This longitudinal study examined antecedents of substance use behavior
among 176 (53% male) adolescents. Adolescents were classified as (a)
abstainers (n = 19), (b) experimenters (n = 65), (c)
at-risk youth (n = 63), and (d) abusers (n = 29) based
on their reported substance use behavior at age 17.5. Parental behavior,
peer competence, and problem behavior, measured from early childhood
through age 16, were examined as predictors of substance use patterns.
Multinomial logistic regression models revealed that early maternal
hostility, externalizing behavior problems in first grade and at age 16,
internalizing behavior in first grade and at age 16, and parental
monitoring at age 16 significantly differentiated substance use groups.
The study provides evidence that experiences occurring early in
development, in addition to those that occur later in development, can
play a pivotal role in setting the stage for late adolescent substance use
behavior.Preparation of this work and the
research described herein were supported by a grant from the National
Institute of Mental Health (R01MH40864-18). We acknowledge the
participants and their families for their continued participation in this
research. Special thanks to Judy Cook, W. Andrew Collins, and the numerous
graduate and undergraduates who made this project possible.