Direct and Indirect Effects of Selected Risk Factors in Producing Adverse Consequences of Drug Use

Abstract

A path analysis was performed to examine the usefulness of multiple pathway risk factors in explaining and predicting youthful alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) misuse and its adverse consequences. The risk factors alienation, trait anger, interaction anxiety, and cognitive motivation for drinking were used as exogenous variables with earliness of onset, ATOD use, and adverse consequences of ATOD use serving as endogenous variables. Firm support emerged for both direct and indirect effects of the risk factors on both use and adverse consequences of use.

Key Words:

• Adolescent
• Drug use
• Risk factors