Impulsivity, age of first alcohol use and substance use disorders among male adolescents: a population based case-control study Addiction Early Online 20 May 2008
To evaluate the association between impulsivity, age of first alcohol consumption (AFD) and substance use disorders (SUD) in a non-clinical sample of adolescents.
Impulsivity and AFD were significantly associated with SUD. Both higher impulsivity [odds rat (OR) 3.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4–7.8] and earlier AFD (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0–1.3) remained associated with SUD after model adjustments.
The findings from this population-based case–control study suggest that impulsivity and age of first alcoholic drink are associated strongly with alcohol and drug problems. Additionally, impulsivity seems to contribute to a premature exposure to alcohol by hastening the AFD. If the temporal effect of these associations is confirmed in longitudinal designs including broader population groups, our findings may contribute to the development of clinical and policy interventions aiming at reducing the incidence and morbidity associated with substance-related problems among adolescents.
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