Alcohol and drug use by college males as a function of family alcoholism history.
Family history of alcoholism increases the risk for development of alcoholism in male offspring. The present questionnaire study examined self-reported alcohol and drug use in 744 college males as a function of DSM-IIIR alcohol dependence diagnoses in first- and/or second-degree biological relatives. Substance use was most prevalent and most frequent in students with both first- and second-degree alcohol-dependent family members, was intermediate in students with only first-degree affected relatives, and was least in students with no affected relatives. Students with both first- and second-degree alcohol-dependent relatives reported: more alcohol, marijuana, sedative, and cocaine ingestion; a younger age at first alcohol intoxication and first marijuana use; experience with less commonly used drugs; and more personal substance-related problems as well as more family mental health care. These data have significant prevention implications for targeting at-risk youth.
McCaul
M E
ME
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Turkkan
J S
JS
Svikis
D S
DS
Bigelow
G E
GE
Cromwell
C C
CC
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*