Resiliency has been defined as the ability to modulate impulses, affect expression, and behavior to adapt to environment context (Eisenberg et al., 2003) and identified as protective against behavioral and substance use problems (Block et al., 1988). Its neural basis has not been explored but may help identify developmental biomarkers of risk in psychiatric disorders. As earlier behavioral research linked resiliency in early childhood with later drinking and drunkenness onset in mid-adolescence, we anticipated a similar relationship in this study. It was present: resiliency in early adolescence was associated with a later onset of drinking, fewer alcohol problems and less substance use in the transition years. These findings thus extend the continuity of this relationship from early childhood to early adulthood. Resiliency also correlated with faster reaction times and less decrement during increased cognitive demand, supporting a link between this trait and executive function. Therefore, resiliency in adolescence and drinking and drug use behaviors appear to be related though further study is needed to determine the direction of this association. Possibly those who engage in early use of substances have
