Psychopathology as a predictor of adolescent drug use trajectories

The authors examined early psychopathology as a predictor of trajectories o f drug use from ages 13-18 years. Six years of annual data were analyzed fo r 506 boys using a mixed effects polynomial growth curve model. They tested whether distinct measures of psychopathology and behavioral problems (i.e, , attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, depression, and violence) assessed in early adolescence c ould prospectively predict level and change in alcohol and marijuana use. H igher levels of all of the types of psychopathology predicted higher levels of alcohol use, and higher levels of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disor der, conduct disorder, and violence predicted higher levels of marijuana us e. Only conduct disorder predicted linear growth in alcohol use, and none o f the measures predicted growth in marijuana use. The results suggest that drug use prevention programs should target youths with early symptoms of ps ychopathology.