Early Substance Use and School Achievement: An Examination of Latino, White, and African American Youth

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Abstract
This study examines the impact of early substance use on school completion. From a life-course perspective, early deviance can interrupt adolescent development, including education. Studies have cited substance use in early adolescence as a risk factor for school dropout; however, few studies examine the relationship with diverse samples. Using longitudinal data from the Rochester Youth Development Study, we examine the impact of early alcohol and drug use on high school completion relative to other risk factors for Latino, White, and African American males. Once family, school, and life events are considered, early alcohol and drug use exerts an independent influence on the failure to complete high school for White and African American males. Among Latino males, the relationship between early use and school completion appears to be mediated by impregnating a partner