FREQUENT CHILDHOOD GEOGRAPHIC RELOCATION - ITS IMPACT ON DRUG-USE INITIATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG-RELATED PROBLEMSAMONG ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG-ADULTS

Early geographic relocation has been implicated as an important correl ate of psychopathology, learning difficulties, and behavioural problem s among child and adolescent populations, yet systematic studies of th e potential influence of relocation on youthful drug use have not been conducted. This study explored the relationship between number of geo graphic moves before the age of 16 and the timing of onset of drug use and progression to drug-related problems. Data were obtained from 3,7 00 young adults aged 18 to 35 years participating in the 1990-1991 Ont ario Mental Health Supplement, a large random probability survey of th e residents of the Province of Ontario, Canada. Holding constant poten tial confounding factors, results showed highly significant positive r elationships between moving and early initiation of illicit drugs incl uding marijuana, hallucinogens, crack/cocaine, and illicit use of pres cribed drugs. Among marijuana users, moving was also associated with a hastening of time to marijuana-related problems. Relationships betwee n moving and measures of alcohol use/problems (onset of first drink, o nset of any alcohol-related problem) were either weak or nonsignifican t. Important sex differences were found, with statistically significan t relationships between moving and early drug use initiation and progr ession occurring primarily among males. Future research is required to test for possible mediating mechanisms linking relocation with drug u se as well as moderating influences. Efforts should also focus on find ing out why drug use appears to be a more common response to relocatio n among boys. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.