title: Adolescent inhalant use and executive cognitive functioning.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigates the association between inhalant use and executive cognitive functioning (ECF) and processing speed (PS) in 754 adjudicated poly-substance users on a series of neuropsychological tests. Poly-substance users who used inhalants (PSI = 262) and poly-substance users who did not use inhalants (PSO = 492) neuropsychological tests scores were compared. Hispanic Americans comprised 72% of the participants; European Americans, African Americans and Asian Americans comprised 28% of the participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standardized neuropsychological tests were used to assess ECF and PS. Psychosocial and substance abuse standardized surveys were used to assess drug use severity and psychosocial problems associated with substance use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple Analysis of Covariance shows that PSI users who used inhalants performed worse on ECF and PS measures in comparison to non-inhalant poly-substance users (PSO). PSI users were younger, used more drugs and had more psychiatric admissions than PSO users.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PSI users initiate substances at a younger age and experienced more ECF and PS deficits, and behavioural problems in comparison to PSO users. The results of this study suggest that PS has direct effect on ECF and psychosocial outcomes in PSI users.
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents
keywords: adolescent inhalant abuse; executive function; information processing; poly-substance abuse; working memory