An adoption study of the development of early substance use: the joint roles of genetic influences, prenatal risk, rearing environment, and pubertal maturation

Narrative Statement Adolescent substance use is widespread, placing youth at increased risk for continued use, addiction, and mental health problems throughout their life. The proposed study will examine heritable, prenatal, hormonal, and postnatal influences to clarify how these factors work together in the development of substance use. By clarifying the strongest predictors given other influences, this work will help in constructing more specific biobehavioral profiles of risk for individuals likely to initiate and use substances early.