Childhood Social Environment and Risk of Drug and Alcohol Abuse in a Cohort of Danish Men Born in 1953

Abstract

In a 32-year follow-up study, the authors analyze how social circumstances during early life, childhood social participation, and school performance affect the risk of being admitted to a hospital or dying from a diagnosis closely related to drug or alcohol abuse in young adulthood. A total of 11,376 Danish males born in 1953, for whom data from birth certificates and conscription board examinations had been traced, were followed until 2002 through linkage to the Danish Psychiatric, National Patient, and Cause of Death registries. At age 12 years, 7,877 subjects completed a questionnaire on social participation and school performance. During follow-up, 12 percent of these were given a diagnosis indicating drug or alcohol abuse. Having a single mother and a working-class father were each associated with an increased risk of drug or alcohol abuse in adult life. At age 12 years, those who disliked school, scored low on a school test, or preferred to visit a youth club during leisure time showed a greater risk of adult substance abuse. These associations were slightly attenuated when adjusted for educational status at conscription. Deprived social circumstances during childhood, poor school performance in early adolescence, and attending a youth club seemed to be independent markers of substance abuse in adult life.

Socioeconomic status across the life course and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in Finland

“…This finding demonstrates that family specific influences, not captured by the observed family background characteristics, may have played a role. It is possible, for example, that smoking and alcohol consumption cluster in families such that children, who grow up in households where parents engage in these behaviors, are more likely to pick up these habits as well (Osler et al, 2005, 2006). Other unobserved factors could include parenting styles that differ among families, such as the degree of parental oversight and control.…”

“…For example, these associations appear to be stronger for heart disease than for overall cancer mortality, but may vary by cancer type (Galobardes et al, 2004; Lawlor et al, 2006; Næss et al, 2012; Strand & Kunst, 2006). Childhood conditions may also play a role in substance abuse (Melchior et al, 2007; Osler, Nordentoft & Andersen, 2006; Yang et al 2006) and deaths from accidents and violence (Galobardes et al, 2004; Lawlor et al, 2006; Strand & Kunst, 2006; Pensola & Valkonen, 2002; Pensola & Martikainen, 2003). …”

Knowledge and attitudes related to drug abuse and prevention displayed by public school educators

“…The bond with the school is, on its own, considered to be a factor associated with the protection against substance abuse. 16,18,[21][22][23] Empathic attitudes on the part of educators were not associated with specific educational training on drugs, but rather with a more general education such as post-graduate courses (specialisation or Master Degree), regardless of the area of study. This is an important point to reflect upon as the investment in the improvement of the general educational standards of educators would be more beneficial in terms of results than efforts to provide these professionals with specific knowledge about drugs.…”

“…13 Besides that, school dropouts, specially among younger pupils; 14,15 lack of family structure conditions, attention and behaviour problems; [15][16][17] and problematic social conditions at birth, dissatisfaction towards the school and/or low performance at school at 12 years increase the risk of death or hospitalisation due to abuse of alcohol or other drugs in the 32 year old adults who participated in the study. 18 Intervention within the school environment aims to promote the bond between students and the school, and, therefore, educators are seen as the professionals of choice to implement such preventive actions. This is so because daily class work allows for an easier identification of drug abuse risk factors.…”

Intelligence across childhood in relation to illegal drug use in adulthood: 1970 British Cohort Study

“…The few studies investigating the link between childhood mental ability and future illegal drug use have revealed highly discrepant findings with positive,10 11 inverse12 13 and null associations13 14 reported. In the most relevant 1966–1967 Woodlawn study,10 11 13 higher IQ scores assessed at 6 years were associated with an earlier age of initiation into drug taking and more frequent drug use at 16 years,10 11 but no associations were found between IQ at 6 years and drug use in the follow-up at 32 years of age 13.…”