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Is it important to prevent early exposure to drugs and alcohol among adolescents?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Odgers, CL; Caspi, A; Nagin, DS; Piquero, AR; Slutske, WS; Milne, BJ; Dickson, N; Poulton, R; Moffitt, TE
Published in: Psychological science
October 2008

Exposure to alcohol and illicit drugs during early adolescence has been associated with poor outcomes in adulthood. However, many adolescents with exposure to these substances also have a history of conduct problems, which raises the question of whether early exposure to alcohol and drugs leads to poor outcomes only for those adolescents who are already at risk. In a 30-year prospective study, we tested whether there was evidence that early substance exposure can be a causal factor for adolescents' future lives. After propensity-score matching, early-exposed adolescents remained at an increased risk for a number of poor outcomes. Approximately 50% of adolescents exposed to alcohol and illicit drugs prior to age 15 had no conduct-problem history, yet were still at an increased risk for adult substance dependence, herpes infection, early pregnancy, and crime. Efforts to reduce or delay early substance exposure may prevent a wide range of adult health problems and should not be restricted to adolescents who are already at risk.

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Published In

Psychological science

DOI

EISSN

1467-9280

ISSN

0956-7976

Publication Date

October 2008

Volume

19

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1037 / 1044

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Risk
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pregnancy in Adolescence
  • Pregnancy
  • New Zealand
  • Male
  • Illicit Drugs
  • Humans
 

Citation

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Odgers, C. L., Caspi, A., Nagin, D. S., Piquero, A. R., Slutske, W. S., Milne, B. J., … Moffitt, T. E. (2008). Is it important to prevent early exposure to drugs and alcohol among adolescents? Psychological Science, 19(10), 1037–1044. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02196.x
Odgers, Candice L., Avshalom Caspi, Daniel S. Nagin, Alex R. Piquero, Wendy S. Slutske, Barry J. Milne, Nigel Dickson, Richie Poulton, and Terrie E. Moffitt. “Is it important to prevent early exposure to drugs and alcohol among adolescents?Psychological Science 19, no. 10 (October 2008): 1037–44. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02196.x.
Odgers CL, Caspi A, Nagin DS, Piquero AR, Slutske WS, Milne BJ, et al. Is it important to prevent early exposure to drugs and alcohol among adolescents? Psychological science. 2008 Oct;19(10):1037–44.
Odgers, Candice L., et al. “Is it important to prevent early exposure to drugs and alcohol among adolescents?Psychological Science, vol. 19, no. 10, Oct. 2008, pp. 1037–44. Epmc, doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02196.x.
Odgers CL, Caspi A, Nagin DS, Piquero AR, Slutske WS, Milne BJ, Dickson N, Poulton R, Moffitt TE. Is it important to prevent early exposure to drugs and alcohol among adolescents? Psychological science. 2008 Oct;19(10):1037–1044.
Journal cover image

Published In

Psychological science

DOI

EISSN

1467-9280

ISSN

0956-7976

Publication Date

October 2008

Volume

19

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1037 / 1044

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Risk
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pregnancy in Adolescence
  • Pregnancy
  • New Zealand
  • Male
  • Illicit Drugs
  • Humans