Patterns and Predictors of Addiction Across the Lifespan
Substance use and addiction can occur across the lifespan (from prenatal period through older age), with differing contextual influences and outcomes important at different stages. A life stage perspective is needed to develop age-appropriate interventions that reduce problematic substance use and negative outcomes. We will propose research that advances understanding of the pathways, patterns, and predictors of substance use and problematic outcomes, looking at comorbidities and contextual risk factors, at vulnerable life stages. This life-span approach, linking common themes and elements across research projects, can serve as an integrative thread in our Institute.
Our proposed work in this area has the potential to help inform evidence-based messages about potential harms or benefits from different patterns of use at different vulnerable age stages.
Research projects will focus on cannabis use at three life stages:
- Young adulthood, when prevalence and use escalates
- Pregnancy/prenatal periods which are showing troubling increases in prevalence of use in recent years and has implications for fetal and developing youth health
- Older adulthood, which has also seen a dramatic increase in cannabis use in recent years.