The Long-Term Effects of School Dropout & GED Attainment on Substance Use Disorders
BACKGROUND:
Epidemiologic
research suggests that 14% of the population do not complete high school, and
dropout has been linked to mental health conditions, substance use, chronic
health problems, and criminal behavior. Few studies have assessed whether
attainment of the general education development (GED) credential is protective
from substance use.
PURPOSE:
To
assess the long-term outcomes of school dropout and GED attainment on past year
substance use disorders, age of onset, and current smoking status.
METHODS:
Longitudinal
data were included for lifetime substance users who participated in the
National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (Waves I and
II). Eligible participants (N=30,608) were classified as having completed high
school, dropped out of high school and did not complete a GED, or completed GED
at Wave I. Survey logistic regression analyses were used to determine whether
high school graduation status was associated with substance use disorders and
smoking at Wave II.
RESULTS:
Multivariate
results suggest that participants who dropped out of high school (OR=1.53;
p<.01) or attained a GED were more likely to have a past year marijuana use
disorder (OR=1.62 p<.01) compared to high school graduates. High school
dropouts were also more likely to be current smokers (OR=1.88; p<.05) than
graduates.
CONCLUSIONS:
High
school dropouts have higher long-term rates of marijuana use disorder and
smoking in adulthood than graduates. Attainment of a GED does not appear to be
protective from marijuana use disorders in adulthood.
- 1Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas School of Public Health, Dallas, TX, USA. Electronic address: Jennifer.reingle@utsouthwestern.edu.
- 2School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA. Electronic address: salaswright@utexas.edu.
- 3Program in Criminology, School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA. Electronic address: Nadine.connell@utdallas.edu.
- 4Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas School of Public Health, Dallas, TX, USA. Electronic address: Katelyn.kassarjian@utsouthwestern.edu.
- 5Program in Criminology, School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA. Electronic address: Stephen.clipper@utdallas.edu.
- 6The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA. Electronic address: Michael.Businelle@utsouthwestern.edu.
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