Relationships Between Prenatal Cocaine Exposure, Cannabis-Use Onset and Emotional and Related Characteristics in Young/Emerging Adults

Bibliographic Data

ID21645795
AuthorsKristen P Morie (0000-0001-5220-5604, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, corresponding author), Zu Wei Zhai (0000-0002-8200-1394, Middlebury College), Michael J Crowley (0000-0001-7146-4660, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine), Marc N Potenza (0000-0002-6323-1354, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine), Linda C Mayes (0000-0002-9590-7128, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine)
Year2024
Volume59
Issue3
Pages388-397
Publication date2024-02-23
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSubstance Use & Misuse (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1082-6084 • E-ISSN: 1532-2491
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10826084.2023.2275558
PMID37964628
OpenAlexW4388704703
LanguageEN
References cited78

Background: Exposure to substances in utero may have significant early-life consequences. Less is known about the effects in emerging adulthood, particularly regarding patterns of substance use and related characteristics.Objectives: In this study, we recruited emerging adults, followed since birth, who had been prenatally exposed, or not, to cocaine. Individuals reported on their cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco use, and measures of impulsivity, anhedonia, emotional regulation, and mental health were obtained. Comparisons were made between emerging adults with prenatal cocaine exposure and those without. Correlations were performed between psychological measures and substance use, and regression analyses were conducted to determine potential pathways by which such measures may relate to prenatal exposure or substance use.Results: Individuals with prenatal cocaine exposure (vs. those without) used cannabis at younger ages, reported greater cannabis-use severity, and demonstrated higher impulsivity, state anxiety, and alexithymia. Earlier age of onset of cannabis use was associated with higher impulsivity, state anxiety, alexithymia, and social and physical anhedonia. Cannabis-use age-of-onset mediated the relationship between prenatal cocaine-exposure status and state anxiety and between prenatal cocaine-exposure status and cannabis-use severity in emerging adulthood but not relationships between prenatal cocaine-exposure status and impulsivity or alexithymia in emerging adulthood. Findings suggest that adults with prenatal cocaine exposure may use cannabis at younger ages, which may relate to increased anxiety and more severe use.Conclusions: These findings suggest both mechanisms and possible intervention targets to improve mental health in emerging adults with prenatal cocaine exposure

Cannabis · Developmental psychology · Drug · Fetus · Illicit drug · In utero · Offspring · Pregnancy · Prenatal cocaine exposure · Prenatal exposure · Psychiatry · Substance use · Young adult · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects · Psychology

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