The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, Jan 8, 2016
In the United States, perceptions of marijuana's acceptability are at an all-time high, risk ... more In the United States, perceptions of marijuana's acceptability are at an all-time high, risk perceptions among youth are low, and rates are rising among Black youth. Thus, it is imperative to increase the understanding of long-term effects of adolescent marijuana use and ways to mitigate adverse consequences. To identify the midlife consequences of heavy adolescent marijuana use and the mechanisms driving effects among a Black, urban population. This study analyzed the propensity score-matched prospective data from the Woodlawn Study, a community cohort study of urban Black youth followed from ages 6-42. After matching the 165 adolescents who used marijuana heavily to 165 non-heavy/nonusers on background confounders to reduce selection effects (64.5% male), we tested the association of heavy marijuana use by age 16 with social, economic, and physical and psychological health outcomes in midlife and the ability of adult drug trajectories (marijuana, cocaine, and heroin use from a...
Drawing on the life course perspective, this research addresses the direct and indirect pathways ... more Drawing on the life course perspective, this research addresses the direct and indirect pathways between childhood adversity and midlife psychological distress and drug use across a majority of the life span in an African American cohort (N = 1,242) followed from age 6 to 42 (1966 to 2002). Results from structural equation models highlight the impact of low childhood socioeconomic status (SES), poor maternal mental health, and the role of first-grade maladaptation in launching a trajectory of social maladaptation from age 6 to 42. Specifically, for men, we found a direct pathway from early low SES to drug use in mid adulthood and an indirect pathway to psychological distress through first-grade maladaptation and adolescent poor mental health. For females, early SES affected first-grade maladaptation and low school bonds, which then predicted later drug use.
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 01639625 2010 548303, Jan 10, 2012
Marriage is a key life event that has numerous benefits. Recent research extends these benefits t... more Marriage is a key life event that has numerous benefits. Recent research extends these benefits to include desistance from crime and drug use yet there has been little investigation regarding whether deviant behavior in adolescence impacts long-term marital patterns. Since rates of marriage are low among African Americans and rates of adolescent deviance and crime are high, we investigate the long-term relationship between the two drawing on longitudinal data from the Woodlawn cohort of urban African Americans. This article investigates whether serious adolescent delinquency and marijuana use predict marital trajectories, controlling for known correlates. Multivariate findings indicate that within this African-American population, deviance predicts the probability of marriage, stability of marriage, and timing of marriage for men yet deviance relates solely to the probability of marriage for women.
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, Sep 1, 2011
Objective:This study examined the relationship between adolescent alcohol use and adult violence ... more Objective:This study examined the relationship between adolescent alcohol use and adult violence from a developmental perspective, specifically whether frequent adolescent drinking predicts adult violence once shared risk factors are taken into account through propensity score matching. The research considered multiple types of violence, including assault, robbery, and suicidal behavior, as well as other types of offending. It tested whether educational attainment and adult alcohol use and problems contribute to the adolescent drinking–adult violence relationship.Method:Data came from a longitudinal epidemiological study of a community cohort of urban African Americans followed from age 6 to 42 (N = 702; 51% female). Frequent adolescent drinking was operationalized as 20 times or more by age 16. Data on violent arrests and offenses were collected throughout adulthood from self-reports and official criminal records. Matching variables came from childhood and adolescence and included such shared risk factors as childhood externalizing behaviors, school achievement, and family functioning.Results:Adjusted logistic regression analyses on the sample matched on childhood and adolescent risk factors showed that frequent adolescent drinking was associated with an increased risk of violence in young adulthood (in particular assault) but not with other types of crime, self-directed violence, or violence in midlife. Findings varied by gender. Heavy episodic drinking in adulthood seemed to account for some of the association between frequent adolescent drinking and adult assault.Conclusions:The results of this study suggest that preventing frequent adolescent drinking could potentially decrease adult assault. This study adds to the growing body of literature suggesting long-term negative consequences of adolescent alcohol use.
INTRODUCTION: Certain life events, such as marriage and employment, have been demonstrated to red... more INTRODUCTION: Certain life events, such as marriage and employment, have been demonstrated to redirect a person’s trajectory away from substance use and crime. One life event that may be particularly salient for African Americans is criminal justice system intervention as African Americans are more likely to be arrested and incarcerated than whites to the point that incarceration has become a predictable life event for young African American males. One goal of official criminal justice intervention is to deter future crime and drug use. Yet the theoretical notions of deviance amplification and cumulative disadvantage predict an increase in deviant behavior subsequent to criminal justice intervention. It may also be that for African Americans, there is no effect on future drug use and crime as the stigma attached to such a “common” event is low. METHODS: The current study asks, what is the impact of arrest and/or incarceration in young adulthood on long-term substance use? This paper...
Introduction: Historically, African American adolescents have reported lower rates of marijuana u... more Introduction: Historically, African American adolescents have reported lower rates of marijuana use compared to Whites; however, recent national surveys have found significant increases among African American boys and girls. According to the most recent Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey, African American male adolescents now have the highest rate of current marijuana use compared to all other racial, ethnic, and gender groups. Coupled with increased use is evidence of decreased risk perception around marijuana. However, research suggests that marijuana is associated with a wide range of adverse social and behavioral outcomes. To date, the research base is limited by a lack of understanding of long-term causal effects. In particular, longitudinal studies extending into midlife are rare, as is the ability to distinguish negative consequences of marijuana use from consequences of shared risk factors. These gaps are particularly evident among African Americans. Methods: Thi...
The life course perspective has traditionally examined prevalent adult life events, such as marri... more The life course perspective has traditionally examined prevalent adult life events, such as marriage and employment, and their potential to redirect offending trajectories. However, for African Americans, the life events of arrest and incarceration are becoming equally prevalent in young adulthood. Therefore, it is critical to understand how these "standard" criminal justice practices, which are designed to deter as well as punish, affect deviance among this population. This study evaluates the long-term consequences of criminal justice intervention on substance use and offending into midlife among an African American community cohort using propensity score matching and multivariate regression analyses. The results largely point to a criminogenic effect of criminal justice intervention on midlife deviance with a particularly strong effect of young adult arrest on rates of violent and property arrest counts into midlife. The theoretical and policy implications of the findings are discussed.
This study examined the relationship between adolescent alcohol use and adult violence from a dev... more This study examined the relationship between adolescent alcohol use and adult violence from a developmental perspective, specifically whether frequent adolescent drinking predicts adult violence once shared risk factors are taken into account through propensity score matching. The research considered multiple types of violence, including assault, robbery, and suicidal behavior, as well as other types of offending. It tested whether educational attainment and adult alcohol use and problems contribute to the adolescent drinking-adult violence relationship. Data came from a longitudinal epidemiological study of a community cohort of urban African Americans followed from age 6 to 42 (N = 702; 51% female). Frequent adolescent drinking was operationalized as 20 times or more by age 16. Data on violent arrests and offenses were collected throughout adulthood from self-reports and official criminal records. Matching variables came from childhood and adolescence and included such shared risk...
The aim of this study was to develop and validate a comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) array... more The aim of this study was to develop and validate a comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) array that would allow simultaneous targeted analysis of a panel of disease genes and low resolution whole genome analysis. A bespoke Roche NimbleGen 12x135K CGH array (Roche NimbleGen Inc., Madison, Wisconsin, USA) was designed to interrogate the coding regions of 66 genes of interest, with additional widely-spaced backbone probes providing coverage across the whole genome. We analysed genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from 20 patients with a range of previously characterised copy number changes and from 8 patients who had not previously undergone any form of dosage analysis. The custom-designed Roche NimbleGen CGH array was able to detect known copy number changes in all 20 patients. A molecular diagnosis was also made for one of the additional 4 patients with a clinical diagnosis that had not been confirmed by sequence analysis, and carrier testing for familial copy number variants was s...
Although previous studies have identified a protective effect of marriage on risky health behavio... more Although previous studies have identified a protective effect of marriage on risky health behaviors, gaps remain in our understanding of how marriage improves health, particularly among African Americans. This study uses longitudinal data to take selection into account and examines whether marital trajectories that incorporate timing, stability, and duration of marriage affect health risk behaviors among a community cohort of urban African Americans followed for 35 years (N = 1,049). For both men and women, we find six marital trajectories. Men and women in consistently married trajectories are less likely to smoke, drink heavily (women only), and use illegal drugs than those in unmarried or previously married trajectories. Late marrying men do not fare worse in midlife than men in earlier marrying trajectories, but late marrying women show increased risk of midlife drug use. Results suggest policies supporting marriage may have an impact on health but only if stable unions are achieved.
The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, Jan 8, 2016
In the United States, perceptions of marijuana's acceptability are at an all-time high, risk ... more In the United States, perceptions of marijuana's acceptability are at an all-time high, risk perceptions among youth are low, and rates are rising among Black youth. Thus, it is imperative to increase the understanding of long-term effects of adolescent marijuana use and ways to mitigate adverse consequences. To identify the midlife consequences of heavy adolescent marijuana use and the mechanisms driving effects among a Black, urban population. This study analyzed the propensity score-matched prospective data from the Woodlawn Study, a community cohort study of urban Black youth followed from ages 6-42. After matching the 165 adolescents who used marijuana heavily to 165 non-heavy/nonusers on background confounders to reduce selection effects (64.5% male), we tested the association of heavy marijuana use by age 16 with social, economic, and physical and psychological health outcomes in midlife and the ability of adult drug trajectories (marijuana, cocaine, and heroin use from a...
Drawing on the life course perspective, this research addresses the direct and indirect pathways ... more Drawing on the life course perspective, this research addresses the direct and indirect pathways between childhood adversity and midlife psychological distress and drug use across a majority of the life span in an African American cohort (N = 1,242) followed from age 6 to 42 (1966 to 2002). Results from structural equation models highlight the impact of low childhood socioeconomic status (SES), poor maternal mental health, and the role of first-grade maladaptation in launching a trajectory of social maladaptation from age 6 to 42. Specifically, for men, we found a direct pathway from early low SES to drug use in mid adulthood and an indirect pathway to psychological distress through first-grade maladaptation and adolescent poor mental health. For females, early SES affected first-grade maladaptation and low school bonds, which then predicted later drug use.
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 01639625 2010 548303, Jan 10, 2012
Marriage is a key life event that has numerous benefits. Recent research extends these benefits t... more Marriage is a key life event that has numerous benefits. Recent research extends these benefits to include desistance from crime and drug use yet there has been little investigation regarding whether deviant behavior in adolescence impacts long-term marital patterns. Since rates of marriage are low among African Americans and rates of adolescent deviance and crime are high, we investigate the long-term relationship between the two drawing on longitudinal data from the Woodlawn cohort of urban African Americans. This article investigates whether serious adolescent delinquency and marijuana use predict marital trajectories, controlling for known correlates. Multivariate findings indicate that within this African-American population, deviance predicts the probability of marriage, stability of marriage, and timing of marriage for men yet deviance relates solely to the probability of marriage for women.
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, Sep 1, 2011
Objective:This study examined the relationship between adolescent alcohol use and adult violence ... more Objective:This study examined the relationship between adolescent alcohol use and adult violence from a developmental perspective, specifically whether frequent adolescent drinking predicts adult violence once shared risk factors are taken into account through propensity score matching. The research considered multiple types of violence, including assault, robbery, and suicidal behavior, as well as other types of offending. It tested whether educational attainment and adult alcohol use and problems contribute to the adolescent drinking–adult violence relationship.Method:Data came from a longitudinal epidemiological study of a community cohort of urban African Americans followed from age 6 to 42 (N = 702; 51% female). Frequent adolescent drinking was operationalized as 20 times or more by age 16. Data on violent arrests and offenses were collected throughout adulthood from self-reports and official criminal records. Matching variables came from childhood and adolescence and included such shared risk factors as childhood externalizing behaviors, school achievement, and family functioning.Results:Adjusted logistic regression analyses on the sample matched on childhood and adolescent risk factors showed that frequent adolescent drinking was associated with an increased risk of violence in young adulthood (in particular assault) but not with other types of crime, self-directed violence, or violence in midlife. Findings varied by gender. Heavy episodic drinking in adulthood seemed to account for some of the association between frequent adolescent drinking and adult assault.Conclusions:The results of this study suggest that preventing frequent adolescent drinking could potentially decrease adult assault. This study adds to the growing body of literature suggesting long-term negative consequences of adolescent alcohol use.
INTRODUCTION: Certain life events, such as marriage and employment, have been demonstrated to red... more INTRODUCTION: Certain life events, such as marriage and employment, have been demonstrated to redirect a person’s trajectory away from substance use and crime. One life event that may be particularly salient for African Americans is criminal justice system intervention as African Americans are more likely to be arrested and incarcerated than whites to the point that incarceration has become a predictable life event for young African American males. One goal of official criminal justice intervention is to deter future crime and drug use. Yet the theoretical notions of deviance amplification and cumulative disadvantage predict an increase in deviant behavior subsequent to criminal justice intervention. It may also be that for African Americans, there is no effect on future drug use and crime as the stigma attached to such a “common” event is low. METHODS: The current study asks, what is the impact of arrest and/or incarceration in young adulthood on long-term substance use? This paper...
Introduction: Historically, African American adolescents have reported lower rates of marijuana u... more Introduction: Historically, African American adolescents have reported lower rates of marijuana use compared to Whites; however, recent national surveys have found significant increases among African American boys and girls. According to the most recent Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey, African American male adolescents now have the highest rate of current marijuana use compared to all other racial, ethnic, and gender groups. Coupled with increased use is evidence of decreased risk perception around marijuana. However, research suggests that marijuana is associated with a wide range of adverse social and behavioral outcomes. To date, the research base is limited by a lack of understanding of long-term causal effects. In particular, longitudinal studies extending into midlife are rare, as is the ability to distinguish negative consequences of marijuana use from consequences of shared risk factors. These gaps are particularly evident among African Americans. Methods: Thi...
The life course perspective has traditionally examined prevalent adult life events, such as marri... more The life course perspective has traditionally examined prevalent adult life events, such as marriage and employment, and their potential to redirect offending trajectories. However, for African Americans, the life events of arrest and incarceration are becoming equally prevalent in young adulthood. Therefore, it is critical to understand how these "standard" criminal justice practices, which are designed to deter as well as punish, affect deviance among this population. This study evaluates the long-term consequences of criminal justice intervention on substance use and offending into midlife among an African American community cohort using propensity score matching and multivariate regression analyses. The results largely point to a criminogenic effect of criminal justice intervention on midlife deviance with a particularly strong effect of young adult arrest on rates of violent and property arrest counts into midlife. The theoretical and policy implications of the findings are discussed.
This study examined the relationship between adolescent alcohol use and adult violence from a dev... more This study examined the relationship between adolescent alcohol use and adult violence from a developmental perspective, specifically whether frequent adolescent drinking predicts adult violence once shared risk factors are taken into account through propensity score matching. The research considered multiple types of violence, including assault, robbery, and suicidal behavior, as well as other types of offending. It tested whether educational attainment and adult alcohol use and problems contribute to the adolescent drinking-adult violence relationship. Data came from a longitudinal epidemiological study of a community cohort of urban African Americans followed from age 6 to 42 (N = 702; 51% female). Frequent adolescent drinking was operationalized as 20 times or more by age 16. Data on violent arrests and offenses were collected throughout adulthood from self-reports and official criminal records. Matching variables came from childhood and adolescence and included such shared risk...
The aim of this study was to develop and validate a comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) array... more The aim of this study was to develop and validate a comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) array that would allow simultaneous targeted analysis of a panel of disease genes and low resolution whole genome analysis. A bespoke Roche NimbleGen 12x135K CGH array (Roche NimbleGen Inc., Madison, Wisconsin, USA) was designed to interrogate the coding regions of 66 genes of interest, with additional widely-spaced backbone probes providing coverage across the whole genome. We analysed genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from 20 patients with a range of previously characterised copy number changes and from 8 patients who had not previously undergone any form of dosage analysis. The custom-designed Roche NimbleGen CGH array was able to detect known copy number changes in all 20 patients. A molecular diagnosis was also made for one of the additional 4 patients with a clinical diagnosis that had not been confirmed by sequence analysis, and carrier testing for familial copy number variants was s...
Although previous studies have identified a protective effect of marriage on risky health behavio... more Although previous studies have identified a protective effect of marriage on risky health behaviors, gaps remain in our understanding of how marriage improves health, particularly among African Americans. This study uses longitudinal data to take selection into account and examines whether marital trajectories that incorporate timing, stability, and duration of marriage affect health risk behaviors among a community cohort of urban African Americans followed for 35 years (N = 1,049). For both men and women, we find six marital trajectories. Men and women in consistently married trajectories are less likely to smoke, drink heavily (women only), and use illegal drugs than those in unmarried or previously married trajectories. Late marrying men do not fare worse in midlife than men in earlier marrying trajectories, but late marrying women show increased risk of midlife drug use. Results suggest policies supporting marriage may have an impact on health but only if stable unions are achieved.
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