1. AU_PSY492_M3_A2_Lewis_K.doc
Advanced General Psychology
Topic Proposal
Course Code: PSY492
Submitted by: Katherine Lewis
Jan. 27, 2011

2. Discuss the findings and implications. Given the results of your literature review, what is/are the
prevailing argument(s)? What research question could you ask in order to further your development in
this area of study? Make an argument as to why your research question is important and relevant to the
current work being done on your topic.
Original:
The use of alcohol and illegal substances is leading cause of high school drop outs and violence
amongst teens.
Conclusion
Underage drinking and the use of illegal substances amongst teenagers is causing the percent of high
school graduates to decrease. It is also contributing to higher crime rates amongst teenagers. More and
more teenagers are finding themselves in trouble with the law and many of them report using alcohol
or illegal substances before committing the crime they were charged with.
New question:
Is alcohol and dug abuse high on the list for leading causes of death in teenagers?
Argument (importance to previous research)
This question is important for my research because alcohol and drug abuse can impact the lives of
teenagers and adults in many ways. It is important to understand the consequences that teenagers and
young adults will face when using alcohol and illegal substances. Many car accidents are the result of
drinking and driving. Of those accidents how many are under the age of 21? When talking about the
use of drugs and alcohol there are two consequences that often come up. Those include jail and death.
We already know that the use of these substances increase the chance of being incarcerated but how
often do the individuals end up dead?

3. References:
Anonymous. (2011). Drug Abuse; Data from University of Iowa advance knowledge in drug abuse .
Health Risk Factor Week
Anonymous. (2010). Drug Abuse; New findings from the University of Columbia in the area of drug
abuse published. Biotech Business Week. ISSN15436861
Anonymous. (2010). More Underage Drinkers End Up in the Er on New Years'. USA Today. ISSN:
07347456
Anonymous. (2011). Substance Abuse; Studies from the University of Montana add new findings in the
area of substance abuse false., Health & Medicine Week
Charach, Alice; Yeung, Emmanela; Climas, Troy; Lillie, Erin (2011). Childhood Attention-Deficit/
Hyperactivity Disorder and Future Substance Use Disorders: Comparative Meta-Analyses.
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. ISSN08908567
Cotliar, Sharon; Lee, Ken; Messer,Lesley; Nahas, Aili; Wang, Cynthia;Bartolomeo, Joey; Benet,
Lorenzo;Cedenheim, Pernilla; Leonard, Elizabeth;Marx, Linda; Perry, Simon; Wihlborg, Ulrica.
(2011).Trouble in Rehab.People. ISSN: 00937673
Gross, Michael.(2010). Alcoholics Anonymous: Still Sober After 75 Years.American Journal of Public
Health . ISSN: 00900036
Sacks, S; Cleland, C M; Melnick, G. (2009).Violent offenses associated with co-occurring substance

4. use and mental health problems: Evidence from CJDATS. Behavioral Sciences and the Law.
ISSN: 0735-3936
Young, Ross McD, PhD; Connor, Jason P, PhD; Feeney, Gerald FX, MD. (2011). Alcohol expectancy
changes over a 12-week cognitive-behavioral therapy program are predictive of treatment
success. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. ISSN07405472
Zhiyong Yang; Schaninger, Charles M. (2010). Parenting Strategies as Influences of Teen Drinking via
Self Esteem: An Important Area for Family Policy. Journal of Macromarketing. ISSN02761467