Caregiver drug use and arrest as correlates of child trauma exposure

Is Childhood Adversity Before Age 5 Associated with Adolescent and Young Adult Substance Use? Findings from a U.S. Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

Growing research suggests that adversity experienced early in life can affect young children's development, with implications for health-related outcomes years later. This study explored long-term associations between early life adversity before age 5 (ELA) and later substance use outcomes, and racial and ethnic differences in associations.

METHOD

Data are from children born 1984-2000 to female participants in the U.S. National Longitudinal Study of Youth-1979 cohort (N = 4582 children nested within 2683 mothers, with 1.4-1.8 outcome observations on average for each child in each age period). ELA at ages 0-4 was measured through home observations and maternal surveys, and included high parental conflict and maternal hazardous drinking/drug use (threat-related exposures), and low cognitive stimulation, low emotional support, and household poverty (deprivation-related exposures). Alcohol and cannabis use frequency were measured in biennial adolescent and young adult surveys through 2016. Analyses involved multilevel regression and interactions accounting for demographics, birth cohort, and family history of alcoholism.

RESULTS

ELA-threat exposure was associated with greater alcohol and cannabis use frequency in mid-adolescence and at ages 22-25 and 26-32 [exp(β ^ )'s = 1.05 to 1.13, p's < 0.05]. Associations of ELA-deprivation with substance use were either null or negative. There were pronounced racial and ethnic inequities in ELA exposure but no evidence of racial and ethnic differences in associations between ELA and later substance use.

CONCLUSIONS

Broadening substance use research to focus on early childhood conditions appears warranted. Studies that identify intervening pathways to outcomes could inform early, targeted substance use prevention. Efforts are needed to eliminate racial and ethnic inequities in early life conditions.

Drug Use and Incarceration among Rural Appalachian Women: Findings From a Jail Sample

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this paper is to examine drug use and incarceration history among rural Appalachian women.

METHODS

This study involved random selection, screening, and interviews with rural women from local jails in Appalachia.

RESULTS

Of the women randomly selected and screened, 97% met criteria for substance use intervention. Significant factors associated with incarceration history included age, education, custody status, and mental health. A significant interaction was observed between male sex partners and drug use on incarceration history.

CONCLUSIONS

Study findings suggest that the drug/crime relationship among rural Appalachian women is associated with their high-risk home environment, partner relationships, and mental health. Specifically, in addition to drug use, factors such as family and child relationships, anxiety, victimization, and relationships with partners should also be considered in the trajectory of criminal careers among rural Appalachian women.