ADHD and Marijuana-Use Expectancies in Young Adulthood

Abstract

Objective: This study examined mean level differences in marijuana expectancies and the differential associations between expectancies and marijuana use for individuals with and without a history of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Background: Substance-use expectancies are a widely studied risk factor for alcohol and other drug use. The relations between marijuana-use expectancies and self-reported marijuana use have not been examined in young adults with ADHD, a population shown to be at risk for marijuana use. Method: Participants were 306 (190 ADHD and 116 non-ADHD) young adults (M age = 20.06, SD = 2.03) from the Pittsburgh ADHD Longitudinal Study (PALS) who provided data about marijuana use and marijuana-use expectancies. Results: Individuals in the ADHD group reported lower levels of social enhancement, tension reduction, and cognitive and behavioral-impairment expectancies compared to individuals in the non-ADHD group. Positive and negative marijuana-use expectancies were associated with marijuana use frequency in the whole sample and statistically significant ADHD group by expectancy interactions were found. Sexual-enhancement expectancies were more strongly associated with marijuana use frequency among individuals with ADHD histories while cognitive behavioral-impairment expectancies were more strongly associated with marijuana use frequency among individuals without ADHD. Conclusions: Marijuana-use expectancies may be acquired, and operate differently, for individuals with and without ADHD histories. Although future research is needed to test this speculation, these differences may be associated with ADHD-related difficulties in higher order cognitive processes that affect the encoding and utilization of expectations regarding marijuana's effects.

Keywords :

• marijuana expectancies
• ADHD
• marijuana

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

FUNDING

This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health [grant number T32 MH018951-21], the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [grant numbers AA00202, AA011873, and T32 AA007453], and the National Institute on Drug Abuse [grant number DA 12414].

THE AUTHORS

Dr. Seth C. Harty is an Assistant Professor in the Graduate Psychology Programs at Chatham University. His research interests include the cognitive and emotional factors associated adolescent and young adult substance use.

Dr. Sarah L. Pedersen is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. She is interested in individual difference factors that increase risk for substance use and substance use disorders. Dr. Pedersen's research focuses on integrating cognitive factors and personality characteristics in relation to decisions to use substances in both adolescent and adult populations.

Elizabeth M. Gnagy is Senior Data Manager in the Department of Psychology at Florida International University.

Dr. William E. Pelham, Jr. is Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, and Public Health; Chair of the Department of Psychology and Director of the Center for Children and Families at Florida International University. His research interests include treatment development and evaluation, including behavioral treatments, pharmacotherapy, and the combination of the two in children and adolescents with ADHD.

Dr. Brooke S. G. Molina is Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research interests include the etiology, longitudinal course, and treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and the substance use disorders. She has a special interest in adolescents and young adults and uses a developmental perspective in her work.

GLOSSARY

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A common childhood disorder that frequently progresses into adulthood and is associated with difficulties in the areas of attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

• Marijuana-use expectancies: Anticipatory cognitions regarding the perceived outcome(s) of use.