ADOLESCENT VERSUS ADULT-ONSET AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS IN MALES

This study examines the influence of adolescent age of onset on the de velopment of substance use disorders (SUD) by comparing adult males (n = 181) with SUD categorized into adolescent-onset, early-adult onset and late-adult onset groups on patterns of substance use and related d isorders, time course of the development of substance dependence and r ates of comorbid mental disorders. A sample of male adolescents (n = 8 1) with SUD was also included as a comparison group. The subjects were recruited from intervention programs in the community and participate d in semistructured interviews with diagnoses determined by the best e stimate method. Adolescent-onset adults, compared with other adult-ons et groups, had higher lifetime rates of cannabis and hallucinogen use disorders, shorter times from first exposure to dependence, shorter ti mes between the development of their first and second dependence diagn oses and higher rates of disruptive behavior disorders and major depre ssion. Adolescents were similar to adolescent-onset adults. While the findings must be interpreted in light of methodological limitations, t hese results suggest that adolescent-onset SUD is a distinct subtype i nvolving different substances and more rapid development than adult-on set SUD. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.