Protective and risk factors of alcohol and drug abuse in adolescence

This study aims at examining the role of a number of protective (such as self efficacy in different domains, and family functioning) and risk factors (such as externalizing and internalizing behaviors) related to severe alcohol and drug in boys and girls during adolescence. As a part of a longitudinal project, 481 adolescents (240 boys and 241 girls) participating at the study were examined at time 1: mean age 13 and at time 2: mean age 18. Three groups of subjects were identified on the basis of their frequency and of co-occurrence of alcohol and drug abuse (no user, only alcohol user and multiple drug user). Results showed that: a) boys are more at risk than girls for multiple drug use; b) using alcohol and drugs is a frequent coping strategy for substance user and in particular for multiple substance user; c) self regulatory efficacy are important protective factors during adolescence; d) multiple drug user show problems in different domains (personal, familial and academic).