Certain inappropriate behaviors, tendencies, and conditions during childhood may predict whether a child will use drugs or engage in deviant (unacceptable and unlawful) behavior later on. The factors that may indicate risk include the child's personality traits, family experiences, and general environment.

Personality Traits. A child who is irritable and easily distracted, who throws temper tantrums, fights often with siblings, and behaves in unacceptable ways is more likely than other children to use drugs in adolescence. An aggressive child has an especially high risk of adolescent drug use and deviance.

Often, adolescents who use marijuana could not control their impulses and had difficult temperaments as children. They may have been unable to control strong emotions, such as anger. They also may have had trouble with "delayed gratification," the ability to wait beyond the immediate moment to have a...