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Uncovering Multiple Pathways to Substance Use: A Comparison of Methods for Identifying Population Subgroups

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Abstract

This paper describes and compares a selection of available modeling techniques for identifying homogeneous population subgroups in the interest of informing targeted substance use intervention. We present a nontechnical review of the common and unique features of three methods: (a) trajectory analysis, (b) functional hierarchical linear modeling (FHLM), and (c) decision tree methods. Differences among the techniques are described, including required data features, strengths and limitations in terms of the flexibility with which outcomes and predictors can be modeled, and the potential of each technique for helping to inform the selection of targets and timing of substance intervention programs.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant DA024260 (Li and Dierker) and DA15454 (Dierker) from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, by a Center Grant (DA010075) awarded the Methodology Center, Penn State University, and by awards from the Patrick and Catherine Weldon Donaghue Medical Research Foundation and the Peter F. McManus Charitable Trust (Dierker). Special thanks to Darce Costello for assistance with the literature review for this paper.

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  1. Psychology Department, Wesleyan University, 207 High Street, Middletown, CT, 06459, USA

    Lisa Dierker & Jennifer Rose

  2. Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Xianming Tan & Runze Li

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  1. Lisa Dierker
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  2. Jennifer Rose
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  3. Xianming Tan
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  4. Runze Li
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Correspondence to Lisa Dierker.

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Dierker, L., Rose, J., Tan, X. et al. Uncovering Multiple Pathways to Substance Use: A Comparison of Methods for Identifying Population Subgroups. J Primary Prevent 31, 333–348 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-010-0224-6

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