Social and Environmental Predictors of Youth Alcohol and Cannabis Initiation Risk: The Moderating Role of Family History of Substance Use Disorders

Background: The social and local-home environment impacts youth’s likelihood of early substance use initiation (SUI). Yet, it is unknown whether protective or risk factors are salient for all forms of youth SUI, or may be specific to certain substances (e.g., alcohol, cannabis). Additionally, certain family factors–such as having a family history of SUD (FH+)—may exacerbate risk for and mitigate protection from alcohol (AUI) and cannabis (CUI) use initiation. Objectives: Using a longitudinal cohort of 387 adolescents, we aimed to understand how the link between social and local-home factors on AUI and CUI was moderated by FH status. Results: Results indicated that affiliating with risky peers significantly increased the risk of AUI and CUI, but that this relationship was not moderated by FH status. On the other hand, the link between mother-youth relationship quality and CUI, was potentially moderated by FH status such that being FH+ attenuated the protective effect of a positive relationship with parents on SUI. Conclusions: This research could provide evidence that youth who are at risk of early SUI, particularly those who are FH+, may benefit from programs designed to reduce affiliation with risky peers.