Children with conduct disorder have long been known to be at high risk for developing externalizing disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, and antisocial personality. Relationships of conduct disorder to other adult psychiatric disorders, on the other hand, have not been definitively shown. Taking advantage of the large community sample (N = 19,482) interviewed in the NIMH Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program, the authors examined the effects of childhood conduct problems on ten DSM-III psychiatric disorders: somatization, phobia, panic, obsessive-compulsive, depression, mania, alcohol use disorder, drug use disorder, schizophrenia and antisocial personality. Each of the ten adult disorders showed an increase in prevalence with an increasing number of conduct problems, although effects were stronger for externalizing disorders. The predictive power of conduct problems was similar for males and females. The effect of conduct problems on nonexternalizing disorders was found to be largely mediated through externalizing disorders, particularly for men but direct effects also occurred for both sexes. These findings raise questions about the conventional view of psychiatric disorders as divisible into externalizing and internalizing disorders. They also suggest that the increasing rates of conduct problems in younger cohorts may be responsible in part for the rising rates of other disorders. Thus, prevention of and early intervention with conduct disorder may hold promise for reducing rates of a broad range of disorders.

Background In 2009, policy changes were accompanied by a rapid increase in the number of medical marijuana cardholders in Colorado. Little published epidemiological work has tracked changes in the state around this time. Methods Using the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, we tested for temporal changes in marijuana attitudes and marijuana-use-related outcomes in Colorado (2003-2011) and differences within-year between Colorado and thirty-four non-medical-marijuana states (NMMS). Using regression analyses, we further tested whether patterns seen in Colorado prior to (2006-8) and during (2009-11) marijuana commercialization differed from patterns in NMMS while controlling for demographics. Results Within Colorado those reporting “great-risk” to using marijuana 1-2 times/week dropped significantly in all age groups studied between 2007-8 and 2010-11 (e.g. from 45% to 31% among those 26 years and older; p=0.0006). By 2010-11 past-year marijuana abuse/dependence had become more prevalent in Colorado for 12-17 year olds (5% in Colorado, 3% in NMMS; p=0.03) and 18-25 year olds (9% vs. 5%; p=0.02). Regressions demonstrated significantly greater reductions in perceived risk (12-17 year olds, p=0.005; those 26 years and older, p=0.01), and trend for difference in changes in availability among those 26 years and older and marijuana abuse/dependence among 12-17 year olds in Colorado compared to NMMS in more recent years (2009-11 vs. 2006-8). Conclusions Our results show that commercialization of marijuana in Colorado has been associated with lower risk perception. Evidence is suggestive for marijuana abuse/dependence. Analyses including subsequent years 2012+ once available, will help determine whether such changes represent momentary vs. sustained effects.

No abstract

Discrepancies between biological assays and self-report of illicit drug use could undermine epidemiological research findings. Two objectives of the present study are to examine the degree of agreement between self-reported illicit drug use and hair analysis in a community sample of middle-aged men, and to identify factors that may predict discrepancies between self-report and hair testing. Male participants followed since 1972 were interviewed about substance use, and hair samples were analyzed for marijuana, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine (PCP) and methamphetamine using radioimmunoassay and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. Self-report and hair testing generally met good, but not excellent, agreement. Apparent underreporting of recent cocaine use was associated with inpatient hospitalization for the participant's most recent quit attempt, younger age, identifying as African American or other, and not having a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder. The overestimate of marijuana use relative to hair test was associated with frequent use since 1972 and providing an inadequate hair sample. Additional research is needed to identify factors that differentially affect the validity of both hair drug testing and self-report.

No abstract