Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2011 Feb;50(2):141-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2010.11.010. Epub 2011 Jan 6.

Do executive function deficits predict later substance use disorders among adolescents and young adults?

Timothy E Wilens  1 , MaryKate Martelon, Ronna Fried, Carter Petty, Clancey Bateman, Joseph Biederman
Affiliations

Do executive function deficits predict later substance use disorders among adolescents and young adults?

Timothy E Wilens et al. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2011 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: There is increasing interest regarding the risk and overlap of executive function deficits (EFDs) in stable cigarette smoking and substance use disorders (SUD). Therefore, we examined whether earlier EFD was a risk factor for subsequent cigarette smoking and SUD and further explored the relationship between EFD and SUD.

Method: We assessed 435 subjects at the 5-year follow-up (232 subjects with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], mean age ± SD: 15.4 ± 3.43 years; and 203 controls: 16.3 ± 3.42 years) and again 4 to 5 years later as part of a prospective family study of youth with ADHD. Individuals were assessed by structured psychiatric interview for psychopathology and SUD. EFD was categorically defined in an individual who had abnormal results on at least two of six neuropsychological tests of executive functioning.

Results: At the final follow-up period, ADHD was found to be a significant predictor of stable cigarette smoking (p < .01) and SUD into late adolescence and young adult years (p < .01). However, EFDs were not associated with an increase in subsequent substance use outcomes. New-onset stable cigarette smoking, but not SUD, was associated with subsequent EFD (p < .01).

Conclusions: Our results do not support the hypothesis that EFDs predicts later stable cigarette smoking or SUD in children with ADHD growing up. However, stable cigarette smoking is associated with subsequent EFD.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Wilens TE. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and substance use disorders. Am J Psychiatry. 2006 Dec;163(12):2059–2063. - PubMed
    1. Wilson JJ. ADHD and substance use disorders: developmental aspects and the impact of stimulant treatment. Am J Addict. 2007;16 (Suppl 1):5–13. - PubMed
    1. Katusic SK, Barbaresi WJ, Colligan RC, Weaver A, Mrazek DA, Jacobsen SJ. Substance abuse among ADHD cases: A population-based birth cohort study. Paper presented at: Pediatric Academic Society; April, 2003; Seattle, WA.
    1. Riggs P, Levin F, Green AI, Vocci F. Comorbid psychiatric and substance abuse disorders: recent treatment research. Subst Abus. 2008;29(3):51–63. - PubMed
    1. Biederman J, Monuteaux M, Seidman L, et al. Impact of Executive Function Deficits and ADHD on Academic Outcomes in Children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 2004;72(5):757–766. - PubMed

Publication types