Professor Andy Furlong
Cluster Title: Addictions in youth and young adulthood: causes, trajectories and risk factors
Area of interest
Our project aims to locate addictions and risk taking behaviours in the protracted and sometimes fragmented experiences of modern youth. While there is a solid body of evidence demonstrating time trends in specific substances, much less is known about intercorrelations between substances over time and their relationship with gambling. Rather than regarding addiction as an individual state, we will broaden the focus to view it as a process that that begins in the early years and continually develops over the life course, influenced by a range of external and internal factors, in some instances involving ‘excessive’ consumption in more than one area. Utilising longitudinal and cross-sectional datasets, we will examine the development of addictive behaviours over the early stages of the life-course, focusing in particular on factors associated with initiation and development and on the role of a wide range of individual, psychological and environmental triggers in this process. Trend data will be used to explore changes in patterns of use over time.
Our programme of work centres on four overlapping questions:
1. To what extent is there a co-occurrence in the use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs and participation in gambling. How does this relate to changes across youth and young adulthood and to what extent have their correlates changed?
2. What is the relationship between patterns of dependency in alcohol, tobacco, drugs and gambling and mental health and how have these been affected by changes in youth and young adulthood?
3. What are the associations between social structural, social capital and lifestyle correlates of consumption of tobacco, alcohol, substances and gambling? Have these been affected by changes in youth and young adulthood?
4. Does the protraction and fragmentation of youth transitions impact on patterns of consumption and the risk of dependency?
Policy direction
In order to develop effective prevention strategies, it is important to develop a multidisciplinary understanding of the trajectories of addictions. Through this project we are committed to highlighting the associations between the experiences of young people, the consumption of drugs, alcohol, tobacco and gambling and factors that lead to problematic patterns of use. Our research will provide a knowledge base that is of value to policy makers and professionals in the addictions field. We will develop a strategy to publicise findings widely.
The policy and practice dividends from gaining a greater understanding of the causes of addiction are likely to be far-reaching. Understanding how risk develops over time and is reflected in individual pathways to addiction is a prerequisite for developing preventive interventions to forestall the development of addiction in vulnerable individuals or groups. The knowledge gained will contribute to the development of the evidence base informing effectively targeted preventative measures and facilitates the development of wrap-around services that address multiple risk factors in users’ lives.
Co-Investigators
• G Reith
• S Blackman
• A Copello
• F Dobbie
• C Lloyd
• H Meltzer
• J Moody
• J Orford
• H Sweeting
• H Wardle
• P West