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. 2015 Apr;110(4):627-35.
doi: 10.1111/add.12829. Epub 2015 Jan 26.

A longitudinal study of the association of adolescent polydrug use, alcohol use and high school non-completion

Adrian B Kelly  1 , Tracy J Evans-Whipp, Rachel Smith, Gary C K Chan, John W Toumbourou, George C Patton, Sheryl A Hemphill, Wayne D Hall, Richard F Catalano
Affiliations

A longitudinal study of the association of adolescent polydrug use, alcohol use and high school non-completion

Adrian B Kelly et al. Addiction. 2015 Apr.

Abstract

Aims: Failure to complete high school predicts substantial economic and social disadvantage in adult life. The aim of this study was to determine the longitudinal association of mid-adolescent polydrug use and high school non-completion, relative to other drug use profiles.

Design: A longitudinal analysis of the relationship between polydrug use in three cohorts at grade 9 (age 14-15 years) and school non-completion (reported post-high school).

Setting: A State-representative sample of students across Victoria, Australia.

Participants: A total of 2287 secondary school students from 152 high schools. The retention rate was 85%.

Measurements: The primary outcome was non-completion of grade 12 (assessed at age 19-23 years). At grade 9, predictors included 30-day use of eight drugs, school commitment, academic failure and peer drug use. Other controls included socio-economic status, family relationship quality, depressive symptoms, gender, age and cohort.

Findings: Three distinct classes of drug use were identified-no drug use (31.7%), mainly alcohol use (61.8%) and polydrug use (6.5%). Polydrug users were characterized by high rates of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use. In the full model, mainly alcohol users and polydrug users were less likely to complete school than non-drug users [odds ratio (OR) = 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.17-2.03) and OR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.45-4.33), respectively, P < 0.001]. These effects were independent of school commitment, academic failure, peer drug use and other controls.

Conclusions: Mid-adolescent polydrug use in Australia predicts subsequent school non-completion after accounting for a range of potential confounding factors. Adolescents who mainly consume alcohol are also at elevated risk of school non-completion.

Keywords: Adolescent; alcohol use; education level; longitudinal; polydrug use; school non-completion; tobacco use.

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Conflict of interest statement

DECLARATION: The authors declare that the material has not been published in whole or in part elsewhere, the paper is not currently being considered for publication elsewhere, all authors have been personally and actively involved in substantive work leading to the report and will hold themselves jointly and individually responsible for its content, and all relevant ethical safeguards have been met in relation to patient or subject protection. The authors declare that there are no potential conflicts of interest in relation to this study.

References

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