title: A model of school problems, academic failure, alcohol initiation, and the relationship to adult heroin injection.
abstract: The current study uses structural equation modeling to investigate factors associated with alcohol initiation and injection heroin use. Baseline data from the NEURO-HIV Epidemiologic Study in Baltimore, Maryland, were used. Participants were 404 injection heroin users (M(age) = 32.72) with a history of regular injection in their lifetime. Latent variables were created for self-reported school problems and academic failure. The final model indicated that greater school problems were associated with earlier alcohol initiation (ß = -0.22, p < .001) and earlier alcohol initiation was associated with greater frequency of recent heroin use (ß = -0.12, p < .05). Academic failure was directly related to greater frequency of recent heroin injection (ß = 0.15, p < .01). The results expand research investigating the relationship between adolescent behavior and illicit drug use in adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Social Work, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, New York 10522, USA. rtrenz@mercy.edu
authors.forename: Rebecca C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Trenz
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Harrell
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.forename: Brent E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Mancha
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Latimer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D015142:Baltimore; D004522:Educational Status; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012574:Schools; D012940:Social Problems; D055815:Young Adult