Doomed before you turn 17

For years researchers have been endeavoring to find a means of predicting, and in turn hopefully preventing, drug and alcohol abuse.  When does it start? Are you doomed from the time you are a child? Is it all in your family-or maybe it is simply all in your head.  A study was performed by Squeglia, Jacobus, Nguyen-Louie, and Tapert in an effort to find if neuropsychological functioning in adolescents could be a contributing factor for later alcohol and marijuana use. In their study 175 participants ages 12-14 were selected after passing the intake criteria. Each participant was subjected to a series of test to determine their family history, age of maturation during puberty, family socioeconomic status, and current psychological state. Each was measured using a reliable method. The study included a yearly follow up with a 99% follow up rate until the participants reached the age of 17-18. The follow ups were conducted over the phone or in face to face interviews. After the follow ups were performed participants were placed into groups depending on their level of alcohol/marijuana use. Those groups were abstinence, moderate, and heavy substance users.

                The results of the study suggest that one’s ability to control their inhibitions in early adolescence has an effect on ones predisposition to later alcohol and marijuana use. The results showed that participants that eventually transitioned into the use of alcohol had a lower overall grade point average and an increase in conduct disorders.

The results also showed a difference between male and female participants. Female participants that did use alcohol had better neuropsychological functioning than their male counterparts.

                During early adolescence the part of the brain that regulates impulse endures a great deal of development. It is thought that by studying this in an individual it could be a greater predictor of future substance use. This could be a greater predictor then family history of substance use.

                There were however some limitation’s to this study. This study only sampled adolescence of a relatively decent socioeconomic status. If this study had included individuals of a higher risk nature then the results could have been different. 

Reference 

Squeglia, L. M., Jacobus, J., Nguyen-Louie, T. T., & Tapert, S. F. (2014). Inhibition During Early Adolescence Predicts Alcohol and Marijuana Use by Late Adolescence. NeuroPsychology Vol 28(5), 782-790.

Abstract