Virtual Reality (VR-GINSO) as an Complement to Intervention for Alcohol and Cannabis Use in Youth in Residential Care

Adolescence constitutes a developmental stage characterized by heightened neurobiological and psychosocial vulnerability. During this period, significant maturational changes occur at the cerebral, emotional, and social levels, increasing susceptibility to the development of risk behaviors and mental health problems. Among these behaviors, antisocial conduct and substance use are particularly prominent, frequently emerging in an interconnected manner.

Adolescents and young people are at high risk of engaging in health-damaging behaviors, especially antisocial behavior and drug use. In this regard, juvenile offenders and youths involved in the juvenile justice system display significantly higher rates of substance use than the general population, particularly alcohol and cannabis consumption. Previous research has consistently shown that early substance use not only results from pre-existing psychosocial vulnerabilities, but also contributes to the perpetuation and aggravation of social exclusion, school dropout, violence, and criminal recidivism trajectories.

Scientific literature has demonstrated a strong association between mental disorders and substance use in adolescent populations. In particular, externalizing disorders such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder exhibit the strongest association with substance abuse. These disorders are characterized by impaired inhibitory control, impulsivity, sensation seeking, and emotional dysregulation, all of which increase vulnerability to early initiation of substance use and the subsequent development of addictive behaviors.

Moreover, there is a significant relationship between substance use and other psychopathological conditions, including depression, anxiety, and trauma-related symptoms. Many adolescents engage in substance use as a maladaptive emotional coping strategy, especially in contexts characterized by psychosocial adversity, family neglect, victimization, or early traumatic experiences. This bidirectional interaction between psychopathology and substance use contributes to the emergence of dual pathology, thereby complicating both clinical progression and therapeutic intervention.

When substance use emerges during adolescence in association with socially disadvantaged environments and antisocial behavior, treatment becomes particularly challenging due to its multifactorial nature. Individual, familial, social, and neurobiological factors interact dynamically, facilitating the chronicity of the problem. Furthermore, early substance use has been identified as a relevant factor in the persistence of antisocial behavior into adulthood, increasing the risk of social exclusion, unemployment, interpersonal conflict, and psychiatric disorders later in life.