NCJ Number
154265
Journal
American Journal of Psychiatry Volume: 149 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1992) Pages: 761-767
Date Published
1992
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relationship between use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and hard drugs (substance use) and psychiatric disorder in early adolescence and substance use in late adolescence.
Abstract
Adolescents included in the study were identified by means of a household sampling frame and participated in the Ontario Child Health Study in 1983 and the followup in 1987. There were 726 12-to 16-year-olds (369 boys and 357 girls) in 1983 who had complete information in 1987. Data on substance use were collected from adolescents by using a structured, self- administered questionnaire. Data on psychiatric disorder were collected in 1983 from both adolescents and their parents by using problem checklists to assess conduct disorder, attention deficit disorder, and emotional disorder. Prior substance use in 1983 was found to be associated strongly with subsequent use in 1987. Among the psychiatric disorders assessed in 1983, only conduct disorder made an independent contribution to predicting use of marijuana and other hard drugs in 1987, after prior use of these substances and coexisting attention deficit and emotional disorders were controlled. Corresponding estimates of attributable risk were 5.7 percent and 11.1 percent, respectively. Although a statistically significant relationship existed between conduct disorder in early adolescence and use of marijuana and hard drugs in late adolescence, the potential is limited for preventing substance use in the general population by treating conduct disorder in its early stages. 5 tables and 19 references