Conduct disorder and substance use disorder: Comorbidity in a clinical sample of preadolescents and adolescents

Examined the rate of comorbidity between conduct disorder and substance use disorder in a clinical sample of 74 youth. Data reveal no significant differences in the incidence of comorbidity between younger (aged 10–13) and older (aged 13–27) Ss. Among Ss who met criteria for conduct disorder, 52% also met criteria for a substance use disorder. Odds ratios indicated that the probability of comorbidity of conduct and substance use disorders was higher in the younger group. Substance abuse and dependence tend to develop rapidly following first use, suggesting that a slim window of opportunity exists to prevent substance disorders once drug use has begun.