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Article
Age of first use as a predicator of current alcohol and marijuana use among college-bound adolescents.
Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse. (2013)
  • Dessa K Bergen-Cico, Syracuse University
  • Megan E Lape
Abstract

Background: Alcohol and marijuana are the most commonly used psychoactive substances; however, the sequencing and relationship between age of first use and continued current problematic use among college-bound emerging adults is not well understood. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of current and historical alcohol and marijuana use among college-bound recent high school graduates (N = 1,365; age ∼18 years). Results: Drinking was prevalent (78%, N = 1,055) and marijuana use was prevalent (46%, N = 622). Stepwise logistical regression revealed the lower the age of first use, the higher the prevalence of current problematic substance use. Those who initiate alcohol ≤ 12 are twice as likely to currently use marijuana frequently. A significant relationship was found between age of first use and non-social substance use (drinking, p = 0.0001; marijuana, p = 0.0025). The temporal ordering of substance use indicates that alcohol precedes marijuana use, and age of first alcohol use is relevant to rates of initiation and current marijuana use.

Keywords
  • adolescent,
  • age first use,
  • alcohol,
  • emerging adult,
  • marijuana
Disciplines
Publication Date
2013
Citation Information
Dessa K Bergen-Cico and Megan E Lape. "Age of first use as a predicator of current alcohol and marijuana use among college-bound adolescents." Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse. Vol. 22 Iss. 3 (2013)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/dessa_bergen-cico/7/