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Higher Socioeconomic Status May Lead To Early Adult Drug Problems

This recent University of Chicago study looked at the relationship between the socioeconomic status (SES) of adolescents and their substance use in early adulthood. Much of the earlier research in this area focused on substance abuse in lower SES populations.  However, growing evidence shows that teens from high SES backgrounds are also at high risk. This study analyzed the relationship between adolescent SES (measured by parental education and income) and their adult substance use. The data came from The National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health (AddHealth) a nationally representative study originally designed to examine how social contexts (such as families, friends, peers, schools, neighborhoods, and communities) influence teens’ health and risk behaviors. The survey is now also examining how health changes over the course of early adulthood. The objective of this particular study was to see if wealthier adolescents are more likely than those from a lower SES to engage in substance use in early adulthood.   

This analysis found that higher parental education is associated with higher rates of binge drinking and marijuana and cocaine use in early adulthood. Also, it found that higher parental income was associated with binge drinking and marijuana use. No significant results were seen for crystal meth or other drug use. The results were consistent for white non-Hispanics but not for non-whites perhaps because of the smaller sample size of non-whites. The study findings offer evidence that wealthier students may be at risk for substance use problems in the future.  The authors speculate that this can inform teachers, parents, school administrators, and program officials of the need for addressing drug abuse prevention in this population of students.

The study also suggests that students with more spending money might be more likely to engage in substance use. Thus, closer monitoring of allowances and other forms of spending money might be appropriate for parents concerned about an adolescent’s possible substance use.

(Humensky, JL: Are adolescents with high socioeconomic status more likely to engage in alcohol and illicit drug use in early childhood? Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy (2010) 5:19)

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5. Substance Use among Early Adolescent Girls

3 Responses to “Higher Socioeconomic Status May Lead to Early Adult Drug Problems”

1. Christen E. says:

   July 8, 2011 at 6:54 am

   The study does not offer any explaination as to why it would be higher in comparison or contrast with the lower SES. Is this family attention? Bored? The only offered additional explaination was allowance. What are the factors?
2. Betty Ford Institute says:

   July 11, 2011 at 9:31 pm

   I edit the Sci-Mat section of the Betty Ford Institute web page. Your request for further clarification about the article “Higher Socioeconomic Status May Lead to Early Adult Drug Problems.” was forwarded to me for a response. Below is a quote from the full article which covers the authors’ main point. However, let me refer you to the full article titled, “Are adolescents with high socioeconomic status more likely to engage in alcohol and illicit drug use in early childhood?” You can download a free copy at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2924306/?tool=pubmed.
   I hope this a helpful response.
   Regards
   John O’Neill
   Editor
3. Rachel H. says:

   April 8, 2013 at 1:26 pm

   This article showed that it does not matter if you are poor or rich, high society or low society, drug abuse can still be a problem. I think it all depends on how you were raised, what you have seen in your life, and how you have learned how to deal with the situations in your life. If you are taught to be negative and give up and go with the flow even then that is probably what you will do. If you are taught to live positively, spend your money wisely, use your resources wisely, then that will help. It is hard to know what to do in any situation in life, especially if you do not have the right guidance. It also shows that because Higher SES (socio-economic status) families have more money, they are as likely to spend it on recreational drugs as adolescents and young adults as those who are low SES. I am not sure why higher parental education would be associated with higher drug use and drinking. I think as I said, if you teach your children the difference, the effects, the way drugs can affect them, and show them – that is the main thing, showing – then hopefully they will choose not to do them. But regardless what you teach them, regardless your race, your status, your teachings, your child may choose to do so anyways. It is hard to understand why we have the feelings and impulses we have as individuals and as a whole in society. In these days drug use, as much as it is looked at negatively, is also promoted in so many ways. It is the “cool” thing. THis is going to sway a lot of children regardless their teachings and upbringing, which is really sad.