Addictive Behaviors in Young People in Europe: Prevention and Early Intervention

Substance use is associated with a wide range of harms to young people’s physical health, mental wellbeing, and social development. Early and frequent use of alcohol, drugs and nicotine products is linked to increased risks of addiction, accidents, injuries, impaired academic performance, and mental health issues like anxiety and depression. It can also lead to risky behaviours, including unsafe sexual activity, and may harm relationships with family and peers.

Prevention is crucial in reducing alcohol and drug-related harms among young people. Universal prevention strategies, such as school and community-based programmes aim to equip all young people with knowledge and skills to make healthy choices before problems arise. Other prevention approaches target specific groups, families or communities who are more likely to risk developing drug-related harm or dependence or individuals with behavioural or psychological problems that predict a higher risk of substance use problems. Early intervention and harm reduction are equally important, as identifying and responding to substance use issues in their initial stages can prevent escalation into long-term addiction or related harms.

One policy or programme will not fit all countries, ages, cultural or social groups. Mental-health and other forms of comorbidity, online markets, and social media influence mean that interventions must be multi-sectoral, delivered, for instance, in educational settings, primary care, youth services, and through digital communication and intervention. Finally, there is a need for regular surveillance to track fast-moving trends such as vaping or the emergence of new substances.

To address this critical issue, Frontiers in Public Health is pleased to announce a Research Topic dedicated to research in the field of addictive behaviors in young people (age 12-25) in Europe, with a focus on prevention, early intervention and harm reduction. Addictive behaviors may include alcohol, drugs, gambling, (and other behavioral addictions). This research topic aims to provide a compilation of critical research that summarizes state-of-the-art knowledge, identifies research gaps, and proposes recommendations for future research, policy and practice. We encourage authors to submit manuscripts that cover a wide range of topics related to young people’s addictive behavior, prevention, early intervention and harm reduction approaches. Submissions should be original research, using any methodological/methods approaches, including but not limited to:

• Critical examination and development of theoretical perspectives on: young people’s addictive behavior; prevention and intervention approaches.

• Studies on the prevalence of substance use and addictive behaviors among 12-25 year old young people and the implications for prevention, early intervention and harm reduction.

• Research on gender, cultural, socio-economic, and other individual, social and systemic factors that influence prevention and intervention.

• Papers including youth voices, lived experience, and practitioner voices in research studies / policy and service provision.

• Studies examining the topic of addictive behaviors among youth from the perspective of others (e.g. teachers, parents/carers, service providers).

• Studies reporting research on dual diagnosis/ co-morbidity.

• Evaluation of policy and intervention approaches.

• Cross-national studies presenting critical examination of policy and intervention for this target group or describing specific interventions and approaches across countries.

• Mass-media anti-drug messaging across countries.

Keywords: addictive behaviors, young people, interventions, prevention, policy

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.