Correlates of Early Alcohol and Drug Use in Hispanic Adolescents: Examining the Role of ADHD with Comorbid Conduct Disorder, Family, School, and Peers

Abstract

This study examined correlates of early adolescent alcohol and drug use in a community sample of 217 eighth-grade adolescents with behavior problems and from Hispanic/Latino immigrant families. Structural equation modeling was used to examine relationships of multiple contexts (e.g., family, school, and peers) to alcohol and drug use. Results suggest that conduct disorder in youth with high levels of hyperactivity symptoms, poor school functioning, and peer alcohol and drug use was directly related to early adolescent alcohol and drug use. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder with comorbid conduct disorder and family functioning was indirectly related to early alcohol and drug use through poor school functioning and through peer alcohol and drug use. Results are discussed in terms of possible targets for interventions to prevent alcohol and drug use in Hispanic adolescents.

We acknowledge support from the National Institute of Mental Health grant 5R01MH40859 and National Institute on Drug Abuse grants DA40859 (C. H. Brown, PI), and DA017462 (H. Pantin, PI), as well as our colleagues from the Prevention Science and Methodology Group. We also acknowledge technical assistance provided by Vanessa Madrazo.

Notes

Note. Family Adol = adolescent report of family functioning; Family Parent = parent report of family functioning; Poor School = poor school functioning; ADHD + CD = attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with comorbid conduct disorder (CD) compared to ADHD without CD; No ADHD or CD = diagnoses other than ADHD and CD compared to ADHD without CD; Peer Use = peer alcohol and drug use.

∗p < .05. ∗∗p < .01. ∗∗∗p < .001.