Substance Use Escalation and Substance Use Restraint Among Adolescent Children of Alcoholics

We assessed escalations in substance use over 3 years among adolescent children of alcoholics (COAs). Older COAs showed th steepest escalations in drug use. Younger COAs whose fathers had continuing alcohol-related consequences showed the greatest escalations in alcohol use. Ss' beliefs about drinking restraint were related to their alcohol and drug use. Those whose alcoholic fathers had no continuing alcohol-related consequences showed the strongest relations between substance use and self-control reasons for limiting drinking, perceived risk for future drug problems, and seeing the negative effects of alcohol on someone else. These adolescents may be deterred from substance use escalation because of particular parental characteristics (e.g., mild forms of paternal alcoholism) or because of their beliefs about substance use.