Citation
Scheidell, Joy D.; McGorray, Susan; Vaddiparti, Krishna; Cottler, Linda; & Khan, Maria R. (2015). Childhood traumatic experience and illicit drug use in adolescence, emerging adulthood, and adulthood. CPDD 77th Annual Meeting. Phoenix, AZ: Drug and Alcohol Dependence.Abstract
Aims: We assessed associations between childhood traumatic experience and illicit drug use in adolescence, emerging adulthood, and adulthood in a nationally-representative sample. Methods: Using data from Wave I (adolescence; respondent age: 7th–12th grade), III (emerging adulthood; age: 18–26 years) and IV (adulthood; age: 24–32 years) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 12,288 with sample weights), we measured nine types of childhood trauma: neglect; emotional, physical, or sexual abuse; parental incarceration; parental binge drinking; and witnessing, being threatened with, or experiencing violence. Indicators of ever having experienced each trauma were summed to create a score indicating cumulative traumatic dose. We measured associations between childhood trauma exposure and illicit drug use (marijuana, cocaine) at each wave. Results: Approximately 56% experienced childhood trauma: 28% one trauma, 14% two traumas, 8% three traumas, 3% four traumas, 1% five traumas, and 0.6% ≥6 traumas. In adjusted analyses, we observed dose-response relationships between cumulative traumatic dose and adolescent marijuana use (odds ratio (OR) for one trauma vs. no trauma = 1.66, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.42–1.95; two traumas = 2.71, 95% CI: 2.24–3.28; ≥6 traumas = 16.56, 95% CI: 7.25–37.82) and cocaine use (OR for one trauma vs. no trauma = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.38–3.41; two traumas = 2.78, 95% CI: 1.66–4.65; ≥6 traumas = 4.01, 95% CI: 1.34–12.09). The cumulative traumatic dose likewise demonstrated a dose-response relationship with illicit drug use in emerging adulthood and adulthood. In models adjusting for covariates and all other traumas, each individual trauma was independently associated with either marijuana or cocaine use in adolescence, emerging adulthood, and/or adulthood. Conclusions: Trauma-informed practice is needed to address substance use over the life course.URL
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871615009047Reference Type
Conference proceedingBook Title
CPDD 77th Annual MeetingAuthor(s)
Scheidell, Joy D.McGorray, Susan
Vaddiparti, Krishna
Cottler, Linda
Khan, Maria R.