Aims: The aim of the study was to summarize results of recent epidemiological research on adolescent alcohol use and its consequences, to outline the risk factors for drinking in adolescents and to consider effective treatment and preventative interventions. Methods: A literature review of relevant studies on adolescent alcohol use. Results: Alcohol use and other risk-taking behaviours such as smoking, substance use and risky sexual behaviour emerge in adolescence and tend to cluster together. Heavy alcohol consumption in late adolescence appears to persist into adulthood and is associated with alcohol problems, including dependence, premature death and diminished work capacity. Early identification of adolescent risk factors may be helpful in preventing and/or attenuating risk. Conclusion: There is a need for high-quality long-term prospective cohort studies to investigate the long-term consequences of adoles- cent drinking and further work is needed to identify the most effective intervention strategies. The term 'adolescent' is an adjective describing a young person in the process of developing from a child into an adult and dates from the late 18th century (Oxford English Dictionary). It is derived from the Latin verb 'adolescere' which means 'to grow up'. This short paper will review pat- terns of drinking in adolescence and the risk factors that are thought to predispose to the development of alcohol use and other co-morbid disorders in this age group. Alcohol is the world's third largest risk factor for disease and contributes to 4% of the global burden of disease (Rehm et al., 2009). It is estimated that ~2.5 million deaths each year are directly attributable to alcohol, with 9% of deaths in the 15- to 29-year age group being alcohol-related (WHO, 2011). When data from the World Health Organization's Global Burden of Disease study were used to calculate cause-specific disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for young people aged 10-24 years, the main risk factors were found to be alcohol (7% of DALYs), unsafe sex (4%), iron deficiency (3%), lack of contraception (2%) and illicit drug use (2%) (Gore et al., 2011). The contribution of other risk factors to disease, such as tobacco use, low physical activity and overweight/obesity only emerged in mid-to-late adulthood. These findings suggest that public health strategies should focus on child and adolescent health, and that adolescent drinking should be given priority (Gore et al., 2011).

Adolescent Alcohol Use: Risks and Consequences

https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/33490762/5410194.pdf?sequence=1

Sensitive periods of substance abuse: Early risk for the transition to dependence.

Cortisol and DHEA in development and psychopathology.

In this article we have provided a perspective on the importance and value of youth mental health services for society and argued that advancing youth mental health services should be the number one priority of health services in Canada. Using the age period of 12-25 years for defining youth, we have provided justification for our position based on scientific evidence derived from clinical, epidemiological and neurodevelopmental studies. We have highlighted the early onset of most mental disorders and substance abuse as well as their persistence into later adulthood, the long delays experienced by most help seekers and the consequence of such delays for young people and for society in general. We have also provided a brief review of the current gross inadequacies in access and quality of care available in Canada. We have argued for the need for a different conceptual framework of youth mental disorders as well as for a transformation of the way services are provided in order not only to reduce the unmet needs but also to allow a more meaningful exploration of the nature of such problems presenting in youth and the best way to treat them. We have offered some ideas based on previous work completed in this field as well as current initiatives in Canada and elsewhere. Any transformation of youth mental health services in Canada must take into consideration the significant geographic, cultural and political diversity across the provinces, territories and indigenous peoples across this country.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0706743718758968

Youth Mental Health Should Be a Top Priority for Health Care in Canada.

Nutrition in adolescent growth and development.

Adolescence is the developmental epoch during which children become adults - intellectually, physically, hormonally, and socially. Adolescence is a tumultuous time, full of changes and transformations. The pubertal transition to adulthood involves both gonadal and behavioral maturation. Magnetic resonance imaging studies have discovered that myelinogenesis, required for proper insulation and efficient neurocybernetics, continues from childhood and the brain's region-specific neurocircuitry remains structurally and functionally vulnerable to impulsive sex, food, and sleep habits. The maturation of the adolescent brain is also influenced by heredity, environment, and sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone), which play a crucial role in myelination. Furthermore, glutamatergic neurotransmission predominates, whereas gamma-aminobutyric acid neurotransmission remains under construction, and this might be responsible for immature and impulsive behavior and neurobehavioral excitement during adolescent life. The adolescent population is highly vulnerable to driving under the influence of alcohol and social maladjustments due to an immature limbic system and prefrontal cortex. Synaptic plasticity and the release of neurotransmitters may also be influenced by environmental neurotoxins and drugs of abuse including cigarettes, caffeine, and alcohol during adolescence. Adolescents may become involved with offensive crimes, irresponsible behavior, unprotected sex, juvenile courts, or even prison. According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the major cause of death among the teenage population is due to injury and violence related to sex and substance abuse. Prenatal neglect, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption may also significantly impact maturation of the adolescent brain. Pharmacological interventions to regulate adolescent behavior have been attempted with limited success. Since several factors, including age, sex, disease, nutritional status, and substance abuse have a significant impact on the maturation of the adolescent brain, we have highlighted the influence of these clinically significant and socially important aspects in this report.

/pdf/maturation-of-the-adolescent-brain-ycwnknyokl.pdf

Maliha Haque

Papers

Maturation of the adolescent brain