Grand challenges in addiction in adolescents: understanding risks, influences, and interventions for resilience and recovery

Adolescent substance use and misuse and behavioral addictive disorders pose significant challenges in public health and research, demanding a multifaceted approach to prevention, intervention, harm reduction and recovery. The developmental transitions and heightened susceptibility of adolescents make them particularly vulnerable to addictive behaviors, ranging from substance use to digital dependencies.

This Research Topic delves into the grand challenges confronting researchers and health care providers in this field, exploring the complexities of risk factors, biological and social influences, and the efficacy of current intervention strategies. By bringing together cutting-edge research and diverse perspectives, this collection aims to illuminate pathways to effectively address and mitigate the effects of substance use disorders among in adolescents, fostering resilience and supporting long-term recovery.

In particular, the editors welcome submissions addressing the following challenges:

• prevalence and trends in substance use and misuse, including behavioral addictions (e.g., e-gaming and e-gambling, e-sports) among adolescents globally;
• understanding how developmental stages influence the susceptibility to addiction, as well as progression of use and the recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs);
• research on the impact of substance use on adolescent brain development and neuroplasticity;
• intergenerational pathways of youth substance use risk and resilience that examine genetic, neurocognitive, social (e.g., parenting behaviors), and environmental (e.g., neighborhood conditions) factors during the critical developmental period of adolescence;
• the roles of trauma and adverse childhood events (e.g., physical or sexual abuse, unstable housing, poverty, neglect, bullying, discrimination), social supports (in-person and online), coping responses, and access to health care in youth substance use trajectories;
• studies examining how changing cannabis regulatory policies are causally linked to epidemiological trends and consequences in youth substance use;
• rigorous evaluations of innovative theory-based multi-system youth substance use prevention and intervention programs to advance adolescent medicine and personalized care of youth;
• research on barriers to the provision and implementation of youth substance use prevention and intervention in health care systems, including juvenile justice systems;
• research on the effectiveness of current medical and behavioral treatment approaches and co-morbidities seen with substance use disorders in adolescents and young adults;
• research exploring the development of a new paradigm that incorporates harm reduction in both primary prevention strategies and programs for youth.




Topic editor, Tammy Chung, is a volunteer member of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of the International Center for Responsible Gaming, and receives travel reimbursement to attend the annual SAB meeting. Prof. Chung is also an Associate Editor of Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research for which she receives an annual honorarium for performing editorial responsibilities. Topic editor, Sheryl Ryan, is a regular contributor for Best Doctors of America, where she provides written clinical assessments for adolescent patients requesting a second opinion regarding complex general medical issues; for this she receives a small honorarium for each case reviewed. Topic editor, Sarah Bagley, declares no conflict of interest.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: addiction, adolescents, young people, substance misuse, gaming addiction, addictive behaviours, gambling

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.