Substance use disorders in young adults with and without LD: Predictive and concurrent relationships

This article reports on young people with and without learning disabilities (LD) and substance use disorders (SUD). Participants were assessed for LD at ages 12 and 19 and for SUD and psychiatric disorders at age 19. Particip ants with LD at ages 12 and 19 were more Likely to develop an SUD or a psyc hiatric disorder compared to participants without consistent LD. Participan ts with LD at age 19 were more likely to have a concurrent SUD or psychiatr ic disorder compared to those without LD at age 19, while participants with LD at age 12 showed only a trend toward increased rates of SUD at age 19 w hen compared to participants without LD at age 12. Participants with and wi thout LD did not differ in substance use, consumption levels, or onset hist ory. In a multivariate model, adolescent LD was associated with a three-fol d increased risk for SUD after behavioral problems and family structure had entered the model. Although these results provide some support for the not ion that adolescents with LD are at increased risk for SUD, LD also appears to confer a general risk for adverse outcomes.