Childhood Antisocial Behavior and Adolescent Alcohol Use Disorders

Antisocial behaviors (e.g., aggression toward people and animals, destruction of property, deceitfulness, theft, and serious rule violations) and related mental disorders (i.e., conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder) during childhood predict alcohol use disorders (AUDs) during adolescence. This sequence of disorders may reflect developmentally specific forms of deficits in the ability to control behavior. Therefore, childhood antisocial behaviors and adolescent AUDs may share common genetic and environmental influences. A comprehensive conceptual model may clarify the relationship between childhood antisocial behaviors and adolescent AUDs. A better understanding of this relationship is essential for advancing research into the causes of both behaviors and for developing prevention programs and treatment for adolescents with these problems. Prevention programs targeting childhood antisocial behaviors have met with some success. Clinical interventions for adolescents with AUDs may be improved by focusing evaluation and treatment planning on antisocial behavior.