title: Conduct and attentional problems in childhood and adolescence and later substance use, abuse and dependence: results of a 25-year longitudinal study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This paper examines the linkages between conduct problems and attentional problems in middle childhood and adolescence and later substance use, abuse and dependence in young adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were gathered over the course of a 25-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 1265 New Zealand born children. These data included: (a) measures of conduct and attentional problems in middle childhood (7-9 years) and adolescence (14-16 years); (b) measures of substance use, abuse and dependence from 18-25 years; and (c) confounding social, family and related factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical modelling produced a consistent set of results showing: (i) conduct problems in childhood and adolescence were generally related to later substance use, abuse and dependence even after control for attentional problems and confounders; (ii) attentional problems were largely unrelated to later substance use, abuse and dependence after control for conduct problems and confounders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conduct problems in both middle childhood and adolescence are related to increased risks of longer-term substance use, abuse and dependence. Any association between early attentional problems and later substance use abuse and dependence is largely mediated via the association between conduct and attentional problems.
authors.affiliation: Christchurch Health & Development Study, Christchurch School of Medicine & Health Sciences, P.O. Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand. david.fergisson@chmeds.ac.nz
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Fergusson
authors.forename: L John
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Horwood
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ridder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012917:Social Adjustment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*