late adolescence (i.e., the age-group between 16 and 20 years) is characterized by significant changes in neurological and cognitive processes, behavioral and social functioning, and relational and physical contexts as the individual moves toward adulthood. In this age-group, major role transitions affect almost every aspect of life. Moreover, brain development continues-and with it the development of cognitive functions, working memory, emotional and behavioral self-regulation, and decisionm...