Adolescent brain cognitive development (ABCD) study: Overview of substance use assessment methods

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study is a national longitudinal cohort.
• It aims to understand adolescent substance use and its effects.
• This study focuses on 9 and 10-year-olds followed for a decade.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively examine risk and protective factors for substance use in youth.
• To investigate the impact of substance use on neurocognitive, health, and psychosocial outcomes.
• To understand the relationship between substance use and psychopathology in adolescents.

Main Methods:

• Overview of the ABCD Study Substance Use Workgroup.
• Details on the substance use module methods and measurement tools.
• Longitudinal assessment at baseline, 6-month, and 1-year follow-ups.

Main Results:

• The study establishes a nationwide cohort for long-term substance use research.
• It provides a framework for assessing substance use in early adolescence.
• Data collection covers neurocognitive, health, and psychosocial domains.

Conclusions:

• Longitudinal assessment offers an unprecedented opportunity to study youth substance use.
• Understanding the timing and interactions of substance use is crucial.
• This research will inform interventions and policies for adolescent health.