title: Does the "gateway" sequence increase prediction of cannabis use disorder development beyond deviant socialization? Implications for prevention practice and policy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was conducted to test whether non-normative socialization mediates the association between transmissible risk measured in childhood and cannabis use disorder manifested by young adulthood, and whether the sequence of drug use initiation ("gateway", i.e., consuming legal drugs before cannabis, or the reverse) increases accuracy of prediction of cannabis use disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sons of fathers with or without substance use disorders (SUDs) related to illicit drugs were tracked from 10-12 to 22 years of age to model the association between transmissible risk for SUD, socialization (peer deviance), order of drug use initiation ("gateway" or reverse sequence), and development of cannabis use disorder. Path analysis was used to evaluate relationships among the variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Non-normative socialization mediates the association between transmissible risk measured during childhood and cannabis use disorder manifest by young adulthood. The sequence of drug use initiation did not contribute additional explanatory information to the model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The order of drug use initiation does not play a substantial role in the etiology of cannabis use disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States. tarter@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Ralph E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Tarter
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kirisci
authors.forename: Ada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mezzich
authors.forename: Ty
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ridenour
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fishbein
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horner
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Galina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kirillova
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vanyukov
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D005220:Fathers; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D012951:Socialization; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs