Citation

Min MO, Minnes S, Lang A, Weishampel P, Short EJ, Yoon S, Singer LT. J. Adolesc. 2014; 37(3): 269-279.

Affiliation

School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, USA; School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, USA; School of Medicine, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.adolescence.2014.01.004

PMID

24636687

Abstract

The effect of prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) on externalizing behavior and substance use related problems at 15 years of age was examined. Participants consisted of 358 adolescents (183 PCE, 175 non-cocaine exposed (NCE)), primarily African-American and of low socioeconomic status, prospectively enrolled in a longitudinal study from birth. Regression analyses indicated that the amount of PCE was associated with higher externalizing behavioral problems (β = .15, p = .02). Adolescents with PCE were also 2.8 times (95% CI = 1.38-5.56) more likely to have substance use related problems than their NCE counterparts. No differences between PCE adolescents in non-kinship adoptive/foster care (n = 44) and PCE adolescents in maternal/relative care (n = 139) were found in externalizing behavior or in the likelihood of substance use related problems.

FINDINGS demonstrate teratologic effects of PCE persisting into adolescence. PCE is a reliable marker for the potential development of problem behaviors in adolescence, including substance use related problems.

Language: en