Adolescent illicit drug use and subsequent academic and psychosocial adjustment: An examination of socially-mediated pathways

Abstract

Background. Questions remain regarding the consequences of illicit drug use on adolescent adjustment and the nature of mechanisms that may explain these consequences. In this study, we examined whether early-onset illicit drug use predicts subsequent academic and psychosocial adjustment and whether associations are socially-mediated by decreased school engagement and increased peer deviancy.Method. 4885 adolescents were followed throughout secondary school. We used regressions to determine whether illicit drug use in grade 7 predicted academic achievement, school dropout, depressive symptoms, and conduct problems in grades 10-11, adjusting for potential confounders.We used path analysis to test whether significant associations were mediated by school engagement and peer deviancy in grade 8.Results. Illicit drug use predicted conduct problems and school dropout, but not academic achievement and depressive symptoms. The association between illicit drug use and conduct problems was fully mediated by increased peer deviancy. The association between illicit drug use and school dropout was partially mediated by increased peer deviancy, but remained mostly direct. No indirect association via decreased school engagement was found. Examination of reverse pathways revealed that conduct problems and academic achievement in grade 7 predicted drug use in grades 10-11. These associations were mediated by peer deviancy and school engagement (conduct problems only).Conclusion. Adolescent illicit drug use influences the risk of school dropout and conduct problems in part by contributing to deviant peer affiliation. Reciprocal social mediation characterizes the association between drug use and conduct problems. A reverse mechanism best explains the association with academic achievement.

Age of onset of substance use and psychosocial problems among individuals with substance use disorders

“…Finally, in agreement with previous studies, the present study indicated that early onset substance user had significantly higher psychosocial problem scores in domains such as Behavior Pattern, Psychiatric disorder, Family system, Peer relationship, Work adjustment and Leisure/Recreation compared to late onset substance user [16–19, 24]. The findings of this study is also supported by other studies which showed that early onset substance users have a higher risk of behavioral problems such as impaired executive function and impulse control problems [24], incarceration due to crime [12, 15, 25], and conduct disorder [10, 11, 19].…”

“…The findings of this study is also supported by other studies which showed that early onset substance users have a higher risk of behavioral problems such as impaired executive function and impulse control problems [24], incarceration due to crime [12, 15, 25], and conduct disorder [10, 11, 19]. Study from Virginia also showed that early drinking was associated with reduced engagement in social activities [16].…”

“…Contrast to all these findings, a study conducted in Quebac, Canada among students showed that early onset illicit drug use predicts conduct problems and school dropout, but not academic achievement and depressive symptoms [19]. However, most studies conducted in Nepal so far provide little or no information on these aspects.…”

Ungdom og alkohol - normalutvikling og senere problemer

“…Studier har vist at ungdommer som jevnt over har høyere alkoholforbruk eller raskere økende forbruk enn sine jevnaldrende, har økt risiko for ulykker og skader, dårligere skolefungering, samt rapporterer flere symptomer på depresjon og andre psykiske lidelser (Bonomo et al, 2001;Briere, Fallu, Morizot, & Janosz, 2014;Chatterji, 2006;Cooper, 2006;Danielsson, Wennberg, Hibell, & Romelsjo, 2012;Kuntsche, Rehm, & Gmel, 2004;Skogen et al, 2014;Squeglia et al, 2012). Det er like fullt flere studier som viser at mange med høyt alkoholforbruk i ungdomstiden, vokser dette av seg i løpet av ung voksen alder.…”

“…Dette kan komme av en arvelig tilbøyelighet til å like alkohol, men det kan også komme av at ungdommene kopierer foreldrenes atferd eller implisitt laerer at det er akseptabelt å drikke. Videre er det flere studier som har undersøkt sammenhengen mellom alkoholbruk og skolefungering (Briere et al, 2014;Chatterji, 2006). Selv om det ikke er helt entydig, ser økt fravaer og dårlige karakterer ut til å henge sammen med alkoholbruk og alkoholproblemer -selv om retningen på sammenhengen er uavklart.…”