title: Drugs as instruments from a developmental child and adolescent psychiatric perspective.
abstract: Developmental, epidemiological, and neurobiological studies indicate that the adaptive and maladaptive functions, as well as immediate and long-term consequences of drug use, may vary by age. Early initiation seems to be associated with a reduced ability to use drugs purposely in a temporally stable, non-addictive manner. Prevention strategies should consider social environmental factors and aim to delay age at initiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, 68159 Mannheim, Germany. tobias.banaschewski@zi-mannheim.de dorothea.blomeyer@zi-mannheim.de arlette.buchmann@zi-mannheim.de luise.poustka@zi-mannheim.de manfred.laucht@zi-mannheim.de www.zi-mannheim.de.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Banaschewski
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blomeyer
authors.forename: Arlette F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Buchmann
authors.forename: Luise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poustka
authors.forename: Aribert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rothenberger
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laucht
mesh_terms: D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology*; D058999:Drug-Seeking Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D012651:Self Medication / Q000523:psychology*