Short communication Gene-environment interplay and the importance of self-control in predicting polydrug use and substance-related problems ☆ Michael G. Vaughn a, ⁎, Kevin M. Beaver b , Matt DeLisi c , Brian E. Perron d , Lisa Schelbe e a Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, United States b Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States c Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States d University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States e University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States article info abstract Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), the current study applies a general biosocial theoretical model to polydrug use and associated substance-related problems. Along with measures of molecular genetic polymorphisms, neurocognitive skills, self-control, and environmental pathogens a recursive path modeling strategy was used to empirically examine the relations between these biosocial measures and polydrug use, alcohol, and drug-related problems in a subsample of 1136 adolescent males (Mean age=21.96, SD=1.73). Results supported the main predictions of the biosocial model finding significant path coefficients across key constructs. In particular, the role of poor self-regulation was found to be sturdy across path models. © 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Keywords: Etiology Genes and environment Biosocial Adolescent drug use Drug-related problems 1. Introduction The use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs and their resulting consequences involve processes influenced by genetic, physiological, psychological and environmental factors. The justification for employing multiple disciplinary constructs in understanding substance abuse and substance-related problems is that these behavioral phenotypes are clearly multidimensional in nature and will necessarily involve a host of disciplines (e.g., genetics, neuroscience, endocrinology, psychology, sociology). The current study is unique because few studies have examined the biosocial interplay in relation to polydrug use and substance- related problems that have combined genes, proximal environmental mechanisms, and self-control. Two main propositions are tested in the present study: 1) Causal pathways to polysubstance use and substance-related problems will involve associations among genes, proximal environmental pathogens, and cognitive impairments and 2) The effects of self-control will be stable across polysubstance use, alcohol-related problem behavior and drug-related problem behavior. Addictive Behaviors 34 (2009) 112–116 ☆ This research uses data from Add Health, a program project designed by J. Richard Udry, Peter S. Bearman, and Kathleen Mullan Harris, and funded by a grant P01-HD31921 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, with cooperative funding from 17 other agencies. Special acknowledgment is due to Ronald R. Rindfuss and Barbara Entwisle for assistance in the original design. Persons interested in obtaining data files from Add Health should contact Add Health, Carolina Population Center,123 W. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516-2524 (addhealth@unc.edu). No direct support was received from grant P01-HD31921 for this analysis. ⁎ Corresponding author. Saint Louis University, Tegeler Hall, 3550 Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63103, United States. Tel.: +1314 9772718. E-mail address: mvaughn9@slu.edu (M.G. Vaughn). 0306-4603/$ – see front matter © 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2008.08.011 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Addictive Behaviors