C-reactive protein and substance use disorders in adolescence and early adulthood: a prospective analysis - PubMed (original) (raw)

C-reactive protein and substance use disorders in adolescence and early adulthood: a prospective analysis

E Jane Costello et al. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2013.

Abstract

Background: Dysregulated immune function and elevated inflammation markers are seen in adults with chronic diseases, including some psychiatric disorders, but evidence on inflammation in the case of drug abuse is conflicting.

Objective: To test the concurrent and predictive relations between C-reactive protein (CRP) and use and abuse of alcohol, nicotine and cannabis in a longitudinal, population sample of adolescents and young adults, at the period of highest increase in drug use.

Methods: Data from the prospective population-based Great Smoky Mountains Study (N=1420) were used, covering children in the community assessed at ages 9-16, 19, and 21. Structured interviews were used to assess substance abuse symptoms and DSM-IV substance use disorders. Bloodspots were collected at each assessment and assayed for CRP.

Results: CRP levels were higher in the presence of nicotine, alcohol, and cannabis use and nicotine dependence. In prospective analyses, higher CRP levels predicted cannabis use and nicotine dependence, and nicotine use predicted higher CRP levels, once covariates were included in the models. Significant covariates were age, race (American Indian), and obesity.

Conclusions: The inter-relationship of CRP and substance abuse has implications for the later health risks associated with early drug and alcohol use and abuse.

Keywords: Adolescence; CRP; Epidemiology; Inflammation; Substance use disorders.

Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

References

    1. Achenbach TM. Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist 4–18 and 1991 Profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry; 1991.
    1. Albert MA, Glynn RJ, Ridker PM. Alcohol consumption and plasma concentration of C-reactive protein. Circulation. 2003;107:443–447. - PubMed
    1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press, Inc; 1994.
    1. Angold A, Costello E. The Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment (CAPA) J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry. 2000;39:39–48. - PubMed
    1. Angold A, Costello EJ. A test-retest reliability study of child-reported psychiatric symptoms and diagnoses using the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment (CAPA-C) Psychol. Med. 1995;25:755–762. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources