Relevance of the dual systems model for predicting drug/alcohol dependence in early adulthood among previously adjudicated young adults.

Abstract

While the dual system model has been found to have utility for predicting drug use, examinations have yet to extend to the clinically relevant issue of drug/alcohol dependence. This study sought to provide better understanding of how the dual systems model constructs (impulse control and sensation-seeking) predicted risk for drug/alcohol dependence in early adulthood among a sample of young adults who were adjudicated for a serious offense as minors. Data from several waves of the Pathways to Desistance data were used in analyses. Logistic regression was used to model covariate effects on drug/alcohol dependence risk. Findings indicated that lower impulse control predicted increased odds of meeting criteria for drug/alcohol dependence in early adulthood. Sensation-seeking was not a significant predictor of drug/alcohol dependence risk at follow-up. Lower impulse control was predictive of drug/alcohol dependence risk. Prevention programming should seek to boost impulse control during adolescence to mitigate this risk and treatment programming should focus on impulse control training in order to treat drug/alcohol dependence in inpatient and outpatient contexts.