Association Between Early Conduct Problems and Early Marijuana Use in College Students

• NCJ Number: 236751
• Journal: Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: July-August 2011 Pages: 221-236
• Author(s): Benjamin J. Falls; Eric D. Wish; Laura M. Garnier; Kimberly M. Caldeira; Kevin E. O'Grady; Kathryn B. Vincent; Amelia M. Arria
• Date Published: July 2011
• Length: 16 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01-DA14845
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined early conduct problems linked to early marijuana use in adolescence.

Abstract

Early conduct problems have been linked to early marijuana use in adolescence. The present study examines this association in a sample of 1,076 college students that was divided into 3 groups: (1) early marijuana users (began marijuana use prior to age 15; N = 126), (2) late marijuana users (began marijuana use at or after age 15; N = 607), and (3) nonusers (never used marijuana; N = 343). A conduct problem inventory used in previous studies was adapted for use in the present study. Early conduct problems were associated with early marijuana use but not with late marijuana use, holding constant other risk factors. Results suggest that early conduct problems are a risk factor for early marijuana use even among academically achieving college-bound students. (Published Abstract)