Understanding Intergenerational Transmission of Illicit Opioid Use Risk Based on Parent Drug Abuse History: Testing...

Prior research indicated intergenerational transmission of substance use behaviors via genetic mechanisms. However, there remain gaps in our understanding of these processes. There is a dearth of research examining parental drug use as a predictor of offspring illicit opioid use among justice-involved youth and age-graded effects.

The Pathways to Desistance data were analyzed. Mixed effects modeling examined the direct effect of parent drug use history on offspring illicit opioid use risk and tested for moderation by age.

Having a parent with a history of drug use predicted increased offspring's illicit opioid use risk, net of all control covariates. There was no significant interaction with age.

The impact of parent drug use history appears to exert a consistent effect on opioid use risk across the life-course. Justice-involved youth whose parents have a history of drug use should be prioritized for intervention to prevent opioid use.