Alcohol Use in Young People

Dear Colleagues,

Alcohol use among adolescents and young adults remains a major public health concern worldwide, with far-reaching consequences for physical health, mental well-being, academic performance, and long-term life trajectories. Early alcohol initiation is strongly associated with increased risk of substance use disorders, injuries, violence, and chronic health conditions later in adulthood. In recent years, rapid shifts in social norms, digital communication environments, and the broader stressors facing young people, including economic uncertainty, social isolation, and structural inequities, have created new patterns of risk and protection. Understanding these dynamics is essential for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies tailored to today’s youth.

This Special Issue aims to advance the scientific understanding of alcohol use among young people (approximately ages 10–29) by highlighting cutting-edge research on epidemiology, prevention, treatment, and policy. We welcome studies that explore how developmental, social, cultural, and environmental factors shape alcohol-related behaviors and outcomes. The focus aligns closely with the mission of Youth, which emphasizes the experiences, transitions, and well-being of young people across diverse contexts. We particularly encourage submissions that address disparities and reflect the lived experiences of underserved or marginalized populations.

Original research articles, systematic and narrative reviews, methodological papers, and mixed-methods studies are all welcome. Potential themes include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Trends and epidemiology of adolescent and young adult alcohol use;
• Risk and protective factors across developmental stages;
• Intersections of alcohol use with mental health, trauma, stress, and ACEs;
• Digital and social media influences on alcohol norms and behaviors;
• Prevention and early intervention strategies in schools, families, communities, and digital environments;
• College and university drinking cultures;
• Structural and social determinants of alcohol use, including inequities affecting racial/ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ youth, and other underserved groups;
• Policy, regulation, and public health approaches to reducing harmful use;
• Consequences of alcohol use, including health, academic, interpersonal, and behavioral outcomes;
• Innovations in measurement, data collection, and implementation science in youth substance use research.

I/We look forward to hearing from you.

Dr. Derek Falk
Dr. Carol Lee
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Youth is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• adolescent alcohol use
• young adults
• prevention
• disparities
• substance use
• digital influences
• mental health
• risk and protective factors