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Underage drinking is a serious public health problem in the United States. Alcohol is the most widely used substance among American youth and can directly or indirectly affect anyone, regardless of age or intoxication status. Alcohol-induced aggressive behavior, property damage, injuries, violence, and death are not just a problem in some families, but a national problem. In particular, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH, 2023) found that approximately 25% of people who died by suicide had an alcohol use disorder. We will introduce you to a program that explores psychosocial and pharmacological treatments for "adolescent substance use disorders" in depth with a professor in the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Brown University, a renowned leader in the field of substance addiction.

 

[The dangers of adolescent alcohol and drug addiction]

▶Cause many deaths: Alcohol is a significant contributor to deaths (motor vehicle crashes, homicides, alcohol overdoses, falls, burns, drownings, and suicides) among people under the age of 21 in the United States each year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, 2024), approximately 28 people die in drunk driving crashes every day in the United States.

▶Many more are injured: Drinking alcohol is associated with poor decision-making, including risky sexual behavior, drunk driving, aggressive or violent behavior, and the likelihood of being a victim or perpetrator of interpersonal violence.

It puts you at risk for many diseases: According to data published in 2022, half of all deaths related to liver disease (men: 50%; women: 42.8%) were alcohol-related.

▶Interferes with brain development: Studies have shown that people's brains continue to develop into their 20s. Alcohol can interfere with this development, leading to cognitive or learning problems. A National Library of Medicine study found that alcohol consumption was negatively associated with academic motivation and achievement.

▶Drinking is also associated with the use of other substances: Using alcohol and other substances is unsafe because the effects can be more potent and deadly than using one drug alone.

▶Increased risk of developing an alcohol problem later in life: Studies show that adults age 26 and older who started drinking before age 15 are 3.5 times more likely to experience an AUD in the past year compared to those who started drinking after age 21.

[Diagnosing Adolescent Alcohol Abuse]

Signs of adolescent alcohol abuse include:

[Adolescent Alcohol Abuse Treatment]

▶Individual or group therapy/alcohol and drug counseling

▶Dual-diagnosis treatment: Recommended if you have an alcohol use disorder and a co-occurring mental health disorder.

▶Alcohol and drug rehabilitation: entering a rehabilitation center (Alcoholics Anonymous: AA)

▶Medication: Medication may be prescribed for teens to help ease severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms, reduce agitation or psychotic symptoms, or treat co-occurring mental health disorders.

▶Family therapy: Treats alcohol abuse by addressing family conflicts, domestic abuse, or other problems at home.

[Structural spinning modeling]

Prof. Tim Janssen's research will address structural equation modeling to accurately represent developmental changes in mechanisms that predict substance abuse initiation and escalation.

<Figure 1- Example of structural equation modeling>
Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is a multivariate statistical analysis technique used by scientists conducting both observational and experimental research to analyze structural relationships. It combines factor analysis and multiple regression analysis and is used to analyze the structural relationships between measured variables and latent constructs. SEM shows how different aspects of some phenomena are causally linked to each other. It is widely used primarily in the social and behavioral sciences, but also in business.

There are two types of structural spin-down models: Measurement models vs. structural models.

1) Measurement model: This represents a theory that specifies how the measured variables combine to represent the theory.

2) Structural model: Represents a theory that shows how a construct is related to other constructs.

[Adolescent substance uses disorder research: Prof. Tim Janssen]

GIRE is supporting a research experience with Prof. Tim Janssen at Brown University to delve deeper into the psychosocial and pharmacological treatment of adolescent substance use disorders.

▶Research Interests: #Substance use disorders #Underage drinking #Psychology #Pharmacology

▶Recommended Students: Students who wish to become counselors for adolescent substance use disorders or who are interested in learning about the mechanisms and psychological and pharmacological treatments of substance use disorders.

These are the topics of Tim's current research.

▶The Epidemic–Pandemic Impacts Inventory (EPII): A multisample study examining pandemic-related experiences and their relation to mental health. (2023)

▶Early COVID-Related pandemic impacts and subsequent opioid outcomes among persons receiving medication for opioid use disorder: a secondary data analysis of a Type-3 hybrid trial (2023)

▶Implementing contingency management for stimulant use in opioid treatment programs: protocol of a type III hybrid effectiveness-stepped-wedge trial (2023)

With GIRE, high school students receive direct support from consultants and conduct unprecedented research in research areas they are curious about, acquiring specialized knowledge, discovering new facts, and considering ways to utilize the research results.