The Gateway Hypothesis, Common Liability to Addictions or the Route of Administration Model? A Modelling Process Linking the Three Theories

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurélie Mayet ◽  
Stéphane Legleye ◽  
François Beck ◽  
Bruno Falissard ◽  
Nearkasen Chau
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Peer Influence ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Early Onset ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Transition Probabilities ◽  
Route Of Administration ◽  
Individual Personality ◽  
Gateway Theory ◽  
Initiation Sequence

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the transitions between tobacco (T), cannabis (C) and other illicit drugs (OIDs) initiations, to simultaneously explore several substance use theories: gateway theory (GT), common liability model (CLM) and route of administration model (RAM). Methods: Data from 2 French nationwide surveys conducted in 2005 and 2010 were used (16,421 subjects aged 18-34). Using reported ages at initiations, we reconstituted a retrospective cohort describing all initiation sequences between T, C and OID. Transition probabilities between the substances were computed using a Markov multi-state model that also tested the effect of 2 latent variables (item response theory scores reflecting propensity for early onset and further substance use) on all transitions. Results: T initiation was associated with increased likelihood of subsequent C initiation, but the reverse relationship was also observed. While the most likely initiation sequence among subjects who initiated the 3 groups of substances was the ‘gateway' sequence T → C → OID, this pattern was not associated with substance use propensity more than alternative sequences. Early use propensity was associated with the ‘gateway' sequence but also with some alternative ones beginning with T, C or OID. Conclusion: If the gateway sequence appears as the most likely pattern, in line with GT, the effects of early onset and substance use propensities were also observed for some alternative sequences, which is more in line with CLM. RAM could explain reciprocal interactions observed between T and C. This suggests shared influences of individual (personality traits) and environmental (substance availability, peer influence) characteristics.

Youth's personal relationships, psychological symptoms, and the use of different substances: A population-based study

2021 ◽  
pp. 145507252110507
Author(s):  
Adriana del Palacio-Gonzalez ◽  
Mads Uffe Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Peer Influence ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Close Friend ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Externalising Symptoms

Background: Externalising symptoms and peer influence are well-established predictors of youth's substance use in general. However, there is little integrative research that compares the relative contribution of psychological and social relationship characteristics as predictors of the use of specific substances among youth in different developmental stages. Methods: A representative sample of Danish adolescents ( n  =  1,168) and emerging adults (EA; n  =  1,878) reported last-month prevalence use of cigarettes, cannabis, and other illicit drugs (OID), and four indices of alcohol use. Predictor variables included internalising and externalising symptoms, and major characteristics of the youth's relationships (e.g., parental drug use, number of close friends). Results: Having a close friend who used illicit drugs, and high externalising symptoms, predicted the risk for using all substances across both age groups. Alcohol use was more consistently related to peer-related variables than to symptoms. Smoking cigarettes, cannabis use, and OIDs use were related to peer and symptom variables. Age group moderated some associations. Parental separation was related more strongly to alcohol use among adolescents than among EA, and higher internalising symptoms were more strongly related to smoking and using OIDs among adolescents than among EA. Male EAs had higher risk for using alcohol than female EAs. Conclusion: Beyond having a close friend who used illicit drugs, and externalising problems, the use of each substance was better explained by a different group of variables. There were few but important moderations by age group. The findings highlight the need for research on risk factors for substance use that is developmentally sensitive, particularly for adolescents, and for specific substances. Thus, interventions and policies should address social, developmental, and psychological factors.

Conceptualizing Protective Family Context and Its effect on Substance Use: Comparisons Across Diverse Ethnic-Racial Youth

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Constante ◽  
Edward Huntley ◽  
Emma Schillinger ◽  
Christine Wagner ◽  
Daniel Keating
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Latent Variable ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Family Context ◽  
Partial Metric ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
Protective Methods ◽  
Family Variables

Background: Although family behaviors are known to be important for buffering youth against substance use, research in this area often evaluates a particular type of family interaction and how it shapes adolescents’ behaviors, when it is likely that youth experience the co-occurrence of multiple types of family behaviors that may be protective. Methods: The current study (N = 1716, 10th and 12th graders, 55% female) examined associations between protective family context, a latent variable comprised of five different measures of family behaviors, and past 12 months substance use: alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and e-cigarettes. Results: A multi-group measurement invariance assessment supported protective family context as a coherent latent construct with partial (metric) measurement invariance among Black, Latinx, and White youth. A multi-group path model indicated that protective family context was significantly associated with less substance use for all youth, but of varying magnitudes across ethnic-racial groups. Conclusion: These results emphasize the importance of evaluating psychometric properties of family-relevant latent variables on the basis of group membership in order to draw appropriate inferences on how such family variables relate to substance use among diverse samples.

An Examination of the Importance of Strain in the Cannabis Gateway Effect

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (11) ◽  
pp. 3603-3617 ◽  
Author(s):  
James C. McCutcheon ◽  
Stephen J. Watts
Keyword(s):  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
National Longitudinal Study ◽  
Gateway Theory ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Relationship

Gateway theory has been the source of much debate in both the research literature and public policy. Support for gateway sequencing has been mixed, especially in research that has considered the role of criminological variables in the etiology of substance use. For example, limited prior research has observed as important in gateway sequencing the effects of severe stressors. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health are utilized to test gateway theory and examine whether severe stressors affect the relationship between frequency of cannabis use and later use of other illicit drugs (OIDs). Findings suggest that while frequency of cannabis use does increase the likelihood of later use of OIDs, this relationship may be the result of the common cause of experiencing severe stress. Implications of the findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Adverse childhood experiences and consumption of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs among adolescents of a Brazilian birth cohort

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Gonçalves ◽  
Ana Luiza Gonçalves Soares ◽  
Ana Paula Gomes dos Santos ◽  
Camila Garcez Ribeiro ◽  
Isabel Oliveira Bierhals ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Family Environment ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
The Family ◽  
Brazilian Cohort

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs among adolescents from a Brazilian cohort. The occurrence of five ACEs, the use of alcohol and tobacco and trying illicit drugs were investigated in the 1993 Pelotas birth cohort at the age of 15 (n = 4,230). A score was created for the ACEs and their association with the use of substances was evaluated. Around 25% of adolescents consumed alcohol, 6% smoked and 2.1% reported having used drugs at least once in their lives. The ACEs were associated with the use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. A dose-response relation between the number of ACEs and the substance use was found, particularly with regard to illicit drugs. The occurrence of ACEs was positively associated with the use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs among adolescents and the risk may be different for men and women. These results point to the fact that strategies for preventing the use of substances should include interventions both among adolescents and within the family environment.

scholarly journals Estimating the number of children in households with substance use disorders

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ludwig Kraus ◽  
Alfred Uhl ◽  
Josefine Atzendorf ◽  
Nicki-Nils Seitz
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Epidemiological Survey ◽  
Related Disorder ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Dsm Iv ◽  
Household Members ◽  
Definition Of

Abstract Background Parental substance misuse is reported to endanger the health and psychological development of children and adolescents. The aim of the present study was to estimate the number of children currently affected by substance use disorders (SUDs) of any adult living in the same household. Methods Data came from the 2018 German Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse (ESA) among 18-64-year-olds (n = 9,267) and from population statistics. DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were used to assess SUD (abuse or dependence) related to tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine or amphetamine. Based on the number of household members, the number of children below the age 18 years and the information on SUD status of the respondent living in this household, the number of children in households with at least one member with SUD was estimated. Results In 2018, there were 13,597,428 children younger than 18 years living in Germany. Of these, 5.2–7.9% (686,482–696,279) were estimated to live in households where at least one adult had an alcohol-related disorder, 5.0–7.4% (674,065–690,792) in households where at least one adult was tobacco dependent and 0.38–1.05% (93,229–142,141) in households where at least one adult had a disorder related to the use of illicit drugs. The total number of children in close contact with SUD adults was estimated at 7.4–11.2% (1,000,725–1,522,667). Conclusions The large number of children affected by adults with SUD has implications for identification and prevention. Substantial variation in estimates, resulting from differences in methods, definition of exposure and exposure to whom, calls for international standardization in order to make estimates comparable.

Youth Religiosity and Substance Use: A Meta-Analysis from 1995 to 2007

2009 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 255-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerf W. K. Yeung ◽  
Yuk-Chung Chan ◽  
Boris L. K. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Homogeneity Test ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Weighted Mean ◽  
Youth Involvement

In this meta-analysis, the magnitude of the protective effects of religiosity on youth involvement in substance use was investigated. Based on 22 studies in peer-reviewed journals published between 1995 and 2007, the average weighted mean correlation was Zr = .16, significant regardless of the definitions of religiosity. The homogeneity test of variance showed consistent protective effects of religiosity on four types of substance use, namely, alcohol, cigarette, marijuana, and other illicit drugs.

scholarly journals Exploring the Perceived Risks and Benefits of Heroin Use among Young People (18–24 Years) in Mauritius: Economic Insights from an Exploratory Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (17) ◽  
pp. 6126
Author(s):  
Gareth White ◽  
Susan E. Luczak ◽  
Bernard Mundia ◽  
Smita Goorah
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Peer Influence ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Heroin Use ◽  
Heroin Users ◽  
Risks And Benefits ◽  
Economic Framework ◽  
Persons Living With Hiv

The decreasing age of young people injecting illicit drugs is an under-reported challenge for the prevention of HIV transmission worldwide. Young people aged 15–24 years represent 1 in 5 persons living with HIV in Mauritius where the epidemic is driven by injecting drug use and risky sexual behaviours. We recruited 22 heroin users aged 18–24 and 5 service providers working in harm reduction (HR) for the present study. Qualitative data were collected through unstructured interviews. We adopted an economic framework and an inductive approach to the analysis, which implied revising codes and themes. The risks heroin users described as consumers of illicit drugs and as clients of HR services could not be analyzed in isolation. Polydrug use emerged as a recurrent coping mechanism resulting from the changing dynamics within the heroin market. The risks faced by women went beyond addiction and infection with HIV. How participants viewed the risks and benefits linked to using heroin was greatly influenced by gaps in knowledge that left room for uncertainty and reinforcing mechanisms such as peer influence. The study shows that qualitative research can produce in-depth socio-behavioural insights required to produce more effective services for young people.

scholarly journals School Climate as a Universal Intervention to Prevent Substance Use Initiation in Early Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 402-411
Author(s):  
Shay M. Daily ◽  
Michael J. Mann ◽  
Christa L. Lilly ◽  
Thomas K. Bias ◽  
Megan L. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
School Climate ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Warning Sign ◽  
Student Behaviors ◽  
School Students ◽  
Eighth Grade Students ◽  
Curve Modeling ◽  
Positive School Climate ◽  
Substance Use Initiation

Initiation of substance use often starts during adolescence, with tobacco and alcohol use frequently preceding the use of marijuana and other illicit drugs. Studies suggest that a positive school climate may prevent substance use while promoting healthy student behaviors. The purpose of this study was to determine the longitudinal associations between school climate and substance use initiation in a group of middle school students. Parallel latent growth curve modeling was used to examine changes among study variables longitudinally using a sample of 2,097 sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students across 16 regional schools located in three counties in West Virginia. Results suggest that a positive school climate may prevent substance use initiation (β = −0.07 to −0.25, p < .01). However, perceptions of school climate decreased on their own over time (β = −0.28 to −0.66, p < .01). Furthermore, substance use initiation also increased as students grew older (β = 0.96 to 0.99, p < .01) and reduced the effects of school climate longitudinally (β = −0.07 to −0.24, p < .01). Early substance use initiation may be a warning sign of other underlying student issues and requires additional school support to foster student success. Findings suggest that a positive school climate may delay substance use initiation and promote school success. School climate may, therefore, be useful as an intervention to support school-based health promotion.

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