Childhood conduct disorder trajectories, prior risk factors and cannabis use at age 16: birth cohort study

Jon Heron,Marcus Munafò,John Macleod,Matthew Hickman,Carol Joinson,Edward D Barker,Glyn Lewis

doi:10.1111/add.12268

Jon Heron, Marcus Munafò + Show 5 more

Open Access

PDF Available

https://doi.org/10.1111/add.12268

Copy DOI

Export

Save

Cite

Journal: Addiction	Publication Date: Jul 12, 2013
Citations: 53	License type: CC BY 3.0

Affiliation: University of Bristol, University of London

Abstract
Highlights/Summary
Full-Text PDF
Similar Papers

Abstract

Listen

AimsTo investigate the prevalence of cannabis use and problem use in boys and girls at age 16 years, and to investigate the role of adversity in early life and of conduct disorder between the ages of 4 and 13 years as risk factors for these outcomes.DesignBirth cohort study.SettingEngland.ParticipantsA total of 4159 (2393 girls) participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort providing information on cannabis use at age 16.MeasurementsCannabis use and problem cannabis use at age 16 were assessed by postal questionnaire. Material adversity, maternal substance use, maternal mental health and child conduct disorder were all assessed by maternal report.FindingsCannabis use was more common among girls than boys (21.4% versus 18.3%, P = 0.005). Problem cannabis use was more common in boys than girls (3.6% versus 2.8%, P = 0.007). Early-onset persistent conduct problems were associated strongly with problem cannabis use [odds ratio (OR) = 6.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 4.06–10.28]. Residence in subsidized housing (OR = 3.10, 95% CI = 1.95, 4.92); maternal cannabis use (OR 8.84, 95% CI 5.64–13.9) and any maternal smoking in the postnatal period (OR = 2.69, 95% CI = 1.90–3.81) all predicted problem cannabis use. Attributable risks for adolescent problem cannabis use associated with the above factors were 25, 13, 17 and 24%, respectively.ConclusionsMaternal smoking and cannabis use, early material disadvantage and early-onset persistent conduct problems are important risk factors for adolescent problem cannabis use. This may have implications for prevention.

Highlights

Cannabis use among young people is common, with peak incidence of onset of use occurring in adolescence [1,2]
This association could arise because these factors predispose to conduct disorder which, in turn, predisposes to substance use, or it might arise through other pathways including both other environmental influences and genetic factors shared between parents and offspring [12,13]
We examined the associations of parental substance use and mental health problems, early material disadvantage and early family adversity and subsequent conduct problem trajectories with cannabis use at age 16

Summary

Introduction

Cannabis use among young people is common, with peak incidence of onset of use occurring in adolescence [1,2]. Use is associated with many adverse health and social outcomes, with these associations being most clearly apparent in relation to more extreme cannabis use phenotypes. Risk factors for conduct disorder, early-onset persistent conduct disorder, have been found previously to include parental substance use and mental health problems, early-life social disadvantage and family adversity and childhood victimization [11]. Adolescent cannabis use has been shown to be associated with these early-life factors [12,13] This association could arise because these factors predispose to conduct disorder which, in turn, predisposes to substance use, or it might arise through other pathways including both other environmental influences and genetic factors shared between parents and offspring [12,13]

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion