Early Onset Substance Use in Adolescents With Depressive, Conduct, and Comorbid Symptoms

Abstract

This study investigates whether co-occurring depressive and conduct symptoms in early adolescence are associated with an elevated occurrence of early onset substance. Five hundred twenty-one sixth graders were assessed for depressive symptoms and conduct problems and underwent five substance use assessments during middle school. Logistic regression analyses were used to compare lifetime substance use across subgroups with and without depressive symptoms and conduct problems. Adolescents with co-occurring problems were more likely to have used alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, other drugs, and any substance compared with adolescents with neither type of symptom (adjusted odds ratio [OR] range = 2.5-3.5), and were more likely to report alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and any substance use compared with adolescents with depressive symptoms only (adjusted OR range = 0.1-0.3). Conduct problems modify the effect of depressive symptoms on early adolescent substance use. Early screening for depression and conduct problems may be helpful in targeting substance use prevention efforts.

Tracing the origins of midlife despair: association of psychopathology during adolescence with a syndrome of despair-related maladies at midlife

“…Yet despite the pattern suggesting that it does not matter which mental disorder one has, having more comorbid adolescent mental disorders appeared to confer greater risk for the midlife despair syndrome. This pattern is consistent with previous research suggesting accumulative effects of psychopathology on individual despair-related maladies (Stone, Vander Stoep, & McCauley, 2016;Verona, Sachs-Ericsson, & Joiner, 2004).…”

Early Adolescent Substance Use and Mental Health Problems and Service Utilisation in a School-based Sample

“…[26][27][28][29] Associations between early adolescent SU and MH problems have been demonstrated but results have been mixed, showing, for example, SU associations with externalising and internalising problems, protective effects of internalising problems against specific types of SU, and interactions between specific internalising and externalising disorders and problematic SU. 27,[30][31][32]33 Similarly, gender effects have been mixed, with some studies showing stronger associations between internalising problems and SU for girls and others showing particular links between externalising problems and SU for boys; still others show no specific gender effects. 10,27,[33][34][35] Given that early adolescent MH and SU are associated with adult outcomes, effective early intervention is crucial to prevent emerging MH and SU problems from developing into more chronic, severe difficulties, including concurrent disorders (CDs).…”

Parent-adolescent relationships in Hispanic versus Caucasian families: Associations with alcohol and marijuana use onset

“…Early initiation of alcohol and marijuana use is a public health concern given the rapid progression from first use to escalation of more frequent and hazardous use during adolescence (Carliner et al, 2016; Fidalgo et al, 2016; Robinson & Riggs, 2016; Stone, Vander Stoep, & McCauley, 2016). Consequences of adolescent alcohol and marijuana use are vast, and include increased likelihood of being involved in a motor vehicle crash, suicide, engaging in violent behaviors, and experiencing co-occurring mental health concerns (Bukstein, 2016; Fishman, 2016; Kaminer, 2016; Tarter & Horner, 2016; Watson, Greene, & Kelly, 2014; Windle & Davies, 1999; Zaman et al, 2015).…”