Adolescent alcohol and substance misuse beliefs and behaviours: The role of language, inhibition, and attentional proces

酒精依赖是一个重大的公共卫生问题，直接和间接地影响到一些疾病，如肝硬变、心血管疾病等。越早开始饮酒，成人酒精依赖和与酒精相关的问题的风险就越大，这证明有必要研究青少年早期饮酒的原因。研究表明，糟糕的语言技能(以及注意力不集中、工作记忆和限制行动的困难)与过早饮酒有关。然而，尽管关联已经被揭示，但它们导致早发性酒精使用的机制尚未具体说明。通过调查导致饮酒的早期风险因素，我们可以确定哪些青少年最有可能在任何早期饮酒(并使用大麻等物质)，我们可以制定干预措施，关注这些风险因素，防止这些危险行为的发生。这项研究将考察语言和沟通技能方面的困难如何导致人们对酒精使用的态度和信念，以及它们如何转化为早期饮酒。这项研究将通过检查青少年开始饮酒和/或使用药物前后的这些危险因素来进行。

Alcohol dependence is a significant public health related issue which impacts directly and indirectly on a number of illnesses such as liver cirrhosis, cardiovascular disorders etc. The earlier that drinking begins the greater risk for adult alcohol dependence and alcohol-related problems, justifying the need to examine what underpins early alcohol use in adolescents. Studies show that poor verbal skills (along with poor attention, working memory and difficulties in restraining actions) are related to early onset alcohol use. However, even though associations are revealed the mechanisms by which they contribute to early onset alcohol use are not yet specified. By investigating the early risk factors that lead to alcohol use we can identify those adolescents who are most likely to drink alcohol at any early age (and use substances such as marijuana) and we can develop interventions t that pay attention to these risk factors and prevent the uptake of these risky behaviours. This research will examine how difficulties in language and communication skills contribute to attitudes and beliefs about alcohol use and how they translate to early onset alcohol use. This research will be conducted by examining these risk factors before and after adolescents begin drinking alcohol and/or using substances.