Heavy Substance Use in Young Adulthood

• In Event: 3550 - Emerging Issues in Adolescent and Young Adult Health Risks and Behaviors

Abstract

This study examines substance use over the young life course. We review prior research and use an ecosocial-ecological model to examine the correlates of heavy substance use among emerging and young adults. Data are drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (ADD Health). The final sample consisted of approximately 15,000 cases from waves 1, 3 and 4. Multivariate analyses indicate that the predictors of heavy substance use in young adulthood vary by the substance used. However, the most general influences on heavy substance use in young adulthood are age, gender, race-ethnicity, prior use of substances and poor mental health. These factors have generally strong impacts across the heavy use of different substances.

Authors

• Clifford L. Broman, Michigan State University

• Mellissa Wright, Michigan State University

• SeungHee Choi, Michigan State University

• Yijie Wang, Michigan State University