Substance misuse
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Annual Review of ACEs research
It is now over 20 years since the publication of the seminal research by Fellitti and colleagues (Fellitti et al 1998) ‘The Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study.’
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Neuroanatomical Variability and Early Substance Use Initiation: Insights from the ABCD Study
Adolescence is a period of rapid brain development, making it a sensitive window for experiences that may shape long-term outcomes. A new study from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) project examined whether neuroanatomical variability is linked to early initiation of alcohol, nicotine, or cannabis. Drawing on baseline brain images taken before substance use began, the researchers found regionally specific differences in cortical thickness and surface area among early initiators. The findings highlight the complexity of adolescent neurodevelopment and point to the value of large-scale, longitudinal studies in clarifying how brain structure and behaviour unfold together.
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Do brain function abnormalities lead to substance use, or vice versa?
New research has, for the first time, investigated the direction of links between brain function and substance use throughout adolescence. Jungmeen Kim-Spoon and colleagues studied 167 adolescents who were assessed annually for four years from 13-14 years old.
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Can population registry data predict which children with ADHD are at risk of later substance use disorders?
The first study to examine the potential of machine learning in early prediction of later substance use disorders (SUDs) in youth with ADHD has been published in the Journal of Child Psychiatry and Psychology.
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July 2020 – The Bridge
In this issue, we summarise recent studies on a wide range of topics – including sleep, sensory symptoms, emotional symptoms, disinhibition, alcohol misuse, complex PTSD symptoms, and self-harm – which reveal new insights helping us to better understand and address psychopathology in young people.
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Global development and injecting drug use in a new generation of adolescents
People who inject drugs tend to begin doing so in adolescence, and countries that have larger numbers of adolescents who inject drugs may be at risk of emerging epidemics of blood borne viruses unless they take urgent action.
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January 2020 issue – The Bridge ADHD edition
Special edition of The Bridge on ADHD, includes guidelines on service transition for young people, substance use, emotional impulsivity, emotion dysregulation, diagnosis and misdiagnosis.
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Gender-specific pathways mediate the risk of substance use in adolescents with ADHD
Data suggest that children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to start smoking tobacco and/or marijuana earlier in childhood than unaffected children, and then escalate use during adolescence. Now, a study by researchers at the University of Minnesota has examined the mediating pathways underlying this association between childhood ADHD and later substance-abuse problems.
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Homelessness and its impact on children
In the run up to Christmas, this article aims to outline previous research on the effects of homelessness and the potential solutions already outlined, as well as point towards future research and actions.
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Sleep and Mental Health
Dr Sally Hobson, Specialty Community Paediatrician, Evelina Children’s Secondary Community Sleep Clinic on the relationship between sleep and mental health.
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