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University of Cordoba researchers call for updated prevention policies addressing vaping and social media.
A team of researchers at the University of Cordoba has conducted a groundbreaking analysis of more than 8,000 scientific studies on adolescent substance use. The study, published in Adolescent Research Review, identifies critical individual and social factors that protect teens from succumbing to peer pressure to use drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.
The findings have prompted the researchers to call for updates to prevention strategies, incorporating the rising influence of vaping and social media.
A Rising Concern in Adolescence
According to the Spanish Health Ministry’s 2023 ESTUDES survey, the average age at which teenagers in Spain start consuming substances is alarmingly young: 13.9 years for alcohol, 14.1 for tobacco, and 14.9 for cannabis. Social influences, such as peers who already use these substances, are a significant risk factor. However, the study highlights that not all adolescents follow this path, raising the question: What protects some teens from substance use?
Key Protective Factors: Age and Substance Type
The research, led by Raquel Espejo Siles and Joaquín Rodríguez-Ruiz at the university’s Coexistence and Violence Prevention Studies Lab (LAECOVI), pinpointed two crucial factors that should guide prevention efforts: the age of the adolescent and the type of substance in question.
The systematic review narrowed its focus to 50 studies after rigorous selection criteria. One notable finding is that protective factors, such as parental supervision and a sense of belonging at school, are highly effective during early adolescence but diminish as teens grow older and peer influence intensifies.
“As adolescence progresses, prevention strategies should shift focus from family and school to peer culture,” Rodríguez-Ruiz emphasized. “For older teens, from the age of 16, strategies should promote self-control and responsible decision-making.”
The Influence of Substance Type
The study also highlights that certain protective factors are more effective depending on the substance. For example, assertiveness, an individual factor, is ineffective against single-use consumption of alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis but offers protection against polyconsumption.
A Changing Landscape: Vaping and Social Media
Espejo Siles stressed the need for prevention policies to adapt to evolving trends in substance use, including the growing popularity of vaping and the pervasive role of social media. “We are dealing with a changing phenomenon, with new forms of consumption and new ways in which adolescents interact,” she said.
A Call for Global and Unified Research
The study also noted significant gaps in current research, particularly the lack of geographical diversity and inconsistent definitions of adolescence. Most studies are rooted in American contexts, underscoring the need for more inclusive global research.
Moving Forward
This research provides a roadmap for creating targeted, age-appropriate, and substance-specific prevention strategies. By addressing modern challenges like vaping and social media, policymakers can better equip teens to resist substance use, even in the face of peer pressure.
For more information, the complete study is available in Adolescent Research Review under DOI: 10.1007/s40894-024-00247-x.
Provided by the University of Cordoba
