Youth Alcohol Research Network

Overview:

Young people in the UK have the highest rate of alcohol use and misuse in Europe. Alcohol misuse is linked to many adverse consequences, including accidents, cigarette and illicit drug use, delinquency, violence, victimisation, family conflict, school drop-out, mental health problems and social isolation. Young people have lower tolerance levels and become dependent at lower doses than adults. The earlier the onset of alcohol misuse the greater the risk of a chronic course and multiple co-occurring problems. It is therefore crucial health practitioners are able to identify high-risk youth early on and to deliver effective interventions. Between 1997-2005/6, admissions to the NHS for alcohol-related physical, mental or behavioural disorders have doubled. Alcohol-related disease may account for up to one in eight NHS bed days and approximately 70% of A&E attendances. Clinical help is usually sought in adulthood after chronic dependence is established. Young misusers tend to present for clinical services, particularly A&E departments, only when significant physical complications or injury arise. Even then, services are ill-equipped to recognise and address youngsters' specific needs. Early intervention strategies developed from a strong evidence-based theoretical framework can reduce risk of chronic addiction as well as associated co-occurring problems.

The focus of this group is on high-risk young drinkers with the aim to develop theoretically driven complex interventions. We will use "evidence synthesis methods" (Academy of Medical Sciences, 2008) to contribute to understanding the developmental pathways into alcohol misuse. We plan to study existing data resources as well as develop innovative new studies to address these complex issues. We have access to rich data sources (some of them nationwide; some with data collection ongoing). New studies will address knowledge gaps and provide creative solutions to important methodological issues inherent to the study of high-risk youths, including recruitment bias, continued study engagement and the development of appropriate assessment methods. We intend to optimise the development of new longitudinal studies to improve specific understanding of high-risk youngsters' life course trajectories and the establishment of key moments when interventions are likely to be optimal. The disparate areas of expertise required to be successful in this endeavour do not reside in traditional academic groups and therefore necessitate the proposed multidisciplinary cluster.

Funding:
Financial support for the Youth Alcohol Research Network comes from the Children and Young People's Research Network Wales


Contact:
For information about this network please contact
For information/questions about this website please contact SC Moore