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

酒精依赖是一个与公共卫生有关的重大问题，它直接或间接地影响到一些疾病，如肝硬化、心血管疾病等。越早开始饮酒，成人酒精依赖和酒精相关问题的风险就越大，因此有必要研究青少年早期饮酒的原因。研究表明，较差的语言表达能力（以及较差的注意力、工作记忆和抑制行为的困难）与早期饮酒有关。然而，尽管这些关联揭示了导致早发性酒精使用的机制，但尚未明确。通过调查导致酒精使用的早期风险因素，我们可以确定那些最有可能在任何年龄早期饮酒（并使用大麻等物质）的青少年，我们可以制定干预措施，关注这些风险因素并防止采取这些危险行为。这项研究将研究语言和沟通技巧的困难如何影响对饮酒的态度和信念，以及它们如何转化为早发性饮酒。这项研究将在青少年开始饮酒和/或使用药物之前和之后检查这些风险因素。

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.