Trinity study links lower attention spans in teenage years with substance abuse later in life

The study found that participants with lower attention spans at 14 were more likely to use cigarettes or cannabis at age 23

A recent study conducted in part by Trinity’s School of Psychology and School of Medicine, has found that adolescents with poor sustained attention spans are more vulnerable to substance abuse later in life.

The study, which was conducted alongside the Global Brain Health Institute, found that those who displayed lower attention spans at age 14 were more likely to be consistently using cigarettes or cannabis at age 23.

These findings indicate that sustained attention spans could serve as a potential biomarker for substance abuse vulnerability.

Substance abuse has previously been associated with low attention spans in adolescents, but researchers could not define the relationship between the two factors, as it was unclear if poor sustained attention preceded substance or was a consequence of it.

The findings of the study were made using behavioural data and neurological scans of 1,000 participants from across Europe as they reached the ages of 14, 19, and 23, respectively.

Attention abilities were calculated using a ‘stop signal task’ and self-reported questionnaires as well as MRI scans.

Professor Robert Whelan who led the research said that, by identifying lower sustained attention as a predictor of substance abuse, the study could “potentially guide the development of targeted educational programmes and cognitive training interventions to improve attention in adolescents identified as vulnerable to substance use”.

“The widespread use of cigarette and cannabis among adolescents and young adults in Ireland and elsewhere is a significant public health concern, with major long-term health implications.”

“This proactive approach could reduce substance abuse risks, improve individual lives, and lessen societal burdens related to addiction,” he added.