Is it important to prevent early exposure to drugs and alcohol among adolescents?
Exposure to alcohol and illicit drugs during early adolescence has been associated with poor outcomes in adulthood. However, many adolescents with exposure to these substances also have a history of conduct problems, which raises the question of whether early exposure to alcohol and drugs leads to poor outcomes only for those adolescents who are already at risk. In a 30-year prospective study, we tested whether there was evidence that early substance exposure can be a causal factor for adolescents' future lives. After propensity-score matching, early-exposed adolescents remained at an increased risk for a number of poor outcomes. Approximately 50% of adolescents exposed to alcohol and illicit drugs prior to age 15 had no conduct-problem history, yet were still at an increased risk for adult substance dependence, herpes infection, early pregnancy, and crime. Efforts to reduce or delay early substance exposure may prevent a wide range of adult health problems and should not be restricted to adolescents who are already at risk.
Odgers
Candice L
CL
Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-7085, USA. codgers@uci.edu
Caspi
Avshalom
A
Nagin
Daniel S
DS
Piquero
Alex R
AR
Slutske
Wendy S
WS
Milne
Barry J
BJ
Dickson
Nigel
N
Poulton
Richie
R
Moffitt
Terrie E
TE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003415:Crime / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
D013287:Illicit Drugs