Group identification and addictive health behaviours in adolescents

Adolescents are an important population to investigate when considering the nature and origins of addiction. Adolescence is a time when many risky health behaviours begin, with drugs, smoking, and alcohol use increasing dramatically during this period (Nielsen, Ringgaard, Broholm, Sindballe, & Olsen, 2002). Consistent with Aristotle’s words, such behaviours have a strong tendency to persist into adult life (Degenhardt et al., 2008).