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Declines in prevalence of adolescent substance use disorders and delinquent behaviors in the USA: a unitary trend?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 October 2017

R. A. Grucza ,
R. F. Krueger ,
Arpana Agrawal ,
A. D. Plunk ,
M. J. Krauss ,
J. Bongu ,
P. A. Cavazos-Rehg  and
L. J. Bierut
R. A. Grucza*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
R. F. Krueger
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Arpana Agrawal
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
A. D. Plunk
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA
M. J. Krauss
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
J. Bongu
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
P. A. Cavazos-Rehg
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
L. J. Bierut
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
*
Author for correspondence: R. A. Grucza, E-mail: gruczar@psychiatry.wustl.edu
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Abstract

Background

Downward trends in a number of adolescent risk behaviors including violence, crime, and drug use have been observed in the USA in recent years. It is unknown whether these are separate trends or whether they might relate to a general reduction in propensity to engage in such behaviors. Our objectives were to quantify trends in substance use disorders (SUDs) and delinquent behaviors over the 2003–2014 period and to determine whether they might reflect a single trend in an Externalizing-like trait.

Methods

We analyzed data from 12 to 17 year old participants from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a representative survey of the household dwelling population of the USA, across the 2003–2014 period (N = 210 599). Outcomes included past-year prevalence of six categories of substance use disorder and six categories of delinquent behavior.

Results

Trend analysis suggested a net decline of 49% in mean number of SUDs and a 34% decline in delinquent behaviors over the 12-year period. Item Response Theory models were consistent with the interpretation that declines in each set of outcomes could be attributed to changes in mean levels of a latent, Externalizing-like trait.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that declines in SUDs and some delinquent behaviors reflect a single trend related to an Externalizing-like trait. Identifying the factors contributing to this trend may facilitate continued improvement across a spectrum of adolescent risk behaviors.

Keywords

Epidemiologyjuvenile delinquencysubstance use disorderstructural modelstrends
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 48 , Issue 9 , July 2018 , pp. 1494 - 1503
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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