The findings of this investigation also have important implications for prevention and intervention. The developmental cascade model supports the growing evidence indicating that substance use problems in adolescence have roots that unfold from earlier adverse developmental experience and consequent maladaptations. To avert this cascading process, early preventive intervention with vulnerable families to reduce the emergence of child abuse and neglect would eliminate this major risk factor. Moreover, when maltreatment has occurred, interventions to decrease family dysfunction and promote competence in children would contribute to diverting children from engaging maladaptive developmental trajectories. The continuities in early externalizing problems and their contributions to adolescent substance abuse and dependence also indicate that these problems are not transient and that effective early interventions to reduce aggressive and conduct problem behavior are clearly warranted.
