Transitions from first substance use to substance use disorders in adolescence: is early onset associated with a rapid escalation?
BACKGROUND: Early substance use (SU) in adolescence is known to be associated with
an elevated risk of developing substance use disorders (SUD); it remains unclear though
whether early SU is associated with more rapid transitions to SUD. OBJECTIVE: To examine
the risk and speed of transition from first SU (alcohol, nicotine, cannabis) to SUD as a
function of age of first use. METHODS: N= 3021 community subjects aged 14–24 years at
baseline were followed-up prospectively over 10-years. SU and SUD were assessed using …
an elevated risk of developing substance use disorders (SUD); it remains unclear though
whether early SU is associated with more rapid transitions to SUD. OBJECTIVE: To examine
the risk and speed of transition from first SU (alcohol, nicotine, cannabis) to SUD as a
function of age of first use. METHODS: N= 3021 community subjects aged 14–24 years at
baseline were followed-up prospectively over 10-years. SU and SUD were assessed using …