Dual Systems Imbalance in Childhood as a Predictor of Differential Development of Polydrug Use Risk in Adolescence

Polydrug use presents a particularly problematic substance use behavior in need of additional investigation, both to understand heterogeneity in development and identify predictors of differential development. The dual systems model may have capacity for understanding development of polydrug use. This study examined dual systems imbalance in childhood as a predictor of development of polydrug use risk during adolescence. The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development data were analyzed. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify heterogeneity in trajectories of drug use variety. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine dual systems imbalance as a predictor of drug use variety development. Results indicated that a three-group drug use variety trajectory model best fit the data (Abstaining; Late Onset; Early Onset). Greater dual systems imbalance characterized by greater sensation-seeking and lower impulse control significantly predicted increased risk of assignment to the Late Onset and Early Onset drug use variety trajectory groups.