Traumatic Stress Exposure as a Predictor of Drug Use Variety: Examining Peer Drug Use and Peer Drug Dealing as Mediators.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic stress exposure is a risk factor for greater drug use variety, but there remains limited research on peer mediators of this relationship. This study sought to examine traumatic stress exposure as a predictor of drug use variety and determine whether peer drug use and/or peer drug selling/gifting significantly mediate this relationship. METHODS: The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development dataset was analyzed. The first four waves were used. Generalized structural equation modeling was used to estimate direct and indirect relationships of interest. RESULTS: Past year traumatic stress exposure prior to Wave 2 was associated with greater drug use variety at Wave 4. Greater peer drug selling/gifting and peer drug use scores at Wave 3 also predicted significantly greater drug use variety at Wave 4. However, only peer drug use significantly mediated the relationship between traumatic stress exposure and drug use variety. CONCLUSION: Traumatic stress exposure early in life may be associated with greater risk for greater drug use variety. Peer drug use behaviors among those who have experienced trauma should be targeted for intervention as a means of mitigating this risk.