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A new study presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, ‘ENDO 2024’, reveals a significant link between childhood stress and earlier onset of substance use in both male and female adolescents. The research, led by Alexandra Donovan from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, California, underscores the impact of early life experiences on the risk of substance use disorders.
Early life stress, defined as children’s experiences of abuse, neglect, and conflict, has been identified as a key factor influencing the timing of substance use initiation. The study highlights that traumatic events may increase the risk of substance use for males, while for females, environmental stress combined with early puberty plays a more crucial role.
“Starting substance use at an earlier age is associated with more severe substance use disorder in adulthood,” said Donovan. This insight emphasizes the importance of understanding the nuanced differences in how stress impacts substance use across genders.
Donovan and her team analyzed data from 8,608 participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. These participants were between 9 and 10 years old when the study began, and their use of alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis was evaluated by age 13. The findings revealed that early life stress increased the likelihood of earlier substance use by 9-18 percent for males and 13-20 percent for females.
“Early life stress and early puberty have both been associated with early substance use, but it wasn’t clear whether these connections are the same across boys and girls,” Donovan explained. This study clarifies that while both genders are affected, the pathways through which stress influences substance use can differ.
The research presented at ‘ENDO 2024’ provides valuable insights into the prevention and intervention strategies needed to address substance use in adolescents. Understanding the distinct factors that contribute to early substance use among different genders can help tailor more effective prevention programs.
As the findings of this study resonate within the medical and scientific communities, they also underscore the broader societal need to address and mitigate early life stress to reduce the risk of substance use disorders in adulthood.
