Harmful alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorder (AUD) contribute substantially to global morbidity and mortality. The peak age of onset of AUD is 18 years, thus a deeper understanding of the adolescent experience is important to identify modifiable risk factors and intervene early in the developmental course of this disabling disorder. This study responds to an urgent call for high quality, long-term prospective cohort studies to better understand the public health burden of adolescent drinking.
The RADAR project draws together a team of researchers with experience in longitudinal cohort research to examine the prospective development of AUD symptoms over the adolescent years, capitalising on an existing cohort of 1911 community-based mid-adolescents who have completed a baseline and three annual follow-up assessments as part of a naturalistic longitudinal study. The results of this study will be used to identify specific targets for prevention and early intervention of AUD.