The Pressure to Conform: How Peer Norms Drive Risky Behavior in Young Adults

Growing up in close-knit communities can be beneficial, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. For Joshua Awua, a postdoctoral research associate at The University of Texas at Arlington’s School of Social Work, the strong social bonds he experienced in Ghana often led to pressure to conform – including drinking.

“Social connection was everything,” Dr. Awua recalled, “and sometimes that came with pressure to fit in, including drinking.” This experience has now fueled his research on how social influences, particularly peer pressure, impact substance use and misuse among young adults.

Dr. Awua recently co-published a study titled “Perceived Norms and Alcohol-Related Consequences: The Moderated Mediation Roles of Protective Behavioral Strategies and Alcohol Consumption” in the journal Substance Use & Misuse. The study explores how college students’ misperceptions about their peers’ drinking habits can lead to heavy episodic drinking and negative consequences.

The research found that young adults often misjudge their peers’ alcohol consumption, believing they’re drinking more than they actually are. This misperception can lead to feelings of pressure to keep up, resulting in risky behaviors like binge drinking. To address these misperceptions, the study suggests using protective behavioral strategies (PBS), such as:

* Drinking slowly
* Avoiding drinking games
* Monitoring one’s own drinking

These simple yet effective techniques can help young adults stay in control and reduce the influence of perceived norms.

The consequences of binge drinking and other substance-related harm can be severe, with estimated 1,519 college students dying each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries. By using protective behavioral strategies, young adults can reduce their risk of experiencing these negative consequences.

As Dr. Awua emphasized, “What the evidence shows, and what our study confirmed, is that once students begin to use these strategies, they reduce the risk of experiencing negative consequences like drunk driving.” Ultimately, by supporting their own health and well-being, young adults can lower the overall rates of substance-related harm.

A groundbreaking drug developed at Duke University School of Medicine may revolutionize the way we treat pain without relying on opioids’ potentially devastating side effects. SBI-810, a non-opioid treatment, has shown remarkable promise in preliminary studies by targeting a specific receptor that regulates pain relief pathways. This novel approach avoids the euphoric “high” associated with addiction and may offer a safer alternative for both short-term and chronic pain management.

According to researchers, SBI-810’s unique mechanism of action involves activating a specific signal linked to pain relief while avoiding other signals that can cause side effects or addiction. By targeting the neurotensin receptor 1, this compound effectively relieved pain from various conditions, including surgical incisions, bone fractures, and nerve injuries, often outperforming existing painkillers.

One of the most exciting aspects of SBI-810 is its ability to prevent tolerance buildup, which forces patients to need stronger and more frequent doses of opioids over time. This breakthrough has significant implications for those recovering from surgery or living with diabetic nerve pain, as it may provide a safer option for managing their pain without the risks associated with long-term opioid use.

The study, published in Cell, was supported by the NIH and the Department of Defense. While SBI-810 is still in early development, researchers are aiming to move forward with human trials soon, with multiple patents locked in for this groundbreaking discovery. As the world grapples with the ongoing opioid crisis, innovative solutions like SBI-810 offer a beacon of hope for those seeking relief from pain without compromising their well-being.

As we navigate through the changing seasons, our bodies undergo subtle yet significant changes that can impact our tolerance to medication, weight gain, and even alcohol consumption. Researchers from Nagoya University in Japan have made a groundbreaking discovery by creating a comprehensive seasonal gene expression map, which analyzed over 54,000 genes in 80 tissues of monkeys across one year.

The study, published in Nature Communications, reveals that our biological clock is calibrated to the seasons, influencing various physiological processes such as hormone secretion, metabolism, sleep patterns, immune function, and reproduction. The researchers identified multiple “seasonally variable genes” responsible for changes in drug metabolism, particularly affecting a quarter of common medications.

These seasonal fluctuations can impact treatments for cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol, psychiatric conditions, hormonal therapies, and immunosuppressants used in organ transplantation. Moreover, the study found that mice reared under winter conditions recovered from alcohol intoxication more quickly than those reared under summer conditions.

Interestingly, women’s bodies show a different pattern of carbohydrate metabolism compared to men’s, peaking during winter and spring in the duodenum. This increased energy extraction is essential for survival during scarce food periods, which may explain why people often gain weight during these times.

The findings suggest that chronotherapy – tailoring treatments to specific seasonal conditions – may revolutionize our responses to various health issues. By considering the time of year when administering medications, we can better address the dynamic changes in human physiology and behavior throughout the seasons.

As Professor Takashi Yoshimura said, “Our research will contribute to chronotherapy and the future of precision medicine.” This exciting discovery opens up new avenues for personalized treatment approaches, taking into account the intricate relationships between our genes, environment, and body’s responses.