title: Underage drinking: a developmental framework.
abstract: A developmental framework for understanding and addressing the problem of underage alcohol consumption is presented. The first section presents the rationale for a developmental approach, including striking age-related data on patterns of onset, prevalence, and course of alcohol use and disorders in young people. The second section examines the fundamental meaning of a developmental approach to conceptualizing underage drinking. The third section delineates contemporary principles of developmental psychopathology as a guide to future research and intervention efforts. Strategic, sensitive, and effective efforts to address the problem of underage drinking will require a developmentally informed approach to research, prevention, and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, 51 East River Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. amasten@umn.edu
authors.forename: Ann S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Masten
authors.forename: Vivian B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Faden
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Zucker
authors.forename: Linda P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Spear
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D041923:Adolescent Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans