Young Adult Substance Use Research Articles

Patterns of adverse childhood experiences and substance use among young adults: A latent class analysis

IntroductionAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been strongly linked with subsequent substance use. The aim of this study was to investigate how different patterns of ACEs influence substance use in young adulthood. MethodsUsing a community sample of young individuals (N=336; ages 18–25), we performed latent class analyses (LCA) to identify homogenous groups of young people with similar patterns of ACEs. Exposure to ACEs incorporates 13 childhood adversities including childhood maltreatment, household dysfunction, and community violence. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used in an effort to examine the associations between ACEs classes and four young adult outcomes such as alcohol-related problems, current tobacco use, drug dependence symptoms, and psychological distress. ResultsLCA identified four heterogeneous classes of young people distinguished by different patterns of ACEs exposure: Low ACEs (56%), Household Dysfunction/Community Violence (14%), Emotional ACEs (14%), and High/Multiple ACEs (16%). Multiple regression analyses found that compared to those in the Low ACEs class, young adults in the High/Multiple ACEs class reported more alcohol-related problems, current tobacco use, and psychological symptoms, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and common risk factors for substance use such as peer substance use. ConclusionsOur findings confirm that for many young people, ACEs occur as multiple rather than single experiences. The results of this research suggest that exposure to poly-victimization during childhood is particularly related to substance use during young adulthood.

Profiles of family routines during adolescence associated with profiles of health behaviors in young adulthood.

This study examined associations between profiles of family routines in early adolescence and profiles of health behaviors during young adulthood. In a sample of 4565 individuals, latent transition analysis indicated individuals in a family characterized by low involvement in adolescence were most likely, across classes, to demonstrate a profile characterized by substance use in young adulthood. The high-involvement class during adolescence was least likely to be a substance user but was relatively likely to be in the poor diet and exercise class during young adulthood. Results highlight the utility of examining complex family influences on health using person-centered methods.

How many or how much? Testing the relative influence of the number of social network risks versus the amount of time exposed to social network risks on post-treatment substance use

BackgroundHaving high-risk, substance-using friends is associated with young adult substance use disorder (SUD) relapse. It is unclear, however, whether it is the total number of high-risk friends, or the amount of time spent with high-risk friends that leads to relapse. Unclear also, is to what extent low-risk friends buffer risk. This study examined the influence of number of high-risk and low-risk friends, and the amount time spent with these friends on post-treatment percent days abstinent (PDA). MethodYoung adult inpatients (N=302) were assessed at intake, and 3, 6, and 12 months on social network measures and PDA. Mixed models tested for effects of number of high- and low-risk friends, and time spent with these friends on PDA, and for net-risk friend effects to test whether low-risk friends offset risk. ResultsWithin and across assessments, number of, and time spent with high-risk friends was negatively associated with PDA, while the inverse was true for low-risk friends. Early post-treatment, time spent with friends more strongly predicted PDA than number of friends. Participants were more deleteriously affected by time with high-risk friends the longer they were out of treatment, while contemporaneously protection conferred by low-risk friends increased. This interaction effect, however, was not observed with number of high- or low-risk friends, or number of friends net-risk. ConclusionsYoung adult SUD patients struggling to break ties with high-risk friends should be encouraged to minimize time with them. Clinicians should also encourage patients to grow their social network of low-risk friends.

Head Injury and Substance Use in Young Adults

ABSTRACTBackground: Prior studies suggest a link between head injuries and substance use but do not routinely capture mechanisms connecting the two. Objectives: The goal of the study was to explore whether past head injuries predicted current substance use among young adults, taking factors such as stress, self-esteem, temper, and risk-taking into consideration. Methods: Data were drawn from a web-based survey conducted in 2014 and 2015 at a public university in the United States (n = 897). Questions were asked about history of head injuries as well as past 12-month binge drinking, marijuana use, and prescription drug misuse. To evaluate the association between head injury and substance use, two logistic regression models were performed for each substance. Head injury was first regressed on the outcome, then related risk factors were entered into the models to determine whether they explained any association between injury and outcome. Results: A history of multiple head injuries was associated with increased odds of bingeing, marijuana, and prescription drug use. Prior delinquency and risk-taking accounted for the associations with bingeing and marijuana use. Taking all variables into consideration, multiple head injuries were associated with greater odds for prescription drug misuse. Conclusions: Results suggest the need to give consideration to a range of concomitant variables when considering behavioral outcomes associated with head injury. Head injuries may be a marker of a constellation of risk-taking behaviors that contributes to substance use. For those with multiple injuries, misuse of prescription drugs may be an attempt to cope with lingering side effects.

Trajectories of Organized Activity Participation Among Urban Adolescents: Associations with Young Adult Outcomes.

Organized activity participation provides opportunities for adolescents to develop assets that may support favorable outcomes in young adulthood. Activity participation may be especially beneficial for marginalized youth as they are likely to face stressors that increase risk of negative outcomes. We used growth mixture modeling (GMM) to identify activity participation trajectories among African American adolescents in an urban, disadvantaged community (Wave 1: mean age=14.86 years, SD=0.64; 49% male, N=681). We also investigated if young adult outcomes differed by trajectory subgroups. Our results suggested a three-class model best fit the data: low, decreasing (74%), moderate, consistent (21%) and moderate, increasing participation subgroups (5%). Adolescents in the increasing subgroup reported higher life satisfaction and lower substance use in young adulthood compared to the decreasing subgroup. Youth who increase participation in activities over time may experience greater opportunities for building assets related to positive development that support health and well-being into young adulthood.

Chemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology of New Designer Drugs - A Comprehensive Review

Drugs have been used for recreational purposes since time immemorial. Addicting potential and the propensity to harm has led to a ban on many of these drugs. New compounds are being developed to circumvent the ban. They are similar in effect to the banned drugs but are slightly different in their chemical structure so that they can escape detection in the standard drug tests. These drugs are commonly known as designer drugs or new psychoactive substances (NPS).This work aimed to do a comprehensive review on chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of new designer drugs for establishing the basic knowledge about them, focusing on their assessment and management and recent methods for their detection.According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) classification, NPS include the following groups: Synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, piperazine, phenethylamines, ketamine analogues, plant-based substances(Kratom, Salvia Divinorum) and miscellaneous substances (aminoindanes and tryptamines). NPS have become a global phenomenon with over 100 countries and territories from all regions of the world having reported one or more NPS. Up to December 2015, more than 600 substances have been reported to the UNODC Early Warning Advisory (EWA) on NPS by Governments, laboratories and partner organizations.NPS represent a challenge both in forensic analytical toxicology as well as in clinical toxicology as they may cause serious toxicity and can escape detection in the standard drug tests.Clinicians should keep designer drugs in mind when evaluating substance use in young adults or in anyone presenting with acute neuropsychiatric complaintsCoordination among emergency medical personnel, forensic toxicologists, scientific researchers, law enforcement and policymakers is essential to foster more effective responses in dealing with this evolving drug-abuse phenomenon

The curvilinear effects of sexual orientation on young adult substance use

Alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana are commonly used by adolescents and linked with harmful health-related outcomes (e.g. injury, dependence). Moreover, heavy episodic (binge) drinking predicts more severe consequences. When examined by sexual orientation, highest rates of substance use have been found among bisexual individuals, with lower use at either end of the spectrum. When examined also by sex, this curvilinear trend is maintained among women but not men. These substance use patterns were identified using group differences (i.e. heterosexual vs. bisexual vs. homosexual). However, evidence suggests that sexual orientation is a continuous, not categorical, variable. This study examined the hypotheses that sexual orientation and commonly used substances (heavy episodic drinking, tobacco, marijuana) would have a quadratic relation among women, but not among men. Six negative binomial regressions tested study hypotheses using data from 7372 participants. Results indicated that sexual orientation had a quadratic relation with heavy episodic drinking, tobacco use, and marijuana use among women, as hypothesized. Additionally, a quadratic relation was found between marijuana use and sexual orientation among men. These findings indicate that women identifying as having mixed sexual orientation are at higher risk than women at either end of the sexual orientation continuum for substance use and related negative outcomes. For men, this is only true for marijuana use and resultant negative consequences. This observed increased use may relate to coping with increased stressors, which has been linked to more problematic use. By better understanding LBG identities and behaviors, clinicians and researchers will be more adept at identifying risk factors and better understanding the nuances across the sexual orientation spectrum.

Ethnic–Racial Socialization, Social Bonds, and College Student Substance Use

ABSTRACTUsing survey data from a diverse college student sample (N = 1,728), this study tested how three types of parental ethnic-racial socialization received during the respondents’ youth were indirectly associated with substance use through their impact on the development of social bonds. Cultural socialization and preparation for bias messages indirectly decreased substance use, while promotion of mistrust messages indirectly increased substance use. By-group analyses indicated some ethnic and gender differences. Overall, the findings point to the importance of examining ethnic-racial socialization as a multidimensional construct in relation to social bonds to understand its impact on young adult substance use.

Liens entre maltraitance pendant l’enfance ou l’adolescence et consommations de substances à risque chez les jeunes adultes

AimsMaltreatment during childhood or adolescence has been linked to later physical and social-emotional symptoms, and in particular to the use of risk-related substances. This paper draws up a review of the literature concerning the relationships between childhood maltreatment and risk-related substance use in young adulthood, which is known to be a period of increased psychological vulnerability. MethodA comprehensive literature review was conducted on several online databases with a set of predefined keywords. Only empirical, prospective or retrospective studies, published from the year 2000 onwards and specifically relating to the effects of childhood maltreatment on risk-related substance use in young adulthood were selected. ResultsThis literature review clearly supports the link between childhood maltreatment and an increased risk of legal and illegal substance use. However, most available studies are retrospective and/or correlational and therefore do not enable prospective exploration of the processes that link these two phenomena. The main explanatory hypotheses are based on the long-term consequences of childhood exposure to a multi-risk psychosocial environment or to dysfunctional parental models, on disturbances in the construction of attachment, on lack of emotional regulation and mentalisation, and on the neurodevelopmental impact of trauma. DiscussionDespite the significant body of research demonstrating its long-term effects, child abuse is still widespread, often unrecognized, and the children concerned are not protected. However, relatively few studies provide an analysis of subsequent risk-related substance use taking into account all types of maltreatment. Emotional abuse and neglect may be deemed less harmful and/or may be more difficult to identify, leading to their exclusion from some of the studies that only consider physical, severe and/or legally established forms of abuse, which results in some bias. ConclusionThis review stresses not only the need for improvement in early prevention strategies targeting parents and child care professionals, but also for implementation of prevention and support programs directed towards young adults with a past history of childhood abuse.

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment.

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment is a quick, effective technique with which to manage substance use in adolescents and young adults. Use of a validated measure for detecting substance use and abuse is significantly more effective than unvalidated tools or provider intuition. There are a variety of validated tools available to use in the adolescent/young adult population, and there are opportunities to increase the efficiency and scalability of screening by using computerized questionnaires. This area continues to evolve rapidly.

Competitive sports participation in high school and subsequent substance use in young adulthood: Assessing differences based on level of contact.

The objective of this analysis is to examine how participation in different types of competitive sports (based on level of contact) during high school is associated with substance use 1 to 4 years after the 12th grade. The analysis uses nationally representative samples of 12th graders from the Monitoring the Future Study who were followed 1 to 4 years after the 12th grade. The longitudinal sample consisted of 970 12th graders from six recent cohorts (2006-2011). The analyses found that respondents who participated in at least one competitive sport during the 12th grade had greater odds of binge drinking during the past two weeks (AOR = 2.04; 95% CI = 1.43, 2.90) 1 to 4 years after the 12th grade, when compared to their peers who did not participate in sports during their 12th grade year. Moreover, respondents who participated in high-contact sports (i.e., football, ice hockey, lacrosse, and wrestling) had greater odds of binge drinking (AOR = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.18, 2.72) and engaging in marijuana use during the past 30 days (AOR = 1.81; 95% CI = 1.12, 2.93) 1 to 4 years after the 12th grade when compared to their peers who did not participate in these types of sports during their 12th grade year. Accordingly, the findings indicate important distinctions in sport participation experiences on long-term substance use risk that can help inform potential interventions among young athletes.

Low self-control and the Dark Triad: Disentangling the predictive power of personality traits on young adult substance use, offending and victimization

PurposeTo evaluate Gottfredson and Hirschi's (1990) spuriousness thesis by focusing on the virtue of alternative psychologically based constructs in explaining substance use, offending and victimization beyond low self-control. MethodsData from several hundred young adults were analyzed using structural equation modeling to evaluate the argument that personality traits are immaterial to explaining malignant behaviors beyond low self-control. To achieve this, the Dark Triad of personality was introduced in models alongside low self-control to explain the varied outcomes. ResultsStructural equation modeling demonstrated that those with low self-control are more likely to engage in substance abuse whereas those exhibiting Dark Triad traits were not. Low self-control and the Dark Triad independently predicted criminal offending, but only the Dark Triad predicted victimization, controlling for low self-control. ConclusionsThe spuriousness thesis was not supported in this research. Specifically, the contention that alternative personality traits beyond low self-control bear no virtue in explaining crime or victimization was challenged by this work. The Dark Triad of personality is a promising constellation of personality traits linked to crime and victimization that criminologists can exploit to inform further research and theory.

The Availability of Substances in Adolescence: Influences in Emerging Adulthood

ABSTRACTThis study examines the availability of substances in the home during adolescence and its influence on substance use in young adulthood. Data are drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). The final sample consisted of approximately 15,000 cases from Waves 1, 3, and 4. Multivariate analyses indicate that the availability of substances in the home affects young adult substance use and substance use in later young adulthood. We also find that the availability of substances in the home during adolescence is associated with an earlier age at first substance use. This study offers further evidence for understanding how the home environment affects substance use behavior among young adults. In this case, exposure to substances in adolescence, and their easy availability, increase the likelihood of substance use in adolescence and increases use in young adulthood.

Approach behavior and sympathetic nervous system reactivity predict substance use in young adults

A behavioral measure of approach (performance on a resource gathering task) in combination with sympathetic nervous system (SNS) reactivity was used to predict substance use in a sample of young adults (n=93). Pre-ejection period reactivity (PEP-R), a cardiac index of SNS reactivity, was recorded during the resource gathering task (task PEP – resting PEP). Higher levels of approach behaviors on the task in combination with less PEP-R (blunted SNS reactivity) predicted the highest levels of substance use. Findings are discussed in the context of behavioral and physiological systems of approach and avoidance.

Approach Behaviour, Stress and Substance Use in Young Adults.

We investigated the interaction between approach behaviours (measured through performance on a resource-gathering task) and self-reported global life stress to predict substance use. Our hypothesis that high levels of approach behaviour in combination with high life stress would predict elevated substance use was guided by the reinforcement sensitivity theory (Gray & McNaughton, ). Ninety-three young adult students (61 women and 32 men) completed a computerized resource-gathering task and questionnaires assessing global life stress and substance use. Consistent with the hypothesis, approach behaviour was positively related to substance use for individuals with high life stress. The findings suggest that person by environment interactions are useful in understanding substance use and we discuss how approach-motivated individuals may arrive at different substance use outcomes as a function of stressful contexts. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Experiencias psicóticas atenuadas y consumo de sustancias en universitarios

Psychotic disorders, as well as psychotic-like experiences and substance use, have been found to be associated. The main goal of the present study was to analyse the relationship between psychoticlike experiences and substance use in college students. The simple comprised a total of 660 participants (M = 20.3 years, SD = 2.6). The results showed that 96% of the sample reported some delusional experience, while 20.3% reported at least one positive psychotic-like experience. Some substance use was reported by 41.1% of the sample, differing in terms of gender. Substance users reported more psychoticlike experiences than non-users, especially in the positive dimension. Also, alcohol consumption predicted in most cases extreme scores on measures of delusional ideation and psychotic experiences. The association between these two variables showed a differentiated pattern, with a stronger relationship between substance use and cognitive-perceptual psychotic-like experiences. To some extent, these findings support the dimensional models of the psychosis phenotype and contribute a better understanding of the links between psychoticlike experiences and substance use in young adults. Future studies should further explore the role of different risk factors for psychotic disorders and include models of the gene-environment interaction.

Role of overlapping genetic and environmental factors in the relationship between early adolescent conduct problems and substance use in young adulthood.

To determine (1) the prospective associations of conduct problems during early adolescence with tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use in young adulthood and (2) to what extent these associations are due to overlapping genetic versus environmental influences. A prospective twin study using biometric twin modelling. Finland. A total of 1847 Finnish twins (943 males and 904 females) were interviewed in early adolescence, 73% of whom (n=1353, 640 males and 713 females) were retained in young adulthood. Symptom counts of conduct disorder (CD) criteria were obtained from a semi-structured clinical interview in early adolescence [age 14-15 years, mean=14.2, standard deviation (SD)=0.15]. Frequency of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use was obtained from a semi-structured clinical interview in young adulthood (age 19.9-26.6 years, mean=22.4, SD=0.7). We found modest to moderate phenotypical correlations (r=0.16-0.35) between early adolescent CD symptoms and substance use in young adulthood. In males, the phenotypical correlations of CD symptoms with all three substance use variables are explained largely by overlapping genetic influences. In females, overlapping shared environmental influences predominantly explain the phenotypical correlation between CD symptoms and tobacco and cannabis use. Conduct disorder symptoms in early adolescence appear to moderately predict substance use in early adulthood. In males, genetic influences seem to be most important in explaining the relationship between conduct disorder symptoms and substance use whereas in females, shared environmental influences seem to be most important.

Do personality traits explain the association between childhood attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and substance use and problems in young adults?

Childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with increased risk of substance-related problems in adulthood. While comorbid disorders have been hypothesized to account for this risk, the role of personality factors has not yet been examined, despite findings of robust associations between temperament and personality traits and both ADHD and substance use problems. 349 young adults ages 18–38years (M=23.22years, SD=4.79, 54.7% male) completed a multi-informant assessment protocol, including self and informant retrospective measures of childhood ADHD symptoms, self-report measures of personality traits (NEO-FFM), and ratings of substance use and related problems. A multiple mediational framework was used to examine whether personality traits explained the association between childhood ADHD symptoms and substance use and problems in adulthood. Results revealed that childhood hyperactivity–impulsivity, but not inattention, directly influenced substance use and problems in adulthood. However, several indirect effects involving personality traits also emerged. Neuroticism and agreeableness appeared to be more relevant for explaining links between childhood ADHD symptom dimensions and substance-related problems, whereas conscientiousness and openness appeared to explain associations between childhood ADHD symptom dimensions and substance use. Overall, findings highlight the importance of personality traits for understanding the overlap among disorders on the externalizing spectrum.

Substance use in young adults with ADHD: Comorbidity and symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity

Young adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at high risk of substance use (SU). The aims of the current study were: 1) to examine the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other illegal drugs by adults with and without ADHD; 2) to compare the oppositional, conduct, anxiety, depression, sleep and antisocial personality symptoms of ADHD adults with SU and ADHD adults without SU; 3) to examine the ability of ADHD symptoms and conduct problems to predict SU. A total of 93 young adults, 43 without ADHD and 50 with a childhood diagnosis of ADHD, who were part of the Spanish sample of the Multicenter ADHD Genetics (IMAGE) study, collaborated in a follow-up evaluation 10.1 years later. ADHD participants were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of SU. Statistically significant differences were found between young adults with and without ADHD in their use of tobacco, marijuana and alcohol. A statistically significant association was also shown between externalization problems and a greater risk of SU. Conduct problems, to a greater degree than ADHD symptoms, affect SU in ADHD adults.

Adolescent obesity and future substance use: Incorporating the psychosocial context

A growing body of work has shown that obese adolescents are at risk of engaging in problematic substance use, but mixed findings highlight the complexity of the relationship. Incorporating the psychosocial context into this research may inform past discrepancies. The current study assessed whether obese adolescents had a higher likelihood of experiencing a psychosocial context that predicted problematic substance use in young adulthood. Latent class analysis on 10,637 adolescents from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) identified four psychosocial classes in adolescence: Adjusted, Deviant Peer/Victimization, Moderate Depression, and Maladjusted. Obese adolescents were more likely to belong to the Maladjusted class, characterized by higher levels of depression and deviant peer affiliation. Those in the Maladjusted class had the second highest levels of cigarette smoking and marijuana use in young adulthood. Obese adolescents' psychosocial context should be considered in future research linking obesity and substance use.