This proposal represents a request for a NIDA Research Scientist Development Award (K01) to provide training and research experience that will integrate complex developmental theory surrounding the etiology of substance abuse and dependence with newly emerging statistical methods. The candidate's goal is to advance her growth as an independent investigator and to apply appropriate and powerful quantitative methods to the refinement of substance theory that may optimally guide the development of intervention efforts. Thus, the applicant seeks additional training in the technical aspects of newly developed quantitative methods and in the consideration of state-of-the-art statistical procedures in the planning and design phases of longitudinal research aimed at uncovering the heterogeneity of developmental pathways to substance use disorder. The combination of training and supervised research provides the groundwork for the candidate's ability to independently bridge different disciplines and to ultimately function as an independent researcher and as the leading member of a multidisciplinary research team. The proposed research project will apply state-of-the-art statistical methods to the analysis of newly available longitudinal and cross-sectional data that include measurement of the widest array of individual and contextual risk factors available to date. The goal will be to identify multiple and prominent risk pathways that will guide the theoretical characterization of individual differences in risk for substance abuse and dependence. To achieve this goal, the following specific aims will be addressed: 1) Distinguish between substance use trajectories leading to substance use disorder vs. less severe levels of use 2) Identify prominent and unique risk constellations/pathways that predict the most severe outcome trajectories 3) Determine the attributable risk associated with each of the prominent risk pathways in order to evaluate the potential for reduction of substance abuse and dependence Existing data from three data sets will be utilized that include both nationally representative and case-control samples. Multiple statistical techniques for studying both growth and mediational effects will be used including group based semi-parametric techniques, tree-based methods, and diverse latent class approaches.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01DA015454-05
Application #
7116714
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Program Officer
Etz, Kathleen
Project Start
2002-09-01
Project End
2009-08-31
Budget Start
2006-09-01
Budget End
2009-08-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$156,937
Indirect Cost
Name
Wesleyan University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
145683954
City
Middletown
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06459
Tan, Xianming; Dierker, Lisa; Rose, Jennifer et al. (2011) How spacing of data collection may impact estimates of substance use trajectories. Subst Use Misuse 46:758-68
Dierker, Lisa C; Rose, Jennifer S; Donny, Eric et al. (2011) Alcohol use as a signal for sensitivity to nicotine dependence among recent onset smokers. Addict Behav 36:421-6
Dierker, Lisa; Mermelstein, Robin (2010) Early emerging nicotine-dependence symptoms: a signal of propensity for chronic smoking behavior in adolescents. J Pediatr 156:818-22
Dierker, Lisa; Rose, Jennifer; Tan, Xianming et al. (2010) Uncovering multiple pathways to substance use: a comparison of methods for identifying population subgroups. J Prim Prev 31:333-48
Rose, Jennifer S; Dierker, Lisa C (2010) DSM-IV nicotine dependence symptom characteristics for recent-onset smokers. Nicotine Tob Res 12:278-86
Degenhardt, Louisa; Dierker, Lisa; Chiu, Wai Tat et al. (2010) Evaluating the drug use ""gateway"" theory using cross-national data: consistency and associations of the order of initiation of drug use among participants in the WHO World Mental Health Surveys. Drug Alcohol Depend 108:84-97
Rose, Jennifer S; Dierker, Lisa C (2010) An item response theory analysis of nicotine dependence symptoms in recent onset adolescent smokers. Drug Alcohol Depend 110:70-9
Rose, Jennifer S; Dierker, Lisa C; Donny, Eric (2010) Nicotine dependence symptoms among recent onset adolescent smokers. Drug Alcohol Depend 106:126-32
Degenhardt, L; Chiu, W T; Conway, K et al. (2009) Does the 'gateway' matter? Associations between the order of drug use initiation and the development of drug dependence in the National Comorbidity Study Replication. Psychol Med 39:157-67
Sledjeski, Eve M; Dierker, Lisa C; Bird, Hector R et al. (2009) Predicting child maltreatment among Puerto Rican children from migrant and non-migrant families. Child Abuse Negl 33:382-92

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