Opioid misuse during late adolescence and its effects on risk behaviors, social functioning, health, and emerging adult roles

Longitudinal associations among experiences of sexual assault, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and heavy drinking in young adults

Prior research with young adults has demonstrated clear associations between experiences of sexual assault, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and alcohol use, but most studies have been cross-sectional or have not considered multiple theoretical pathways to understand these associations. Using six waves of data from a longitudinal cohort sample of 1,719 young adults, we examined associations among experiences of past-year sexual assault (i.e., rape, unwanted sexual touching, and physical intimidation in a sexual way), PTSD symptoms, and the frequency of binge drinking over time, allowing for the exploration of symptom-induced, interpersonal risk, and substance-induced pathways for male and female participants. For both male, βs = 2.84 to 6.55, and female participants, βs = 2.96 to 10.1, higher prior levels of PTSD symptoms were associated with larger increases in binge drinking over time. For female participants, higher prior levels of sexual assault were associated with larger increases in PTSD symptoms over time, βs = 3.48 to 4.25, whereas for male participants, higher prior levels of past-year binge drinking were associated with decreases in PTSD symptoms over time, βs = -2.75 to -0.53. Continued efforts are needed to prevent sexual assault among young adults and address PTSD symptoms among those who experience sexual assault. Interventions that target binge drinking are also needed for individuals who experience PTSD symptoms, especially young adults, to address potentially hazardous drinking before problems escalate and become chronic.

Misuse of Prescription Opioids and Suicidal Behaviors Among Black Adolescents: Findings from the 2017 and 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

PURPOSE

Although some studies have examined the association between prescription opioid misuse and mental health outcomes, few have investigated the effects of prescription opioid misuse on suicidal behaviors among Black adolescents. The objective of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional association between prescription opioid misuse and suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt among Black adolescents.

METHODS

Data for this study came from the 2017 and 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. An analytic sample of 4798 Black adolescents aged 14-18 years (51.2% female) was analyzed using binary logistic regression. The outcome variables investigated were suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt, and the main explanatory variable was prescription opioid misuse.

RESULTS

Of the 4798 Black adolescents, 15% reported ever misusing prescription opioids; 16.2% experienced suicidal ideation; 14% made a suicide plan; and 11.3% attempted suicide during the past 12 months. In the multivariate logistic regression models, Black adolescents who misused prescription opioids had 1.39 times higher odds of making a suicide plan and 1.65 times higher odds of making a suicide attempt during the past 12 months when compared to their counterparts who did not misuse prescription opioids. Other significant factors associated with suicidal behaviors include female sex, school bullying, cyberbullying, depressive symptoms, and illicit drug use. In addition, physical activity had a protective effect on suicide attempt.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study demonstrate the effects of prescription opioid misuse and its association with suicidal behaviors among Black adolescents.

Methamphetamine Exposure in Adolescent Impairs Memory of Mice in Adulthood Accompanied by Changes in Neuroplasticity in the Dorsal Hippocampus

Methamphetamine (METH) has been shown to alter learning and memory by affecting the neuroplasticity of the dorsal hippocampus, a key structure that undergoes extensive remodeling during adolescence. In this study, we investigated whether mid-to-late adolescent exposure to METH leads to long-lasting memory impairment. To do this, adolescents (35–48 postnatal days) were exposed to different doses of METH for 14 days and then evaluated by the Morris water maze (MWM), new object recognition test (NORT), and the Y-maze, to investigate the learning and memory abilities of mice in their adolescence and adulthood, respectively. We also detected the mRNA levels of genes associated with neuroplasticity in the dorsal hippocampus. The synaptic ultrastructure and the number of neurons and astrocytes in the dorsal hippocampus were also determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunofluorescence (IF). Exposure to METH in mid-to-late adolescence impaired spatial memory retrieval ability and the long-term recognition memory of mice in their adulthood, but not in their adolescence. Of note, the impairment of memory capacity in adulthood was accompanied by molecular and structural changes in synapses in the dorsal hippocampus. Our results indicate that mice exposed to METH in mid-to-late adolescence have impaired memory ability in their adulthood; this may be the result of abnormal changes in the structural plasticity of the dorsal hippocampus; the causal relationship between changes in synaptic structural plasticity and memory impairment needs to be further confirmed. In summary, our study provides evidence for the detrimental consequences of adolescent addiction and the prevention of adolescent drug abuse.

Family-based intervention for adolescents with substance use disorders in Vietnam

BACKGROUND

Adolescent substance use is a leading risk factor of medical and social problems in adults. However, evidence-based interventions for substance use disorders (SUD) among youth in resource-limited countries are lacking. Treatnet Family (TF), developed by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), aims to make youth SUD care more affordable and accessible in low- and middle-income countries. This study explores the suitability of TF in Vietnam.

METHOD

Twenty interviews were conducted with eight adolescents and their family members who participated in TF, and four practitioners who delivered TF. Questions centred on their experiences with the intervention and suggestions for improvement. Thematic analysis was used to evaluate the data.

RESULTS

All adolescents were male with an average age of 19.3. Seven of them had left school. Most caregivers were female. Both family members and adolescents expressed a great demand for support, and both groups appreciated the immediate improvement in parent-child communication. However, the impact of TF could be compromised due challenges in recruiting families, possibly arising from the novelty of a family-based intervention in Vietnam and drug-related stigma. The perception of drug use as an acute condition instead of a chronic disorder, and the lack of a continuing care system, also made it difficult to retain participants.

CONCLUSION

Vietnamese adolescents with SUD and their family members were in great need of support and access to evidence-based interventions. Building a comprehensive, health-centred substance use disorder treatment and care system would enhance treatment impact.