The findings of this investigation are important on a number of levels. First, the evidence in support of a cascade model linking childhood functioning to adolescent self-report of DSM cannabis and abuse symptoms provides further empirical demonstration of the developmental contributions to emerging substance use problems in early adolescence and their continuity. Adolescent substance use problems and disorders are clearly a form of developmental dysfunction with influences extending back to early childhood. Second, the results specify the linkages between early childhood maltreatment and ensuing engagement in problematic substance use during the adolescent period of development, further delineating the processes through which child abuse and neglect sequentially impair developmental competencies and eventuate in later adverse outcomes.
